The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-25
Only Big Staple Not Subjected
to War Taxes.
Big Fight On in Washington
Over Question Of Price.
THE PRICE Will NOT Be FIXED
Government Will Merely Sta
bilize the Market.
Less FIuctuation, Not Cheaper
Cotton, Object Of Board.

Washington, Sept. 25.-Cotton, the
only great staple that has escaped
taxation at the hands of congress, to-
day is the center of a battle royal in
the government.
With increasing demands from agri-
cultural centers that the price OF cot
ton be fixed, the same as wheat and
other raw materials, and with indus
trial centers demanding 1t be taxed.
the fight of cotton producers extended
today from congress to the war in
dustries board and the White House.
The newly constituted congressional
cotton committee. after long confer
ences yesterday with members of the
cotton committee of the war indus
tries board (nanied to stabilize the
cotton situation) today sought an au-
dience with President Wilson. 1t is
not unlikely that the president will
issue a statement covering what he
expects from the cotton men.
| That the situation is to be made
the object of some powerful political
artillery was limited in some quarters
today, but the tendency for the
moment is to wait to see If the cotton
solons are to help or to hinder the
war industries board in its work.
Not Likely to Fix a Price.
Thomas w. Page. chairman of the
cotton committee Of the war indus
tries board, has conferred with the
cotton states official advisory commit
tee, made up of the superintendent
of agriculture, directors Of marketing
and presidents of the farmers unions
of the cotton growing states who were
received in conjunction with the un.
| official committee from the capital
headed by Senator Smith, South Caro-
lima.
| Page said:
I'VE hope it may not be necessary
! k< III hut
! doubtedly the price must be stabilized
and this committee will endeayor tc
stabilize it by controlling the .pur.
chase of cotton supplies for the
| American and allied. governments. We
cannot tell what effect the work o.
this committee will have upon cottoI
| prices until after it has been at worl
| for some tine-possibly months"
Chairman Baruch Of the war indus
tries board, today said the committe,
on cotton distribution headed b,
| Charles J. Brand should be able to OBJ
yiate the necessity of fixing a price OF
| cotton.
Fluctuation the Evil.
The difficulty, as Baruch sees it, lie
in the fact that the demand for .higl
grade cotton and the refusal to accep
low grade cotton are responsible fo
the instability in prices.
| The governments requirements alss
are for the higher grades of cottoI
land Baruch expects the Brand com
mtttee to force the lower grade cottol
on the market for civilian use.
The Committees Statement.
The statement was authorized b,
the chairman of the cottbn committe,
today:
The committee on cotton distribu
ton will establish offices Immediately
The committee plans to exercis
supervision thru existing cpstomar,
channels by controlling the quantit,
and quality OF cotton used by domesti
and foreign consumers.
This they believe can be done with
out disturbing to any apRreciable ex
tent the existing facilities and organ
tzation for marketing and distributin,
the crop.
The committee will require botl
domestic and foreign consumers t
take an equitable proportion of tn
grade below middIings."