The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-12
COTTON GAMBLERS
 CAN BE CURED IS
 CONFER ASSERTION
Opposes HefIin Plan for h. veStigation and Says it Is Time for
 Action

Former Senator B. B. Conner yes terday called attention to a statement of senator Heflin to the effect that Congress is unable to regulate the cotton market. All attempts to con- trol cotton exchanges have proven futile and he fayors an investigation of them.
 Senator Heflin's assertion In so far as Congress regulating prices of cot ton Is concerned is correct" said Mir. Conner, "but Congress can and should regulate and in the largest measure control the gamblers on the cotton exchanges. This is proven by the present federal laws regulating cot ton deliveries on the exchanges as compared with past cotton exchange transactions.
 Senator Heflin evidently WAS busy with his senatorial campaign two years ago and did not read the dis cussions made by mex and Senator Ransdeli when this bill was before the Senate. He evidently has not read any of the congressional investiga- tions on the cotton exchange gam blers' debaucheries. Also he overlooks the great fact that nobody has ever claimed that you could make prices by law. By law you can limit the activity of gamblers in a city; you can lirit the race horse gambling; you can limit saloon activity; you can limit liquor debaucheries of every kind; you can limit robbery; you can nX Af the higher crimes, but because it is all not estopped is no reason why the law should not go to the farthest ex- treme to protect the innocent.
 "Regarding the senator's proposed investigation l will refer him to a book belonging to the congressional library which l loaned Senator Shep- pard of Texas, and which contains many markings by myself and which book was a compilation of tho con gressional Investigation made on this very subject and was most complete and showed in the worst possible light the way the gamblers on the cotton exchanges robbed the people.
 Senator Capper's bill did not make the price of grain but helped take care of the grain farmer. Senator Diars bill will not make the price of cotton but will help prevent the gam bier from manipulating the price of cotton and as such, is most important to every producer or dealer in cotton.
 "The legislature of Louisiana re- gently passed a resolution condemn ing the Dial bill, saying it was spin ner's bill. This was propaganda from the New Orleans cotton exchange.
 T assert again in the strongest terms possible that there is no such thing as a spinner's bill. There are Just two laws governing the cotton exehange-one in the interest of the producer and business man and the other In tho interest of the gambler. and Congress must choose between the two.
 "The inane propositions frequently made by Senator Ellison smith re- garding cotton investigations was never worth the time to make the motion. What the cotton interests need is full study of the question and bill protecting these most un- protected of people-the cotton people.
 'We do not think these most seri- GUS times afford occasion for accusa- tions. recriminations and investiga- tions. but should be confined to solv- ing the vital matter concerning the people and which need all the time of our legislators as never before"