Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-01
SENATOR SMITH
ANSWERS ATTACK
ON COTTON GROWER
BY THEODORE TILLEE.


WASHINGTON, Oct 29.-Answer1ng
Republican criticism of the administra-
ton, Senator Hoke Smith delivered a
comprehensive speech on the cotton sit
uation in the senate late Monday after
DON. The Georgia senator answered
specifically that portion of the Lodge
Smoot statement which claimed that
the Democratic administration had fixed
the price OF wheat but had LETT cotton
untouched"
Senator Smith aptly demonstrated
that the government had not liked Il
price on wheat, but had guaranteed d
minimum price for that grain, vitality
needed by the allied armies. lie showed
that the several statements OF the war
Industries board regarding the 'stablIl-
zatIon' of cotton prices, and the ap-
pOlntmentS Of committees Oh dlSIrlDu-
ton and Investigation OF the cotton sit
uation, had caused a great drop IN
prices, which loss was sustained by the
southern cotton farmer.
This, Senator Smith said, did not bear
out Republican char geS that cotton had
been untouched by the government.
If the war industries board and their
committees succeed in maintaining the
present depression in the price of cot
tom said Senator Smith. 'They Will
make a present of S225, 100000 to the
foreign cotton manufacturers, but they
will take the present from our own
farmers"
Increased Production Costs
The Georgia senator referred to the
great increase in the cost of producing
the cotton crop, an increase out OF pro
portion to that involved in the produc-
ton of other crops and touching labor,
fertilizers and farm implements.
The best information l can get from
Georgia" said Senator Smith, lis that
the crop of this year cost, wherever Ia
Dor was employed, for wages, from 80
to 81 II cents per pound. Many we'll
informed men in the cotton section in.
sist the average cost of this crop has
been between 50 and 40 cents.
THE labor to produce wheat was fair
~ well paid before the war, and the de-
mand for higher-priced labor did not in
crease the cost of labor on the wheat
farm as ii did on the cotton farm. The
wheat crop was a normal crop; the cot
ton crop was four million bales less than
the planted acreage should have pro-
duced.
Goods manufactured from cotton are
selling at an average of three times
more than the prices before the war"
"One-halt OF our coJIon Is shipped
abroad ana handled by foreign manu-
lacJurerS. That manufactured mere Is
consumed about one-nalt ny mills in
states where cotton is grown and the
other hail by mlliS elsewhere III THIS
To force down the price c.
lint cotton without forcing down the
price OF the products manufactured
from the lint cotton WOulu be simply
10 make a gift of the amount taken
from the selling price, divided among
the manufacturers here and in foreign
countries. our Republican friends might
have suggested price-HXing on the man
utactured product. If prce-tXing were
legal ana resOrJed to for the benefit of
the people, II is necessary that 1t be
to the manufactured cotton
product. Mere price-tXing on lint cotton
would not help the great consuming
public. Senator Smith demonstrated
that While manufactured cotton goods
are bringing three times the pre-war
g
three times it's price before the war.
The manufacturer, he estimated, could
make money on cotton goods should ne
pay forty cents per pound under pres
"The government has guaranteed the
wheat price, continued Senator Smith |
1t has not undertaken to fix price on
corn, the greatest agricultural product
Of this country; it has not undertaken
to fix a price of hay, one of the chief
products. The Republican manifesto
should not have made a sectional attack
upon the cotton grower"
Prices Sent Tumb1ing
Senator smith read mo tne record
The several statements issued by the
war industries board III september.
l'neSe statements, limiting at arbitrary
ce-nXing-9ithough, as senator Smith
showed there vas no legislative author
ny FOR It-sent cotton prices LumDlmg.
lie went eXnausuvely INTO the powre-
.eSSneSS oil either congress or the ad-
branch to dictate the price
At which one person shall sell his prod |
uct 10 another 1t is possible, Sena-
Tor Smith said, to commander tor gov
eminent use and to agree on prices
through the courts, or to guarantee
minimum price as in the case OF wheat. |
lie challenged however, any authority
to force sale of cotton at certain
price.
mo power is vested in our govern
ment," he said, ito fix a price at which |
One citizen must dispose of his proper
IL III
price guaranteed for wheat, he argued,
was more than twice the price at which
wheat sold before the war.
Referring to the several statements
Of the war industries board, Senator
Smith continued: During early Sep
TENDER cotton was selling from 38 to
80 cents per pound. 1t was apparent
that under the legitimate laws of sup
ply and demand, with proper recOgni- |
ion of production cost, and the pTOba- |
bic cost and size of next years crop cot
ton would easily have sold for forty |
cents. 1t has been forced down from
done it? This fall in price is clearly
attributable. whether intended Or not, |
to the action of the administration
taken through the war industries board"
Senator Smith said it was apparent !
then that the administration had
touched" cotton, Republican claims not
and the loss to cotton
growers was about $500, 100000.
After further reference to the ac-
ton Of the war industries board, Sena- |
tor Smith added: LAS a result Of this
action by the administration, cotton !
mas been hammered down eight cents |
a pound below the price at which it
was selling the first of September. If
the present price is maintained. the |
loss to the cotton growers. as 4 result !
IF this touching" would be $3.50, 900, 600 |
submit in all kindness this procedure !
should not have taken place. These |
IN charge should still seek to rectify |
he mistake they have made"
The statements of the war industries |
board submitted by Senator Smith in |
GUIDED all from the original statement |
regarding the necessity of a "StaBlli- |
,ation of prices to the final statement |
saying there would be no arbitrary |
attempted now