The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-08
COTTON PRICE FIXING.
CLOTH MAKERS MOVING BY IN.
DIRECTION TO DEPRESS
PRICE.
National Association of Cotton Manu-
facturers Adopt Resolutions That
Sound Nice But arc Inimical to Cot
ton Producers.

New York, May 3.-The National
Association Of Cotton Manufacture
will cheerfully accept control and
price fixing of their products, if the
administration deems such action nee
essary to win the war;" according to
resolutions adopted by the association
at its annual convention here today.
The association also pledged itself
not to export cotton or any of it's
products that can in any way reach
the nations with which we are at war,
and suggested plan of government
rationing of cotton to meet the mill
tary and civil needs of the United
States and its allies and the civilian
needs Of neutrals.
Cotton manufacturers of the North
and South subscribed to the senti-
ments of one of the speakers that
I'VE ask no profit and that during the
war we are all willing that our plants
throughout the country shall be, op-
Grated to serve the nations needs"
Asserted that industrial America
is called upon as never before to sup
port the fighting line, the association
resolution regarding government con-
troll and price fixing continued
Should such action be taken, the
interests Of the country will be best
conserved by applying. as nearly as
possible, the same regulations to all
Industries and to all branches of the
industries. the producer. manufac-
turer. jobber. wholesaler and retail.
er.
THE prosperity Of industrial
America is essential to the financing
Of the war and any plan for price
fixing or other control should rest up
on the basis Of such return on cap
ital invested as will continue to yield
the necessary taxes and provide funds
for the purchase of the bonds requir-
ed"
The resolution regarding cotton ex-
ports began by stating that America
and her allies control over three
fourths OF the raw cotton of the
world, and cotton and it's products are
one of the most important, if not tn.
most important, materials in the pros
ecution of the war"
Referring to a recent press dispatch
from Rome which stated that cotton
was still leaking into Germany, and
pledging the association to bar all ex-
ports to neutrals which might increase
that leakage. the resolution urged
upon the government the following
plan of rationing cotton and it's prod
ucts:
Il. The military needs of our ,own
country.
"2. The military needs Of our al
lies.
"3. The needs of neutrals for goods
for the military equipment of our al
lies.
"a The civilian needs of our own
country
IS. The civilian needs Of our allies
"6. The civilian needs of neutrals
and under the last head being alb
solutely sure that in no way can this
cotton reach our enemies"
The American Association of Cot
ton Manufacturers, whose member
ship comprises representatives OF
Southern mills. and the National AS
sociation of Cotton Manufacturers,
with a membership from the north,
closed their joint convention tonight
by electing officers
The American association elected
the following officers: President, Ar
thur j. Draper, Charlotte, N. c.; Vice
President. j. ID. Hammett. Anderson,
3. C.; Secrcary-Treasurer. w. D..
Adams. Charlotte, N. c.
The National association chose
these officers: President, w. Frank
Shove. Fall River, Mass; vice presi-
dent' Russell Z Lowe, Fitchburg.
Mass, and James Thomson, New Bed
ford. Mass.
stuart w. Cramer of Charlotte was
chosen chairman Of the national coun-
Gil which is the central committee of
both organizations. Edwin Farnum
Greene was elected vice chairman and
Mr.. Adams secretary.