The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-04-26
COTTON PRICE
FIXING PROBABLE
THEODORE PRICE HARPS ON SUB
JEcT AND NEW YORK BELIEVES
WASHINGTON MUST FINAL
LY YIELD TO DEMAND.

New York.-Many expressions have
been heard within the past week that
there must be something in the
wind" Cotton goods prices have ad'
yanced to such point and with such
comparative ease that an unusual
amount of comment has been the re-
suit. Some time ago, it was stated by
officials at some of the large local
commission houses that they were en-
deavoring to keep the market from
going too far, because they were try
ing to avoid any undue attention that
might come from the hands of the
Washington officials. However, it is
thought evident by some, that a eli
mox has been reached and that in
view of the fact that the top of the
market is not yet thought to be in
sight, Washington may be forced by
general pressure to take steps that
will curb cotton good prices.
In order to point out the manner
in which the press feel on the subject,
Theodore III. Price, in the current is
sue of Commerce and Finance, re.
prints the following from the Lexing-
ton, KY, Leader.
Every woman who buys a calico
dress, every farmer who sells a
bushe1 of wheat or purchases a yard
of tobacco cloth, is today paying
heavy tribute to the cotton growers
of the South.
s'Why?v Ask the Democratic poll
ticions of Georgia, Alabama and Mis-
sissippi.
"a year ago the wholesale price of
calico was 5 IL and cents pound.
Today, it is IA IL to 16 cents.
"A year ago, raw cotton was selling
to around II cents a pound. Today,
it's over 80.
1.-THE government, through the Food
Administration officials, stopped spec
ulation in grain, fixed the price of
wheat and tells the baker what he
shall charge for bread.
"This same government throws
over The head of the cotton grower
the consumers of all cotton goods.
One must have food, but he must also
be clothed.
"There may be some reason why
the cotton growers and the cotton
spectators should be given a tremen-
dous advantage over the men who
raise other farm products, but that
reason, whatever it is, is not now
visible to the naked eye.
ut is known that when it was pro-
posed in Congress that the govern
ment should exercise the same con-
troll over cotton that it does over
foodstuffs. Southern Democratic SEN
ators arose in their seats and dared
the government to try anything of the
kind.
advancing the wages of salaried
people will work no benefit so long
as the things they buy are allowed
to advance as rapidly, or faster, than
the wage. This has been found out
in other countries, and the same les
son must be learned here. Money
wages do not mean anything if the
wage does not purchase an adequate
supply of food and clothing.
1.-THE government has solved the
bread problem The same reason de-
hands that during the war, the price
rule should apply TO a few other
things.
"This profiteering by the cotton
interests of the South is national
scandal 1t must, before long, become
source of widespread irritation.
Even if it did not work great hard
ships on the people, it is unfair to dis
criminate in favor of one class and
against another.
Loyalty to the nation demands
that every citizen stand by the Pres
ident, but it requires an extraordinary
amount of patriotism to enable one 10
do this without complaint when it is
plainly apparent that the government
is making fish out of one man and
fowl out of another.
IF the cotton growers and the cot
ton spectators are not capitalizing
the war to swell their private for
tunes, plain statement of facts
would tend to quiet the complaints of
those who do not understand the sit
uation."