The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-25
SMITH ANSWERS LODGE.
DENIES CENTRAL POWERS GET
SOUTHERN COTTON.
South Carolina Senator Says Cry
Originates With Mills Which Want
Low Prices.

Washington, Aug. 21.-In reply to
a statement by Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts,. in the course of a
speech he made few days ago, that
American cotton was being received
by Germany from neutral countries
and Italy, Senator Smith of South
Carolina today sought to show by sta
tistics furnished by the bureau of the
census that it was a mistake. BY
computation Of the exports to foreign
ports. Senator Smith informed the
senate, he found that the supply of
cotton furnished the allies and neu-
trail countries from August 1, 1916.
to August 1, 1917, was not in excess
of the amount exported prior to the
war.
That there was some excess in ex-
portations in the two years interven-
ing between the outbreak of the Eu-
ropean war and Americas entrance.
was shown to be due to the fact
'h"S AhiSii I'D WdS lol IlNOlNeu dt
that time and was shipping in all she
could get through the blockade.
He declared that 100000 bales
less are being exported from this
country to Europe now than when the
war began and introduced figures
showing that with but few exceptions
the importation of cotton by Euro
pean countries is below normal.
Senator Smith said figures recently
introduced in the senate by Senator
Lodge giving the amount of cotton
being received at various foreign
ports are entirely wrong and "mis-
leading and emanate from the mill
sections of New England"
The South Carolina senator admit
ted that American cotton had been
permitted to reach Germany and Aus
tria at the beginning of the war but
declared that for four months prior
to the United States entrance into
the struggle until the present no cot
ton has been permitted to reach the
enemy.
THE consumption Of American cot
ton has outstripped production" Sem
ator Smith continued. "Th@ surplus
accumulated in 1913 and 1914 has
been consumed and the world is fac
/ ing a cotton shortage. There is not
normal supply for America and her
allies.
THE neutrals are not getting as
much cotton now as they did before
the war with all the demand for ex-
ports and the high prices. What in
centive would there be for them to
distribute contraband into Germany
when they can get high prices else
where?"
1t was stated by Senator Smith
that the present high prices were due
to the fact that in 1915 and 1916 a
small crop was made and that the
consumption was much greater than
the production. This used up the
surplus from the preceding years and
now the world was facing a cotton
famine. He stated that he was
afraid the cry for an embargo on cot
ton was due to the fact that if the
foreign market was closed, there
would be greater amount for the
American manufacturers and that
necessarily. according to supply and
demand. the price would go down.
This would benefit the mills, he de-
clared. where the cry for an en-
barge originated.
Senator Smith said that IL the
South thought for one minute that
by virtue of the fact that cotton be-
ing exported was aiding the nations
enemies, she would be the first to
clamor for an embargo. He said that
he did not want the manufacturer to
be paid in still greater profits by the
insinuation that the South was not
patriotic. but was selfshly trying to