Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-09-28
GERMANY IS EAGER J 10 PURCHASE CROP
 AMERICAN COTTON
So Declares Col. Oracle in a Speech to Jefferson
 Association
GERMANS ARE TOURING
 FRENCH BATTLEFIELDS
English Manufacturers Do Not Want Cotton Because EX- change Rate With U. s.
 Disadvantage

That the United States should inn mediately make peace with Germany and thereby provide a market for cotton to offset the condition now prevailing due to insanely jealous attitude of the British on account of the advantages the exchange rate gives America and which has resulted in a concerted reluctance on their part in buying the American crop, is the opinion of Col. John M. Oracle, Jefferson county cotton planter, ex- pressed in a speech before the Jef- ferson county unit of the American Cotton association during a luncheon at the Hotel Pines, today.
 Germans are eager to get Ameri- can cotton to build up their world trade and wish to compete with Eng land in the manufacture of the Am erican crop. Already the Germans are flooding the English markets with manufactured goods, labelling many of the articles, Made in Amer, ica' and Made in England,' the plant. CT stated.
 By making speedy peace with the Germans export cotton would receive much needed stimulus and prosper ity resulting from the commerce would be felt throughout the belt, according to Col. Oracle, who recent ly returned from Europe, where he ] made an extended tour.
 Efforts to deal individually with English firms for the purclCsses of cotton were without results the plant CT told members of the association. They prefer to deal as formerly through accredited agents, he said.
 Meets Many Germans.
 Contradicting what he termed newspaper "stories" that Americans were overrunning the battlefields of Europe, Col. Oracle stated that while touring the places of interest he met more Germans than he did Ameri- cans, most of them in France and Belgium visiting the graves of their dead, he stated.
 Col. Gracie's speech dealing with the European cotton situation fol- lows, in part:
 "I thank you for the honor you are conferring on me and regret that I cannot bring you cheering news of the cotton manufacturing condi- tions in England and Europe. But as you know from the news of the day the labor conditions of all Eu- rope are very unsettled-the spirit of bolshevism seems to have entered the ranks of labor and their demands are growing more and more arbitrary every day. Laborers are dictating to the governments of Europe not only relative to their industrial poli- cies, but also of political affairs as was illustrated recently when Eng land wanted to assist Poland by sup plying arms and munitions. The la Dor leaders of England called on Lloyd George and told him that they would "down tools" and stop the wheels of commerce. Hence only France went to the assistance of Po- land and helped her turn back the bolshevist forces.
 Coal Strike Illustration.
 The threatened coal strike in Eng land is another illustration of the demands of labor-they are not asf. ing for great advance in wages, on ly shilling ton but they demand a reduction of fourteen shillings and six pence in the price fixed by the government, showing the intent o1 their party to control the yovern met's policies
 I tried to get in touch witl both purchasers and manufacturers of cotton with view of dealing di rect with them, but found they dit not approve of dealing direct witt planters, as individuals but favored the old way of buying througl agents. I offered one big concerl both spot and future cotton and the, informed me that they were stock ed up with cotton and were not seek ing business because the exchang, condition was too much against them they bought 30 cent cotton from tn, are unjust because they said whe, they bough 30 cent cotton from tn, American market they had to pay 4, cents for it in English money. I be lieve, however, that a we'll organize, and we'll financed cotton association could arrange to sell in normal time to the English and French spinners
 T found the French people yer, kindly disposed toward America an, Americans, as all Europeans. know u and speak to us, but the English ar very jealous of us and resent ou taking the lead in finance and com merce from them. Hence, gentlemen it will take time and diplomacy [ change the present conditions an bring about closer relationship be tween the foreign buyer and spin ner and the cotton grower"