Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-04
BROWNPROTESTS
REFUSAL TO LIFT
COTTON EMBARGO
Commissioner of AgricuI-
ture Says South Is Being
Sacrificed to Protect the
French Textile Industries

d. j. Brown, Georgia state COHl-
missioner of agriculture, on SatNr-
day voiced a vigorous protest
against President Wilson's reported
determination to veto any legiSla-
ton looking to removal of the en-
barge on exports of cotton.
according to the Washington
dispatches" said Commissioner
Brown, France furnishes the key
note to this perpleXing problem The
dispatches say that France is bit
terly opposed to sending cotton into
Germany on the ground that Ger
many in an enemy country. with
whom peace has not yet been CON
cluded, and that Germany is in a
position to take an economic adVah-
tage of France The dispatches
further tell us that Germany can
begin the spinning of cotton tomor
row and France cannot, and that
this fact explains the whole situa-
ton as presented to President Viii
son.
All of us know" continued Com
missioner Brown, that the wal is
renew hostilities. And yet across
the ocean comes the long, loud cry
that the war isn't over. Maybe the
people of the south will swallow
all around US the actual evidence
that the war is over. We see the
government sending home the
troops as fast as ships can bring
them. We see the special boards OF
various kinds dismissed in Washing
ton. We see the fuel administration
surrendering it's functions. We see
the food administration rapidly clos
we Fought for Seas
I'VE went into the war because
the imperial German government OF
dered us to get off the ocean. to
stop our export trade and keep our
people on this side of the water.
The people of the south were no.
willing for the United States to make
a cowardly surrender of its rights
on the high seas, and they support
ed the war with men and money.
''Not only did the, south respond to
| every call that was made for men
and money. but she gladly cut down
her cotton acreage and increased
food crops, and she did not wait for
the government to guarantee min
imum price on these food crops. New
the war is over. While the western
wheat farmers are exacting their
obligation from the government 70
the last dollar, what do we ask? we
do not ask the government to pay us
money. We ask the government to
take it's hands off our cotton and let
| it go forth to a hungry market. we
ask the government to allow the al
| lied and neutral countries to Ouy
what they want, instead of being linn
| tied to driblets prescribed by a gov
eminent official. What would be the
| harm, as suggested by Congressman
| Hefin. of Alabama. in allowing Ger
many and Austria to buy two mil
| lion bales, the amount they need
| and store it in this country penang
| the conclusion of the peace treaty?
Sacrifice for Sentiment"
1--WE did not go into the war to
maintain a balance of commerce be-
| tween the nations of Europe. Now
| that the war is over, why should
we wait on any such program: TIE
world needs cotton. Not Germany
alone, nor Germany and Austria, hut
all other nations. If German c ON
also cripple France? why would
| not American competition cripple
France? If we must give France ar
equal start. why not lay an embargc
against all the nations? Is the south
| to be sacrificed on the altar OF SEN
| timent while western wheat farm ors
are collecting their cash guarantees
| from the government?
Our only hope lies in holding
our cotton-holding every Bale, hold
embargo restrictions will have to oe
lifted. Then we will be able to sci
| our cotton to the highest bidder ir
| open competition. AS matters nov
! stand, the United States government
| is suppressing competition"