Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-06
Alabama Legislature
VIII Not Meet to
Pass Cotton Measures

MONTGOMERY, Ala.-(SpeciaD-
Governor Kilby will not give Sc
rious consideration to the request
of J. S. Wannamaker. president Of
the American Cotton association,
for an extra session of the Ala
bama legislature for the establish
ment of a moratorium on taxes due
by cotton farmers and the enact
ment of legislation restricting the
cotton acreage next year by thirty
three and one-third per cent until
he is shown how the state govern
ment can exist without finances,
how cotton farmers can be bene-
fitted by postponement of the
payment of taxes temporarily and
how the legislation proposed can be
made constitutional, wise and prac-
teal.
Governor Kilby in a day letter.
made this. declaration in answer to
Mr.. Wannamaker's telegram re-
ceived several days ago. He doesn't
believe the matter of restricting
acreage or stabilizing prices is one
for the state government and he
informed Mr.. Wannamaker that the
matter was one for the considera
ton of organizations of farmers,
bankers and business men. Mr.
Wanaamaker made the same appeal
to the governor of each cotton
extra session Of each legislature be
held without delay and declaring
that this relief only can protect
the interests Of the cotton-growers
The renly of the governor fol
lows Your telegram requesting
that / call an extra session of the
legislatur of Alabama to convene
as speedily as possible for the pur
pose of passing legislation to post
pone payment of taxes in whole o.
in part until July next and to re-
quiree reduction in cotton acreage
is received.
"In my judgment the entire cot
ton problem, planting, ginning. mar
keting and manufacture, is one foi
consideration of people directly in
t ter and +, now Organized into cot
tions. bankers. merchants and othe'
business orga nizat lions and not 70,
the state governments. question
the constitutiorality wisdom ane
.nractioability of such legislation
opnon "0t to ho Ee TO Rexe yn4
could fupction for three-fourths Of
ye9r without funds.
Where would we get the money
for the education of the children
Of the state, pensions for old SOL
diers. payment of the military and
lew. enforcing officers. maintenance
of insane asylums and other elee-
mosynGry institutions, courts and
the various departments Of tbs
state? What would be our iustifica-
ton for ste piping the entire ma
chi1ery Of the government with all
quences in the interest Of one
comm odity? Would it be right to
deprive the cotton farmer him self
of all the benefits Of government
merely for the postponement of his
tax bill? Suppose the legislation
you suggest was enacted. how could
the measures be enforced without
2 furctio1ing state government?
Would you destroy the foundation
in order to give special protection
to one part of the suDers tructure
am interested as much as you OF
any person in the cotton farmer re.
ceiving just and reasonable prices
for his cotton and I had hoped
that the American cotton associa.
ton would so function as to ma
terially assist the cotton farmer
issued proclamation last week
calling upon the people Of Ala
bara to support the association.
UNLESS satisfa ctory answers car
be given to these questions,
shall be unable to give serious con
sheraton to your request"