Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-15
U.S.. SEES Dol SHEvIK PLOT IN SVvITCHMENS S
Coca-Cola Company Is Enjoined by Bottlers
TAKES ISSUE WITH
SENATOR HARRIS
ONCOTTON PRICES

! ONOOllOl l NlNLO
Editor The Journal: Your Sundays
paper carries an article from Hon.
w. T. Harris, senator from Geor-
eia. In this article, in discussing the
| fixing of a price for cotton during
the war, he makes some very in
teresting statements, which, II true
convinces me that I have done the
president very serious wrong. In
the third paragraph of his letter, TINS
statement is made: 1.-THE war indus
tries board claimed that under the
law, the president had the power to
fix the price of cotton, but he de-
clined." Now, who composed TINS
war industries board? Certainly
none except the presidents ap-
pointees. Farther along he says, III
blame is due for failure to fix the
price of cotton, that blame is on
the president, and if credit is due
that credit is his. Congress gave him
the power, but he did not exercise
it," ~
Either Senator Harris is wrong,
or the Congressional Record, and
every southern newspaper are I'M
mitigated liars. The facts as
have always understood them are
that the southern senators and con-
gressmen presented united front
against including cotton in the 1ood
control bill, and succeeded in get
ting our great staple removed from
the control Of the president or MS
war board.
There are few other things which
remember. In 1918, when Sena-
tor Harris was a candidate Tor the
senate. when the September crop re-
mort came out, cotton began jump
ing. and in a few days reached the
nrice of 361-2 to 81 cents at our
little inland market. Mr. Bernaro
Baruch, chairman of the war, boara,
came out with a statement that ms
board would "equalize the price or
cotton The price made perpen-.
dicular drop of about OF cents
i'm a few days. Mr.. Harris, know
ing that If this decline continued
he would be defeated for senator, ap-
pealed to Mr.. Wilson. l remember
hearing Mr.. Harris read the reply
he received. Of course, from mem
ory 1 cannot quote the exact word
ing of it. but I gathered the as
surance from it that the president
had no intention of interfering with
the natural law of supply and de-
mand.
On the strength Of this assurance.
prices began to recover. and Mr.. Har-
. ris was elected senator. = -
Very soon after the election the
war board again began its talk OF
stabilizing. Mr. Wilson gave II out
that he would appoint a single buy
ing agency to buy all cotton needed
by our government and by the aIl1es'
Immediately the price began to de-
cline again. On the signing OF the
armistice. on November IL, the price
embargo on shipments to foreign
countries, and there was steady
decline until October contracts
touched IS cents, and cotton actual
" sold for 10 cents on our streets.
And this condition of affairs lasted
until general clamor all over the
| country caused the abolfshment OF
| this precious war board, whose
Vaccinations cost the southern farm
ers over one billion dollars. Georgia's
| part being about one hundred mill
| lion. And now Mr.. Harris, after
| infamous Susan B. Anthony amend
ment, taking control of the ballot
| box away from the state and put
| ting it in the hands of the federal
| government, guaranteeing every ne
| gro man and woman in the country
| marshal or soldier behind it. poses
| as the great friend of the south, and
| his master as the greatest benefactor
we have ever had. Such balderdash
| is enough to turn the stomach of
| every true southerner.
| wiz he RI y,
| political waters and bring defeat and
shame to the greatest living Geor-
| gian, Senator Hoke Smith.
Now, Mr.. Editor, I do not have
access to the records, and the above
statements as to the cotton situa-
ton in the fall, winter and spring
of 1888 are made from memory.
may be mistaken in some in
stances, but believe them substan-
TALLY correct. If I do Mr.. Harris
an injustice L ask that you point it
out, and 1 will make all possible
! amends.
1 had the pleasure of hearing Sem
ator Smiths speach at Dublin on
last Saturday. 1t was one of the
very ablest I have ever heard fall
from the lips of man. 1t thoughly
impressed me with the vigorous
ator Smith, and if we can elect him
president of the United States, we
will have president broad enough
to consider the welfare and inter.
ests of the whole country, while
at the same time every drop of blood
pulsating through his heart would
be laden with love of his native
south. We would have no counter
felt southerner in the White House.
we would have no one there try
ing to gather into the hands of the
central government all power. But
rather one whose great purpose
would be to retrace our steps back
to states rights as far as in him
lay.
Yours truly,
J. P. MATHEWS.