The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-04-12

Deen uOne 10 ptTlcCL Tile StTNiCt HcIe
| British exports of cotton goods for
February last totaled $4,000, 600
yards, compared with 330,0O0,000 for
February, 1917, an increase of just ten
per cent. This information is impart-
ed to us on March 18th. Just what
share of these goods was taken by
the United States we will not know
until the first of May, or later, Secre-
tary Redfeld, of our Department of
Commerce, being so dilatory, that de-
tailed reported of our foreign trade
make their appearance some two
months after those published by the
British Government. But our trade
summary for December shows that we
imported 100000 yards of cotton
cloths during the calendar year 1916,
and 100000 yards last year, from
Great Britain, compared with 100000
900 yards for 1913, nine months of
which were under protective rates of
duty. And the productivity of Eng
land in the cotton textile industry is
about 60 per cent of what it is in nor
NAL times, due to the war. Our cot
ton manufacturers, and workers in
the mills, should have some idea what
to expect in the way of competition in
this industry from Great Britain after
the war and under the present tariff
policy.
Early dispatches from the Western
Front after the opening of the recent
German drive reported the presence of
Austrian and Bulgarian troops in the
assaulting column. From Washington
Genes word that no effort will be made
to have the United States declare war
against Bulgaria until her troops are
actually engaged in battle with the
American line in France. This is
straining of point which
produces irritation among those who
believe that the war should be both
formal and forceful. Bulgaria has
played sorry role thus far, even
though it has resulted to her advant-
age in a material sense. She was
shamelessly for sale in the early days
of the war and Ferdinand knocked
himself down to the highest bidder,
who has paid in part his obligations
by giving the Bulgarians a portion of
the lands wrested from the Serb and
the Rouman. If now Bulgaria is send
ing her soldiers against Haig as well
as against Sarrail, it is to be under
stood that further bargain has been
struck between Berlin and Sofia. Bull
garian troops in action at Cambria
are as much in action against us as
though they were in line at Toul-or
wherever our boys in the trenches are.
They are warning against US; why
should we hesitate about warning
against them?
The President is reported to be
much perturbed over the action of the
Senate in voting to fix the price of
wheat at $3.50 bushel at local
points; and he is said to be planning
TO exert all his influence in the House
to prevent similar action there. He
may succeed. If so, it will be at the
cost of the farmers of the wheat Sec
lions who are being urged to extend
production and who say that they
cannot do so unless they can have as
surance of sufficient return to en-
able them to pay high prices for help,
for seed, for farm machinery, for
binder twine-for everything, indeed.
hat enters into the cost of wheat
The episode is another
Instance of the hit-or- miss policy of
which the administration
has fostered and practiced. 1t has
liscriminated among the staples, but
has always left cotton severely
lone. The North, with it's wheat
ields, its steel mills, its copper mines,
is coal deposits, is subjected to all
,inds of experimentation, as result
f which production is curtailed and
is induced. But the South
ees it's great staple crop unmolested
n a soaring market, where huge
'rices-as compared with three years
go--are easily obtained. The wheat
.rowers may like this; they may sub
nit to it, But we doubt it.
The Presidents insistance that the
)verman bill shall be passed exactly
s it was sent to the Senate from the
White House will produce test which
nay not result as he thinks. The at
itude Of Congress toward the fur
her granting Of unrestricted powers
o administrative officers is not what
was six months ago, when all that
vas necessary to secure the passage
f a measure was to say that the
resident wanted it or that it was es-
entail to proper prosecution of the
var. Congress is now reluctant fur
her to barter away its own functions
or nothing and it is most distinctly
Missouri" when bill is advocated on
he ground of it's necessity as a war
MEASURE. In this, Congress reflects
he opinion of the country. The peo-
lie are becoming very skeptical of the
yisdom of general grants of power
UGH as have already been made in
and the exercise of which
as not, in every case, been measur-
bly, productive of the prophesied re-
ults. That the Overman bill is not
he crying necessity which its spon-
ors declare is plainly shown by the