Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-10
PLAN TO FIX COTTON PRICE
CAUSES TENSE SITUATION
Southern, Senators and War
Industries Board Chairman
Postpone Conference
BY THEODORE TnLER

WASHINGTON, Sept. An armed
truce existed today between the war
industries board, which has indirectly
threatened to attempt to fix the price
Of cotton, and southern senators who
have signed an ultimatum saying they
will resist both executive and legis-
Iative efforts to interfere with cotton
prices and the conditions of supply and
demand.
The scheduled conference between
this group of senators and Chairman
Bernard NJ. Baruch, of the war in
dustries board. was postponed until
Monday. At that time, Mr.. Baruch
will meet with the senators and explain
his announcement that the board will
investigate the cotton situation with Il
view to "stabilizing prices"
Telegraphic protests from all the cot
ton producing states continued to reach
southern members of congress today.
Meanwhile, more than twenty signatures
have been obtained ia the manifesto
drawn at the conference in Senator
Simmons office, wherein the senators
flatly assert that congress alone has
authority to deal with price fixing mat
tiers and that the war industries board
Wilson Approves
Information in senatorial circles is
that the president himself was present
at the conference where Mr.. Baruch OBJ
tanned approval of his plan to investi-
gate the cotton situation and seek a
sterilization of prices. The question is
understood to have been discussed at a
meeting of what is called in Washing
ton the super war council" This coun-
ell is composed of cabinet members and
others directing the conduct of the war.
The secretaries of war and navy, the
food administrator, the fuel adminlstra-
tor and the chairman of the war trade
board and war industries board are ac-
customed to meet with the president oc-
casionaIly to discuss the major problems
of the war, and it is said here that at
one of these conferences the Baruch
plan for an investigation of the cotton
situation received approval Mr.. Baruca
announced that the appointment of an
investigating committee was with the
approval of the president" but 1t was
not disclosed whether Mr.. Wilson would
go so far as to insist upon price liking
legislation by congress.
No Prices Fixed
A southern senator pointed out today
that the government has never attempt
ed arbitrarily to fix prices. despite the
popular belief to that effect. The gov
eminent guaranteed a minimum price
on wheat. 1t arranged to take over. and
operate the coal mines unless the opera
tors would agree TO a certain program
covering prices and distribution. The
food administration handles the food
nroblem through a licensing system and
the war industries board has by com
merciaI treaty, so to speak, promulgat-
ed various price lists.
Congress. however. has not so far de-
cIared that a producer must sell MS
product at a certain price. If congress
were to attempt TO set price on cotton
many senator's believe the Legislation
wouId be unconstitutional. Neverthe-
loss the whole south appears in arms
over the Baruch suggestion and unless
the war Industries board chairman backs
down at the Monday conference, the
battle lines will be quickly drawn in both
senate and house