Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-30
CITIZENS
HEAR HOKE SMITH
DISCUSS COTTON

NEWMAN, Ga. - Addressing a
large audience of farmers and
representative business men. from
.CoWeta. and ajoining counties here
SatQGqay... Senator .Hoke Smith re-
AXjeWed at length the fight mare by
nina, during the past. five years, to
! broaden the market for cotton.
+ He gave an interesting history OF
/ the struggle which took place III
1914 when the war cut off from the
cotton grower a large part Of the
European market, calling attention to
|, the resolution introduced by him in
.,the, senate on October %, 1914, re-
ferring to publications in Great
Britain which claimed that the Brit
.ish government would seize all cot
ton shipped to northern and mid
die Europe.
"a committe," said the senator
was appointed by the senate to con
fer with the secretary of state and
learn whether the English govern
ment was responsible for these pub
LEGATIONS. On October rs the Brit
Hs1l ambassador replied, quoting Sil
Edward Grey, assuring the govern
;menty of the United States that cot
ton was free to so to their enemy
countries and to all parts of north
'ern Europe. In consequence of this
advice, cotton was being shipped tc
middle Europe within thirty days an6
|, between two and a half and three
million bales were absorbed by Ger
many and Austria alone. BY March
/, 1915, as a result Of this action
cotton rose to ten cents pound"
The senior senator then presented
a, detailed account of how later on
the policy of Great Britain changed
and, he told of the effort made by
that government to make UP to the
southern cotton grower the loss OF
the market which had been illegal
Iy cut. off, declaring that by the lat
ter, part of August, 1915. British in
fterests were upon the New York
stock exchange buying cotton heav-
f1y for the express purpose Of re-
lfeving the southern cotton grower,
which carried cotton beyond four
teen cents.
Senator Smith took occasion to
Fidicule the idea that this fight was
intended to help Germany and her
allies and declared it was solely to
serve his constituents and the south
orn COTTON grower.
Senator Smith then pointed out
the value of the American Cotton
association and congratulated the
farmers of Coweta county upon the
fact that he understood they had
Joined this association and were Civ
ing it cordial support, ongratu4ating
,thenE upon present. conditions and
Mpon the fact that they were now
selling their cotton for forty cents
d. pound. .~. ..-.
r He then launched into discussion
of the covenant of the League Of
Nations, insisting, that the League
should not be approved by the Unit
ed States without reservations
which would prevent Great Britain
from casting more than one vote
where the interests of this country
were involved; which, he said. woul7l
exclude domestic questions, such as
and labor problems,
from control by the League council
or assembly, and which, he said
would prevent manufactures from be-
ing placed upon the United States
unless approved by congress. He
vigorously declared his opposition to
Article 10 of the, League unless by
reservation it was expressly declar-
ed that the United States would not
Oblfgate itself to send boys to the
wars of the world and that they
should never be sent abroad to en-
gage in battle or for any purpose
to risk their lives unless congAAss,
responding to the wishes of the seo-
pie, determined that the particuTar
sacrifice was required by the cir
cunstances surrounding the war.
Senator Smiths speech was receiv-
ed with appreciation by the au-
dience and practically every person
present shook hands with him at the
conclusion.
The meeting was presided over by
Allan Freeman, who introduced the
senator.
The senator came from Atlanta in
a car with his son, Marion Smith,
of that city They were met by
largeI delegation from Coweta coun-
ty, among them Congressman w. c.
Wright and Judge r. w. Freeman.
They returned to Atlanta this after
noon and it is understood the senator
will remain at the Piedmont hotel
for few days before returning to
Washington.