davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1919-09-18
COTTON SITUATION
PLAINLY TOLD
Best Known Authority on Cot
ton in Eastern Arkansas
Writes interesting Letter
For Argus Readers

In times like these nobody but
a crook or a fool, and we lay
no claim to being either, would
attempt to forecast with any
degree of certainty the price of
cotton during the coming sea-
son; but there are certain fun
damental facts that it will be |
well for those, who have cotton |
to sell to consider.
1t is the custom of the man
who has cotton to sell to con-
slider only the size Of the crop
and this being the fifth short |
crop in succession, we are prone
to take that view only and to
feel because Of such, we should
have and will get abnOrmally
high prices.
We agree that we should have
abnormally high prices, because
we have to pay such prices for
all we eat and wear.
But it is just as important
that we should consider Con-
sumption as well as production,
in figuring the possible price of
cotton. 1t matters not how lit
tie is produced, if that little is
more than the mills can con-
sumo on account of lack of la
Dor or the short hours that la
Dor is willing to work; and If
that little is more than they can
consume, it is certain that we
will not see the record for high
price cotton.
Let us make ourselves per-
fectly clear-It is a fact that
the demand for drygoods is far
beyond the supply and that the
prices asked for and had are
higher today than at any time
in the history of the world; but
what makes cotton go down and
drygoods go up? The answer
lies in the labor situation. A mill
that has a capacity in normal
times, say when labor is work.
ing fifty-six hours a week, to
spin 5000 bales, can only spin
a traction less than four thOuS-
and when working only forty
four hours a week. And when
we consider that labor spends
a fairly good proportion of its
time in strikes and walk-Outs,
the possible consumption Is
still further reduced.
With this ratio of reduction in
all of the spindles of the world,
it can readily be seen that the
prospective crop of eleven mil
lions of bales, together with the
carry-Over, will furnish ample
cotton to keep the mills supplied
On the other hand the de-
mand for the finished product
is greater than the mill can sup
ply on account of the short
working hours and two buyers
stand in front of every one piece
of goods that comes from the
loom, begging for it at any price
the spinner sees fit to ask.
1t seems to us as if the whole
world had gone crazy-bug-
house; Economy and discretion
have been thrown to the winds.
We eat just as much breakfast
bacon at Is cents as we used
to eat at 25 cent. Welfare will
ing to pay just as much for what
we wear as the retailOr asks.
We consume just as much at
the present prices as. we did in
the pre-war period.
Much is being said and little
is being accomplished In the
High Cost of Living. We doubt
if any remedy is possible by leg
islation, even if the mvestiga-
tors were competent and in
earnest, both of which we doubt
the only remedy is for the
proletariate to produce more
The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1919-09-18
St. Francis Motor Co., Brinkley, Ark.
hartz Hardware Co., Wheatley, Ark.

ing votes where it only takes
to elect.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Toronto's Point Of Vieac

"The Toronto Mail and Express''
feels forced to a lengthy discus
sion of the problem and gives ex-
preston to antitrust sentiment as
follows:
eff there is to be a real endeavor to
control the course of meat prices it is
not the net profits of the companies
which should be the principal object of
attack, but the system whereby they
control the meat trade of the country.
The concentration of control of the
meat trade in the hands of few gil
gantic packing concerns is danger
''The New York Journal of Com
merce" asks if the packers "are
aware there is such thing as dan
gerous public opinion, and are they
recklessly acting in defiance of
their better judgnent?' This fnan-
cial organ then goes on to say:
of the people become obsessed, as
they will if provoked with the idea
that the high cost of food is seriously
aggravated by the profiteering of few
powerful men, they will adopt the
quickest aud easiest measures of relief,
namely, rigid government regulation,
or, worse still, public ownership, both
of which measures would find favor
with conservative Socialists and ex-
IRENE radicals alike. Surely the food
barons are alive to the consequences
of their acts and the folly of defying
public opinion, especially when that
opinion has it's origin in the human
stomach. Europe is a warning of the
effect of hunger on the public mind"
The New York Tribune asserts
that the Trade Commission "is
strong on description of conditions,
but weak on prescription Of rene
dies" and adds:
THE packers are unpopular, but even
more unpopular are high prices Of
food. If the packers give more for less
they will get the customers, and rail-
ing at unfair competition will not head
them off. If other food distributors
| would keep the packers within bounds
they must develop ways Of lessening
the margin between what is paid to
producers and what is charged to GUS
toners. On this vital problem the COM
mission is practically silent-has ap-
parently nothing constructive to offer
and this means that it's report, while
interesting, is of little practical value"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
TIE Detroit Nelus.

league to be head of an organization
working against it, was not allowed
to testify other than to say that Mr..
Patterson was representing an or
ganlzation the name Of which
johnson did not know.
When Attorney Hoke asked the
witness who comprised the organiza-
ton Assistant Attorney General j.
E. Markham said:
There is no possible relevancy to
this. The defence repeatedly has re-
ferred to some organization opposed
to the activities of the Nonpartisan
League If there were a dozen of them
it would make no difference, so far as
the indictments against Townley and
Gilbert are concerned'
> The states objection was upheld.
Patterson was in court waiting to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

not to remain in France with the
army of occupation or its service
of supplies will be on his way
home within month, according 20
Major General David c. Shanks.
commanding the port of debarsa-
ton, Hoboken. General March,
chief Of staff, cut the authority of
army courts martial by taking
away from them the power of de-
claring death sentences or the dis
missal of officers from the army.
Henry Ford in his 100000 libel
suit against "The Chicago Daily
Tribune" testified that he favors
another great war without delay If
the league of nations falls through.
He defined an idealist as zone who
helps others TO make a profit"
and said he thought history all
bunk" and that he was ignorant
on most things, but was beginning
to like art a little and had got
along far enough with music to
like the banjo. Senator Sherman,
CT Illinois, charged in the Senate
that Edsel Ford was "a Presiden-
tial pet" and that he was exempt
ed from military service by an
abuse Of Executive power
Governor Smith called special term
of the Supreme Court for August
IL to investigate the Reds. The
authorities of Ohio and Illinois
have sent representatives here to
consult with the Lusk committee,
with view to starting Red inves-
legations in the Middle West.
The New York Milk Committee. as
the result OF a national survey, pre-
diets record baby crop in the
United States this year.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
State Blocks Evidence

Successful objection by the state
to the introduction of evidence which
the defence charged would prove a
political frame-up" against Town
ley and Gilbert, and the appearance
of many witnesses who asserted that
Townley's speech at Cambridge,
Mimi, February 1S, 1918, was not
unpatriotic, marked the session on
the day Immediately preceding the
day Of the verdict
Clarence F. Johnson, Of Marine,
Mimi, who stated that he formerly
was in the employ of Charles Pat
terson, of st. Paul, alleged by the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
The Week at Home

States Shipping Board, which had
crease The increase was not sat-
isfactory to the men, because it
did not carry with it the eight
hour day and the preferential en-
ployment of union men. The rail
road administration considered an
embargo on some classes of export
freight likely. to follow the sea-
mems strike.
The War Trade Board section of the
State Department authorized the
immediate resumption of CONNER
cal relations with Germany. Post
master General Burleson announced
the resumption of mail service to
Germany.
Daylight saving was saved by the
failure of the House to pass over
the Presidents veto the agricult-
ural appropriation bill with the
daylight saving repeal rider.
The drys Mn the House won such q
decisive victory in the fight to put
the ban on all beer in the prohbi-
ton enforcement bill that they
now threaten to deny the right 70
store in the home liquor bought
before July l.
Republican Senators said the Prcsi-
dents nomination of John Shelton
Williams to be Controller of the
Currency for a new term of five
years would be rejected by the
Senate. Representative McFadden,
of Pennsylvania, said he would im-
peach Williams on the floor of the
House if his nomination were con-
tlrmcd by the Senate.
The last man of the A. E. +. who is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

was Of German manufacture and
intended to create trouble between
Japan and her allies. He said,
also, that Japan had solemnly
promised to return the Shantung
peninsula to China, retaining only
the privilege of establishing a set
tlement there similar to the for
eign settlements in Shanghai.
President Wilson will send a copy of
his own draft of the league cove
nant to the Senate. This will
show, it is said, that the President
is the author of Article x, which
has been the most controversial
article in the treaty.
President Wilson sent word to the
Foreign Relations Committee that
he would be glad to see the COM
mittee at the White House at any
time on twenty-four hours no
iice. Until this message was re-
:eived it had been the understand
ing that the Presidents offer hao
been to appear before the commit
tee at ths Capitol. The President
met his Cabinet for the first time
in nearly seven months. A large
number of domestic problems were
discussed and the President gave
the Cabinet dVails of the peace
negotiations. 1t is believed that
the Presidents tour of the country
to champion the League of nations
and tho peace treaty may be-
gin at an enrlicr date than at first
planned, as the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee does not seom
in hurry to question him.
The seamcns strike tied up 100000
tons Of shipping in the Port Of
New York. Two-thirds of the ton
mage was owned by this United
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Up to Higher Court

"The court has decided on the mo-
ton. You have your rights to take
exception and to let the Supreme
Court rule on the matter"
Townley, after brief conference
with his attorneys, announced that
in view of Judge Deans decision he
had decided to rest his case without
argument.
II believe that my interests as
citizen and defendant will best be
served in this manner unless / can
address myself To the jury" said
Townley.
Judge Dean, in his charge to the
jury, discussing the conspiracy
phase, said:
Conspiracy is combination of
men for an evil purpose; an agree
mcnt between two or more persons to
commit a crime in concert; a plot. A
conspiracy may be proved as other
facts are proved. by circumstantial evi-
dence, and persons performing dis
connected overt acts all contributing
to the same result and the consQmma-
ton Of the some offence may, by the
circumstances and their general con
nection, or otherwise, satisfactorily
show the conspirators and confeder-
ates in the commission Of the offence.
"A common design In the essence Of
the charge, and this may be made to
appear when the defendants steadily
pursue tho same object, whether acting
separately or together, by common or
different means, all leading TO the same
unlawful result.
Tho concurrence Of mind, essential
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

a block away most Of the time, So
Letting Nonpartisan League mem
berships.
Herman Rossow, a farmer living
near Lakefield, testified that he was
with Irving Freitag, league
organizer, for some time and that
he never heard Freitag make any
disloyal remarks.
On cross-examination Rossow ad-
mitted that he attended what Prose
cutting Attorney Nicholas referred
to as an anti-draft meeting.
Were not delegates appointed at
that meeting to attend the anti
draft meeting held later at New
Ulm %
II don't know" the witness re-
plied,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Attacking the Five
Packers and High
Food Prices

with profiteering, because they made
@. It. the household bills the retailers
psA sed it on to the middlemen and
the packers, and the packers have
been busy proving that it was all
the faa Mt of the stock raisars. And
now the cattlemen appeal to the peo-
pie to eAt more meat. 1t might be
regarded imply as an instance of
colossal neo e if it were not for the
hope that the stock growers are
really in ear. nest and may join
hands with the consumer in fixing
the responsibility for abnormal
prices"
"The Chicago Ew ening Post" de-
clares that lone migl It imagine that
this commission Fe deral Trade
Commission] does notl aing-which,
indeed, is not far from he truth
but hound the packers, tn. ough they
were charged by the Preside mt to in
vestigate all food condition. }"
Something must be done, an 4 The
Posts idea of that something = for
Congress or the President to ret uve-
nate this discredited Federal Tn de
Commission. which as an example AZ
bureaucratic ineficiency has a marking
Of 100. Make it body that will COM
mand public respect and the condolences
of Congress. Then turn it loose on
the packers and all others suspected of
profteering.
Shouting 'Bolshevism. in stentorian
tones is not going to allay the present
social discomfort, which finds express
sion nowadays in almost every public
gathering. 1t is high time that those
guilty of withholding bread from the
mouths Of the hungry should be pun
ished and made to walk the strait
and narrow path in the future.
"But no measure based on the find
ings of the present Federal Trade Com
,, mission will elicit intelligent public
support or the right kind of Congress
sional action
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

treaty fight began in the
Senate over the provisions
of the Shantung settlement.
Senator Lodge called it "the
price paid to Japan for her sigma
ture to the league of nations"
Senator Moses said it was "the
bride to Japan" Senator Norris
described it as "a wicked decree,
with the United States the only
member Of the court that was not
brbed." Democratic attempts to
defend the settlement were made
by Senator Hitchcock, who said it
was "a benefit to China" and by
Senator Williams, who called it "a
rock wall too high to climb over
and too thick to butt through"
A resolution adopted by the Foreign
Relations Committee calls on the
President for transcript Of all
the proceedings Of the peace con-
ference. This resolution was Of
fcred by Senator Johnson. The
Senate adopted a resolution Of
sercd by Senator Lodge calling
for the text Of the reported treaty
between Japan and Germany. The
committee also adopted the Borah
resolution inquiring about the re-
ported protest of three members
of the American peace mission
Lansing, White and General Bliss
against the Shantung settlement.
The charge daf1nires Of the Japa-
nese Embassy in Washington de-
MED that Japan had made any
agreement with Germany since
Japan entered the war and said the
so-caIlcd Japanese German treaty
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Wayside Points
of View
Ratification

My men have not been able to
find a single anarchist in the city
for the last three weeks" declares
the head of the bomb squad of detec-
tives. And still the question is,
What is an anarchist" -PhilcdeE-
phia Bulletin.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

George Washington never made
any Homecoming speeches. Georges
speciality VS. a farswell.--Tolado
Blade.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Ambassador Harden?

Max Harden for Hun Ambassador
to Washington! Impossible, Think
of how much truth he has told
Washington Post.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

be called as a witness for the de-
fence.
The ruling out of the Johnson
testimony brought some warm
clashes between the attorneys. 7.
V. Sullivan, representing the league,
told Prosecutor Nicholas the defence
could show that "there is frame
up, and you are in it."
Court Rebukes Lawyer
Judge Dean stopped Sullivan by
saying the court had been too
lenient with the lawyers and that
few arrests probably should have
been made.
Representative A. C. WEIGH, of
Glencoe, testified that when Town
ley spoke at Glencoe, f. A. Teigen,
the states leading witness, was half
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
More Of the Charges

The report adds that these big
Five" have even begun to deal in
staple groceries and vegetables, such
as rice, potatoes, beans and coffee.
The report says that since 1917 the
price of rice, as an example, has
gone up 65 per cent. Canned goods
are also listed as under control of
the big Five"
That the packers have gone into
foreign fields and have established
branches in Europe and that they
control over half the export in beef
trade from Argentina are additional
allegations.
From the foregoing the Trade
Commission concludes that the "Big
Five" are developing an organiza-
ton capable of controlling food
prices all over the United States
and possibly elsewhere. This is the
belief of "The Boston Globe which
says:
Government reports do not class
as hammock literature for summer
afternoons. But the Federal Trade
Commission has just produced one
which, while it may not be warm
weather reading, is likely to produce
warm weather in those who read
it.
'1ts accuracy is certainly to be
sharply challenged" adds this paper,
"for it is description of how the
packing industry has brancE1ed out.
/. Three columns long though
it may be, it is we'll to read as much
Of the text of the report as news
paper can print. To do so is an
exercise in that kind of study and
thinking which must be undertaken
by all of US before the country can
be in position to deal intelligentiy
with the problem Of getting prices
down to their normal levels. 1t will
take more than grumbling to do it. "
The Answer Of Sseitt
Louis F. Swift, speaking for the
"Big Five" as we'll as for his own
company, characterized the report as
an attack upon successful business
that it juggles figures and resorts
to sensationalism that in SO far as
he is concerned it contains no evil
dence of collision among the five
largest packers, and that the report
is prejudiced and unfair. Of the
total receipts of the packers he said
that IS per cent is paid for the live
animals alone, IS per cent for wages
and transportation and about 2 pei
cent is net profit.
Commenting upon the government
report, 'The Emporia Gazette" OF
Kansas, says:
I'm that statement are found some Of
the reasons for the high cost Of living
and the low price of cattle. Combina
tons are necessary in modern economic
distribution. They cannot be prevented
and they should be encouraged bu
they should be regulated. They shouls
be made to serve private gain only a
they serve public good in an immeas
urably larger degree than they serv
private gain.
The packers and all their activitie
should be made public utilities. The
should be subject to stringent regula
tion and Federal control. They shout
be wise enough to accept this regula
ton and control in good will; if the
balk they will fare worse. For the pee
pie, after all, will run this government
And the people are greater than tn
packers"
Sat last accounts" remarks 9TH
Philadelphia Bulletin" ''the 'hucl
Of the responsibility for high price
rested with the stock raisers. TIL
people charged the meat dealer
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

IN I'M "A e - ASSOCIATED WIFI
Il the FESTIVE spirit of the worlds
Il population is the continued rise
in the prices of foods. This is
frankly and generally conceded. In
the United States it has centred
about the packers; or the manufact-
ure. sale or distribution of meat
products, and the governments
promise made shortly after our ad-
vent into the great war to supervise
the nations subsistence, with assur-
ances that the consumer would not
suffer after the conclusion of peace.
The Federal Trade Commission
has before Congress a bill known
as the Kenyon-Andcrson bill, which
would give the government control
over the packing industry. The
measure is a result of an investiga-
ton by the Federal board which
charged, according to it's own data,
that
The "Big Five" packers, sepa-
rately or together, control STA COM
panies; that they have minority
interest in IS and an undetermined
interest in 93-a total Of 1852 COM
panies. These companies are said to
deal in IT'S different kinds of COM
modities, mostly food products. But
the report lists poultry, cheese and
eggs, railways and private car lines,
shipping, banking, coal, feed, fenc-
ing, fertilizer, hardware, lumber, ce-
ment, lime, brick, plaster, sand,
gravel, roofing and grain elevators
as also within the scope of the So
called combination.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Calls Common, Sense Lay


"The application of common sense
written into words and applied to
the rules of life is law, your honor"
said the Nonpartisan League head.
Colbert has quit. Suppose he would
decide to plead guilty? Would chat
mean that I am guilty? I feel that
l am innocent, and l ask for the
right to make my own plea" AS
sistant Attorney General Markham
objected, holding that the court
cauld not properly grant the de-
PENDANTS request. Judge Dean then
asked the attorneys to submit
authorities on the issue, and Town
ley took his chair while the lawyers
argued.
Judge Dean denied Townley's re.
quest to address the jury.
GAS the jury has been excused,
the court may discuss the issue"
said Judge Dean. "The defendant
has not seen fit to submit himself to
ross-eXamination, but he seeks to go
before the jury and give his version
of the literature that was put out by
the league. Now, then, that would
be version without an opportunity
on the part of the state to cross-ex-
anime or even to reply to the state
ment. There is the difference"
~ am indicted in this case! This
case means my life!" shouted Town
ley when Prosecutor Nicholas urged
the court to dispose of the issue
"The county attorney may not
think much Of this case, but it
means my lifework and everything
to me and 100000 other people,"
81 have given the matter consid-
cradle thought, Mr.. Townley," said
Judge Dean. II will admit this is a
close question and l would like the
Supreme Court to settle it. think
that ] will have to deny this re-
quest"
II take the position, your honor"
said Townley, chat money cannot
measure the difference between my
capacity to present this case to the
jury and the capacity of these at
torneys, with all due Difference to
them"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

to a conspiracy, may be proved by
direct or circumstantial evidence. or
both.'