The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-25
COTTON PRICE TO Be FIXED.
PRESIDENT HAS DEFINITELY
DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.
Plans Now Under Way to Garry Out
Standardization Of Chief Execu-
tive Announced to Conference Of
Southern Senators and Representa-
tiyes Earlier in Week Made Public
for First Time Yesterday.

Washington, Sept. 20.-President
Wilson will fix the price of cotton.
placing the last of the principal COM
modities necessary in the prosecution
of the war, under government reguia-
ton, despite strong pressure from the
Southern States. In addition to de-
termining the price the government
will take over control Of the dlstrlou-
ton of this years crop.
The decision of the president def
nitely announced at conference this
week with senator's and representa-
tives from the cotton States, became
known today Plans to carry out the
decision are said to be under way.
Agitation for the fixing Of a price
on cotton had been prevalent for q
number of months owing to the rap
idly mounting cost Of cotton products
and the belief in many quarters that
the staple should be placed on the
same basis as wheat and other essen
tials, the price of which has been fix
ed. The principal factor in the ac-
ton of the president is understood to
! have been the shortage in the pres
ent crop estimated at between 4,00O,-
900 and 100000 bales.
The price to be named by the pres
ident or the means Of controlling dis
tribution have not been decided up
on. The president is understood to
have emphasized at his recent confer
ence that a fair price" would be
fixed, but did not indicate in any wa.
what this would be.
Before price fixing was first men
toned, cotton sold at SO cents a
pound. Secretary Houston, it is said.
recommended that 25 cents would he
fair Southern senator's deny this
would be a fair price and declare that
because of the increased cost of pro-
duction "a price above 80 cents should
be named.
In determining plan for controll-
ing cotton distribution it is under
stood the president IS endeavoring to
work out a method Of cooperation
with the British and French govern
ments. AS the needs of these two
governments and the United States
represent more than so per cent. OF
the cotton produced, it has been
pointed out that a price readily could
be fixed which would control the
world market Commissions have
been APPOINTED by the British and
French governments which buy not
only for their own governments but
for the private spinners at prices
fixed by those commissions
Both commissions, it is known, are
row cooperating with the president
in this matter
While opposed to any steps that
would result in the fixing Of the cot
ton price, Southern senator's at a
conference urged the president thai
if he was determined to- take this
action, not to delay it longer than
possible, declaring that in view of the
present uncertainty, cotton markets
are sta:,nant, and many growers are
holding while awaiting some an
nuuncement as to the price to be
named.
No government plans for price fixing
has aroused more opposition than to
determine the price Of cotton. Hard
industries board announced a plan t.
name a committee which would IN
vestigate the cotton situation with
view to taking steps looking to the
stabilization of prices than senators
and representatives headed by Sena-
tor Smith Of South Carolina, hastily
arranged conferences for the purpose
~ nrotestine When President WiiSOr
later announced that the plan would
be carried out senators and represen-
tatives at once arranged to make
direct protest to him. This they did
at a conference Tuesday.
Hundreds of telegrams and letters
have been received by the congress
men from the South protesting |
a against price fixing while prices or |
the cotton exchanges gradually nave |