The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-08-11
SHUTS OFF COTTON
SOUTHERN STAPLE MAY SOON
BE MADE CONTRABAND
Big Loss TO growers

Men, Including Shippers, Lost
Nearly S235, ,o00,0 1000 President
and Administration Concerned
Over Plight of the South.
The city council OF Manchester
at a meeting Wednesday, adopted
a resolutio2 demanding that the
British government declare cotton
contrHband.
Four hundred million dollars in
profits were made by the American
farmers, grain exporters and millers
during the first year of the European
war, the treasury department an
nounced Tuesday. DUNG this period,
however, the cotton growers and
shippers lost nearly s235,000,000.
These are prominent features OF
the departments yearly report on e1-
ports of foodstuffs and cotton. The
favorable trade balance OF the Unit
ed States for the week ending July
81, exceeded s25,000,000.
Little encouragement for the cot
ton growers is seen in the expected
announcement by Great Britain of
the classification of cotton as contra
band. One high official Of the gov
ernment is quoted as saving that in
his opinion Great Britain has decid-
ed to declare cotton contraband.
The same authority expressed the
opinion that the English government
will shortly announce some plan look
ing to the compensation Of the cotton
interests for the loss such action will
necessarily entail.
It is an open question whether
Great Britain will propose to pur-
chase specified amount OF cotton
in excess Of her own requirements or
whether some other way to avoid a
serious clash with the United States
will be pointed out.
The>fact that the neutral countries
in Europe are buying fifteen times
the quantity Of cotton sold to Ger
many direct, it is contended, has COM
yinced the English government thaS
Germany and her allies are receiving
the staple through neutral ports. An
expert Of the largest powder plant in
america is authority for the state
ment that from Is to so per cent. of
the weight Of all explosives bang
used in Europe at this time is derived
from cotton.
It is apparent that the president
and other administration officials are
deeply solicitous for the welfare Of
americas leading staple in the eU-
isting diplomatic ENHANCEMENT with
Great Britain and realize the i'm
mense value to be derived by the cot
ton producing states. from an agree
ment whereby the staple win find itS
accustomed outlets.
Congressman Fred L. Blackmon, OF
the Fourth Alabama district, has re-
ceived letter from Secretary of
State Lansing that efforts are being
made by the government to relieve
the situation c-used by the English
embargo on cotton.
Congressman Blackmon for several
weeks has been trying to impress
upon the administration at Washing
ton the serious condition which the
cotton growers Of the South may face
unless England's policy is altered.
His last letter, sent to the president,
was replied to personally by Secre-
tary Lansing. The government, says
Secretary Lansing, is getting reports
of foreign markets for cotton from
consular offices for the purpose OF ad-
vising shippers where markets for
their holdings may be opened.
London reports Tuesday: Diplo-
matte correspondence between Lon
don and Washington concerning de-
lays to American commerce, and
Great Britain's orders in council will
BIT published here tomorrow morn
ing.
The foreign Office explains that all
phases Of controversy, except with re-
gard to cotton, are covered in the
British notes, and that when a deci-
sion is arrived at on the cotton situa-
ion new note probably will be sent.
No question is giving the British gov
ernment more vexation than cotton.
The government already has indicat-
ed that its decision not to treat the
staple as contrahand Is not irrevoc-
able, but it is not yet convinced that
the alternative might not cause more
trouble and friction than the present
system of OBTAINING cotton suspected
of being destined for an enemy coun-
49,