The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-03
NOT FOR PUBLIC
Allen WithhOIdS Criticism OF
His Cotton Stand.
Telegram Attacking SpecuIa-
tors Is Sent to Wannamaker.

Another chapter was added to the
-Wannamaker cotton acreage
controversy when the Kansas COVER
nor sent the chairman of the South
Carolina Cotton association a telegram
asserting that cotton spectators and
bankers and not the growers are at
tempting to thwart the economic
forces of the world and break the
laws of the land in an effort to re-
duce ~the 1919 acreage.
Governor Aliens original cotton
statement came several days ago in
answer to an invitation from Wanna
maker to attend a conference to cut
down the acreage. Since that time
he has had several replies to his views
on the matter. 1t seems, however.
that he does not care to make public
the replies he received-especiall
those which were adverse to his criti-
cism Letters condemning his stand
tho are being confidentially exhibited
about the governors office
Telegram to Wannamakcr.
Aliens telegram to Wannamaker
follows:
acknowledging your kilograms asking
for a further statement of my position
upon the effort to reduce cotton acreage ,'o
to rest upon the right of any group OF
men to combine ,r for ,t the restraint TTd1t
Commission has published list
of questionable practices which the
commission condemns, and among them
are trying to accomplish. One forbids the
entering into an agreement or understand
ing or pool by. competitors to maintain
prices or allot business The other Tor
bids agreement among competitors to limit
output 1t strikes me that you gentlemen
must be rather sure Of yq4F tn rug
so contrary to a declared public policy.
Having read an entire set OF circulars
which the cotton reduction propaganda mas
issued for the purpose of inspiring a small
acreage of cotton, l am constrained TO pc
heve that it is more or a movement IN tue
ton of the product, than in the growing
thereof.
whether any class of business men, having
purchased a widely needed commodity on
the market with the expectation that 1t
would go higher. should be allowed TO re-
coup their losses by Sitting production.
Your own declaration before the South
Carolina legislature February Is, that you
expected critical shortage of cotton pc
fore the 1919 crop became available, makes
it perfectly apparent that you recognize
the present cotton condition Is not gong
to continue. and that situation, which IN
evitably will become critical, you hope TO
make even more critical by creating Il con-
dition in which there VII not 11otn be enough
Il am receiving letters and telegrams
from many of your own people informing
me that this movement Is III the Interest u
specuIators and not of the cotton grower.
For the hard working cotton farmer of the
south I have the utmost respect and wish
for him the same degree of comfort that
may come to the farmers of other states;
but I am no more in favor of a deliberate
combination to reduce the cotton output
of the world than l would be in favor OF
a like combination to reduce the wheat out
put the corn output. or that of meat pro
ducts. If governmental action is necessary
to stabilize the price of cotton in the period
of industrial and economic readjustment
| will be glad to assist in the consideration
of such plan, but 1 cannot bring myself
to approve in the face of the great need of
the world reduction in necessary COM
modities.
I'm answer to your question as to
whether the people of the south. are as
hard working, intelligent and as eco
nomical as the people of the north and
west will say that there are no sectional
lines In industry or in honesty" ass