Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-27
COTTON PRICE WILL NOT BE
FIXED AT PRESENT TIME
CONTINUED from Page ons)

ment purchases, will be avoided if
possible.
Indicating the interest felt in the
south over the cotton program, Senator
Hoke Smith received more than 800
kilograms and letters today. The office
force of the Georgia senator is INSULT
cient to keep up with the cotton CORE
spondence. He announced today, how
ever, that copies of kilograms and let
tiers received would be laid before the
president and the war industries board
during investigation of the cotton situa-
ton.
There is a decided Improvement in
the outlook as compared with that Of
four or five days ago." said Senator
Hoke Smith. Our protests appear to
have had effect. The secretary of agri-
culture has issued a statement denying
that he advocated a price of % cents
on cotton. The statement was the re-
suit OF earnest representations regard
ing it's authenticity. The situation is
so improved that my advice is that no
holders of cotton should act with ex~
citement or undue nervousness.
Hope Fixing Rot Necessary
statistics presented by southern
members of congress and their constitu-
| ents are making decided impression.
Chairman Baruch today expressed the
hope that price-fixtng would not be nee
essary. 1 can not believe that Mr.. In
man, who is on the distribution COM
mittee, will fail to recognize the rights
of the southern cotton planters or that
any member of the government com
mittees would recommend an unfair
price, If a price recommendation should
become necessary"
"I have the question up both with the
| president and Mr. Baruch. I am at pres
emit devoting my entire time to this cot
ton matter. They have been thoroughly
informed as to the injury an unfair price
would do the south, the costs of produc-
ing the crop have been furnished the
administration and arguments have been
presented showing that it would be an
injury to force down the price for the
| benefit of foreign spinners. 1 am salts
fed that no such program will meet with
favor here Altogether the situation is
In better shape than it has been for days,
and this is due to our efforts here and
the thousands of kilograms which have
reached the president and others reveal
ing the south's side of this issue"
Others Optimistic
Senator Smiths optimism was shared
by other members of congress who have
the trend of affairs.
the Cotton States Official Advisory Mar
keting Board. and a delegation of the
state agricultural department officially
applied to the White House for a hear
ing. The president designated Mr..
Baruch as his spokesman.
Later Mr. Baruch told newspaper men
that it might be possible to prevent price
fixing The distribution system. he said,
might solve the question Much depends
upon the distribution methods of the
committee headed by Charles Brand, of
the department of agriculture, of which
Mr.. Inman is member.
Chairman Baruch said the committee
on cotton distribution should be able TO
obviate the necessity of fixing = price
on cotton
The difficulty, as Mr.. Baruch sees it,
lies tn the fact that the civilian de-
mands for high-grade cotton and the
refusal to accept low-grade cotton are
responsible for the instability in prices
The governments requirements are also
for the higher grades of cotton, and Mr..
Baruch expects the Brand committee to
force the lower-grade cotton on the
market for civilian use. This will bring
up the price Of lower grade cotton,
which is now being largely held in the
stalks awaiting higher prices The eff
feet of this, Mr.. Baruch says, should
also be the lowering OF prices on high
grade cotton. He thinks also that this
will meet both the government and civil
ian demands. The only result that
would be desired from price fixing would
be to get all of the cotton available on
the market, he said. The question of
stimulating production is causing no
alarm, since the planters are producing
all they can