Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-05
TO ASK WILSON
TOTAKECOTTON
EMBARGO OFF

ATLANTA, March all Of the
Southern Senators except one have
Joined in signing an urgent appeal to
take cotton off the embargo list, the
petition to be presented to the Pres
dent within few days, according to
advices received here. The paper was
prepared by Senator Hoke Smith, and
carries the signature of all Southern
Senators except one. 1t as follows:
''Mr President, we respectfully urge
the necessity for Immediately remov-
ing cotton from the embargo list.
THE present price at which cotton
sells is below the estimated cost Of
production in many localities. Bank
ers and merchants have advanced up
on it in many instances beyond the
prices at which it now sells.
This situation is demoralizing bust
ness conditions in the States where
cotton is raised, and threatens serious
financial loss to cotton growers and to
merchants and bankers who have adj
vanced money upon cotton.
Cotton, now on the embargo list,
can only be exported where the ex-
portation is approved by the War
Trades Board. A number of us have
learned recently of large sales of cot
ton which would have been made to
neutral countries, but for the fact that
the War Trades Board refused licenses
and cotton, being on the embargo list,
could not be exported without the
licenses.
That you may appreciate the con-
dition and the injury that this re-
striction of markets places upon the
holders of cotton, we call your atten-
ton to the fact that cotton was sell
ing last September for SO cents per
pound 1t was then that the subject
of cotton was referred to the War
Trades Board with view to stabil-
izing the price, or fixing the price
This interference with the market
broke the price and demolarized pur-
chases so that buyers ceased to pur-
chase at the SO cents and bid down
the market to around 80 cents pound.
The War Industries Board finally de-
termined that it had no authority to
fix a price and no power to maintain
it, but the injury had already been
done.
Then it developed that the War
Trades Board was seriously interfer-
ing with the export of cotton by re-
stricting licenses for shipment even
to countries not contiguous to Ger
many and Austria, and from which
countries cotton could not have
reached either of the enemy countries.
This still further demoralized the cot
ton market and forced down the price.
IF cotton is taken off the embargo
list, broader opportunities for sale at
once will follow, and the injury which
has been done to cotton raiser and
merchants and bankers in the sections
where cotton is raised will be reduced
I'VE earnestly appeal to you to take
cotton off the embargo list and permit
it normally to be sold and shipped
where purchasers are willing to buy.
THE cotton raiser has suffered
more from the war than any class of
our citizens. He is not now asking
the government to give him the assis-
lance which is going to other farm
products. We only ask that he be re-
lieved from burdens placed upon him
by his own government"
This paper was signed by the Sena-
tors from North and South Carolina.
Georgia, Florida Alabama, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ok
lahoma and Texas