Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-26
Senator HOke Smiths
Long Fight for Cotton
ReOpenS the Market

portunity is given Tor cotton 10
move. Will exceed 6,5OO,OOO bales"
1t was possession of these figures
which prompted Senator Smith to
introduce a resolution directing the
War Trade Board to advise that fur
Their necessity existed for an embar-
go on cotton shipments abroad. The
action of the board makes adoption
of this resolution now unnecessary.
In taking initiative in and winning
the cotton fight, the senior senator
from Georgia has rendered his state
and the south probably his most i'm
pOrtant service of the session of
congress now closed.
Senator's OL.Aer Work
Senator Smiths labors as chair
man of the committee on education
and labor, which put through the vO-
cational education and the soldiers
rehabilitation bills, and his services
on the senate finance committee,
now framing the six billion dollar
revenue bill, have a countrywide APP
peal, but from the local standpoint
the winning of the cotton fight is
of extreme Importance to the south.
Within the past two weeks Senator
Smiths campaign for fair cotton
cial bodies. but the Georgia senator
focused public attention on the cot
ton situation by interviews and let
ters in New York, Philadelphia and
washington newspapers.
With the adjournment Of congress
Senator Smith prepared a state
ment showing the effect of the price.
fixing talk Of the War Industries
Board, which he estimates cost cot
ton growers $450,000.000. Having
eliminated the price-fiXing menace,
which had no standing under law,
restrictions, which are now also re-
moved.
The senator's review of the cot
ton campaign is reflective of the sem
timent of southern legislators gen.
orally, who Joined at his invitation
the concerted effort to force a
change. In this effort members
from the several cotton-producing
states rallied to common cause and
brought results. Senator Smith eX-
plains the situation in part as fol-
lows:
"Those of us who have studied this
question understand that so per cent
of the cotton crop is used by for
eign mills. To reach market 1t
must be exported. England before
the war used 3,250,000 bales a year,
France used a million to a million
and a half bales. Over half of the
crop goes abroad for its market.
About half is consumed by American
mills.
Power of Embargo
what Qlu we unu 1t Will U6 t.
called that the power of embargo
on exports was granted by us for
military purposes. The senate re-
jected it when it was first before
the senate upon the ground that we
recognized the danger of giving such
4 power to anybody in our country.
We rejected it for fear that it would
American products. We finally agreed
10 the embargo provision on eX-
ports that it might be used to
exclude supplies from Germany.
1.-The president placed cotton In
the embargo list, so that exports
from the war trade board. The regu-
lations with reference to license
that were established by the War
Trade Board during the past rev
months almost amounted to sup
preston of expectation. Five hun
dred thousand bales of cotton were
piled up in the ports. Licenses were
not issued for expectation and the
foreign market was greatly restrlIt~
cd. -
Il recall with pleasure-yes, with
pride-the criticism l placed upon
granting power to anyone to use the
embargo against the expectation OF
American products. L made that
criticism at the time this measure
was first pending before the senate,
end the senate struck out the prlVl1
eye. Subsequently we were assured
in executive session that II MouIo
be used only to keep commodities
from reaching enemy countries. anu
that Ii was essential to help WHIP
the Germans. ~
"Well. now the Germans are whip
ned, the real question with Germany
is whether she has strength enouS ~
10 sustain a government at all. u
is impossible for them to raise any
army of resistance against the al
lies. and vet what was the SITUATION
with reference to cotton eXporIa-
ton? l will give an Illustration ;
Spain was rationed at 5o'OOO paIes VI
cotton each month: this must De as
tributed among Spanish dealers; va
rious grades of cotton must be taken
Inv each. and no purchases could DC
made except upon PROOF tnat Saleo
had also been made abroad. ana no
more purchases could be maze loI
aocui"u'' Japan Cut of Ut
Japan, an ally, was practIcaiiy
ont off from purchase, ana japan
was in this position: India TINS year
has raised the smallest crop since
She began to cultivate cotton, no, no'
more than enough for her own mills.
Janan last year used 100000 bales
of ours. This year, because none can
he obtained from India, Japan Will
need a million bales. Yet shipments
of cotton OF Japan are greatly re-
stricted. Even England and france
received cotton with limitations OF
the privilege of shipment which han
iiicapped sales of cotton:
81 am not cr.ticiZing the past. we
were ready to stand much to whip
the Germans, and it was, such 9
glorious thing to whip them that
we all stood it without complaint,
and it was all right. L wish to con-
slider the present.
tions, these suppreSsiVe restrictions
as an incident to the war, were put
upon cotton with the view OF pro-
noting the national welfare and con-
tributing to the defeat Of the Ger
mans. I find it unnecessary to eX-
press an opinion now as to wheth-
err the course was wise or otherwise
1 am sure that the present onward
step will be taken in few days
and all restrictions as to the eXpor-
tation of cotton will be removed.
"I realize the burdens that have
been upon the War Industries BOARD
and upon the War Trade Board. Pa
triotic men of great ability have
ships have been occasioned by some
of their orders, We may not over
estimate tho contribution made by
the members of these boards toward
winning the war.
Board Government over
az 90 not believe in board govern
ment. We all stood it because we
had to whip the Germans. They were
so thoroughly organized that we con-
cluded we had to a little over-orgau'
ize ourselves to whip them. But
Germany will never be a military
menace to the world again.
Let us, as we move on with oul
legislative responsibilities, remem
Der that some of the things that have
been done in the direction Of ex-
treme organization ought not to Dt
considered presidents even in timt
of war.
Every possible facility should be
given at once to let every industry
in this country have what it needs