The sun., 1918-09-25
SOUTH FIGHTS PLAN
FOR COTTON PRICES
Protests L. S. Fixing Of Quota
tions Is Not a War Win
ming Necessity.
ALLOTMENTS DECIDED ON
Wilson Committee Votes to
Take This Method to
Stabilize Sales.
sp,cinl Despntch 10 The srN.

Special Despatch 10 THE suS.
WASHINGTON Sept. 24.--Energetic pro-
tests against the fixing OF prices by the
Government on standard grades of cot
ton were voiced here to-day by repre-
,entatives of the agricultural interests
0, the Southern States.
The delegation which conferred with
Members OF Congress and officials OF the
War Industries Board expressed will
.ngness 70 meet any war measure Of the
government, but insisted that fixed prices
m cotton are not In the nature Of war
measures or made necessary by any ex-
sting war emergency.
VIII Abide by Decision.
J. J. Brown. Atlanta, acted as spokes-
man. Mr.. Brown Is president OF the
state Agricultural Commission of Georgia
and head of the cotton States official
marketing committee. He asserted that
under the conditions which exist the
cotton markets of the South should be
left unchanged at least until the So
called law OF supply and demand makes
apparent a needed change. The South
srn cotton interests, however. will abide
by the decision of the Government, he
said even though believing that nxed
prices should not at this time be made
effective.
lie pointed out that while the Govern
ment has purchased heavily in the cotton
market for war materials the volume of
purchases is not significantly large to
compel the Government to apply fixed
price to that part of the annual output
hy no ciyilian popula
Meanwhile the new cotton committee
which has been named by President VIII
,on under the statement given out with
his authority on September IA started on
rs work. This committee will decide
whether fixed prices on all grades OF cot
ton are necessary at this time. The com
mittee consists of the following:
Chairman. Thomas w. Page, vice.
chairman Federal Tariff Commission
". r. Beattie. president Of the Piedmont
Manufacturing Company. Greenville, 8.
c: r. l.. Bennett, cotton grower and
stock breeder, Paris. Tex: Charles J.
Brand. Department of Agriculture.
Washington: Ward NJ. Burgess, retail
merchant, omsha; Edward F. Greene.
former president Of the National Asso-
cation Of Cotton Spinners. Boston; J. c.
Redmon, cotton grower and member OF
he State Legislature, st. Mathews, g.
c: NJ p. Sturdivant. cottonseed oil
manufacturer. Glendora, Miss. S. w.
Weis OF Julius weis & Co. New Or
leans d. 8. Murphy. Department OF
Agriculture, Washington.
VIII Allot Cotton at Once.
The committee named to act as a spe-
.!a purchasing agency for the United
States and the Allies consists of
Charles D. Brand. Washington; Will
lam l.. Clayton. Houston. Tex: J,
Temple Gwathmey. New York city, and
Giward H. Inman. Atlanta.
The cotton committee in its initial SEES
son to-day decided ~tf.tt II VIII under
take the work at once OF allotting cotton
IN both grade and quantity to domestic
and foreign consumers. and that the
rmmittee will buy cotton when il is
deemed necessary for the requirements
d the Federal and allied Governments.
The first effect which this action is
expected TO have Is that Of a general
stab!lization of prices, both in the mar
Eets OF this country and in foreign coun-
tries Market situations throughout the
world will be carefully studied and the
decision as to whether prices will be
Fixed on standard grades will hinge In
considerable part on the effect which
eLCA action Will nave ABROAD IN TeldtlOil
70 the cotton producers here.
The view was expressed here to-day
both among representatives OF the South
trn producers and members OF Congress
that fixed price would give foreign
'onsImers an advantage over the grow
Frs in this country and react to the detri-
nent OF American business interests.
Other functions which the cotton COM
n't,ee will attempt to exercise are those
~ broadening the existing channels Of
distribution IN the Southern States. Con-
gestion in this respect was the principal
reason for the appointment OF a commit
'Ae by President Wilson to deal with
cotton.
Another feature with which the COM
mttes Will deal is that OF distributing
ne vast stock OF low grade cotton OF
.St years production that is now lying
IN the markets.
Joint Congregational Comm ttee.
With a view to instltutins a continu-
l.g relationship between the War Indus
Ties Board and the Southern cotton
mates representation in Congress there
was organized to-day a special informal
''nt committee OF Senate and House
members whose purpose it Is to consult
rom time to time with the War Indus
nies Board during the tendency OF the
.otton price fixing problem. The Sena-
'ors appointed by Chairman Smith IS
. to serve are Smith tGa.). Under
wood (Ala.). Sheppard (Tex), Ransdell
La and Simmons IN. c.. Repre-
sentative Lever Is. c. designated Can
uer IMiss). Helm (Ala.), Young
rex and Lee (Ga.) as the House
group.
Fear OF cotton price fixing of almost
ahy sort is back OF this movement within
congress At the time Chairman Smith
announced the organization OF the Con-
sessionsl joint committee representa-
yves OF the cotton producers and factors
N the South together with representa-
ives OF the State agricultural boards
were meeting in Senator Smiths rooms
form
among this group II was said that IL
,n"on prices were fixed too low by the
war industries Board only sufficient cot
.9a would be planted next year to pro-
NIoe the necessary seed for the ensuing
.rop and the fields would be temporarily
turned TO other use.