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SMITH DEXANDS PROMPT ACTION. Declares Government Cotton Estimates Erroneous-Demands Immediate Investigation. Washington, Aug. 1S.-Senator E. D. Smith, of Soub Carolina, today spoke at length in the senate in be half of a resolution which he intro duced, requesting the secretary of agriculture, if feasible, to issue a pre liminary report upon the conditioil of the cotton crop, and to make the re port public at the first possible mo ment. Senator Smith contends that it is only fair to the Southern cotton far mers that the department should issue a special statement of the condition of the crop now, in order to atone in some degree for the damage done to the farmer by tie advance estimate of June 25. In this connection, the sen ator read telegrams from the agricul tural department of the various cot ton States, tending to prove that the federal department's advance guess was heavily excessive. Supported by Simmons. Senator Simmons, of North Carolina, supported Senator Smith by calling at tention to the fact that the federal de partment's pessimistic guesses as to the corn cro- in the cotton States, where corn is subject to very much the same influences as tne cotton crop. Senator Burton, of Ohio, a corn growing State, endeavored to break the force of the South Carolinian's argument, but with no success, and also did Senator Burnham, of New Hampshire, a leading cotton mill State. Senator Smith agreed to referring his resolution to the senate committee on agriculture, if senator Burnham, the chairman, would promise to call the committee together at once to con sider it. The chairman promised, and the committee voted to submit the matter to~the secretary of agriculture, asking him to report, before the meet ing of the senate tomorrow, whe.her or not the request made in Senatcr Smith's resolution is feasible. Wilson Promises Reply. Chairman Burnham and 'Senator Smith went to see Secretary Wilson and communicated to him the commit tee's wish and the secretary promised to "talk -with the boys" who get up Nthe department's figures and let the senate know. In the event of an un tavorable answer from the secretary of agriculture, the South Carolina sen ator announces his intention to push hi resolution with all hie mnight. Senator Heyburn, who was in the chair when Senator Smith was speak lng today, asked the latter if his reso lution was offered as a substitute for the previous resolution, asking infor mation as to the methods employed by the department of agriculture in inaking advance estimates. Senator Smith replied emphatically it was not and that he would press both resolu tions separately. Senator Smith said cotton dropped $20 a bale on the strength of the gov ernment's report of a 3,000,000-bale in crease in this year's crop. "This estimate was made June 28," he declared, "before part of the crop was out of the ground." i Protest Apparently Unheeded. He said he protested to Secretary Wilson and was informed the secre tary did not know the preliminary re port had been issued and that it would not occur again. But on August 2 Senator Smith added, another glowing preliminary report was issued. "I should hate to draw in the .sen ate of the United States," Senator Smith said, "the conclusions that I might feel might be drawn from this remarkable report of the agricultural department. Either the commission ers of all the cotton States, men right on the ground and familiar with con ditions, are utterly mistalen or else the agricultural department is wrong in its deductions that' there will be a record crop this year.", On account of his belief that the cotton growers of the South have bee 1 heavy losers by the guesswork advance crop estimates of the department of agriculture Senator Smith of South Carolina, today issued the following statement intended to offset these er roneous estimates as far as possible: Senator Smith's Statement. On July 3 the agricultural depart ment issued its monthly crop report, giving the condition of the growing cotton crop as 88.2 per cent of normal, as compared with 80) per cent. as the average condition on June 25 during the past ten years. The number of acres to be harvested was estimated at 34,000,000. The following language, as reported by the press, was used as a deduction from these two facts: "The condition indicates a probable yield of 202.8 pounds per acre which, on 34,000,000 acres, would mean 6,895, 000.000 prounds, or about 14,425,000 bales." I saw the secretary of agriculture and he informed me that any estimate as to the probable yield that may have been issued from his department, bas ed upon a condition report, was with out his knowledge or consent, and would not occur again. On August 2 the crop reporting bu reau of the department of agriculture place the condition of the crop fron: estimates gathered up to July 25 al 89.1 per cent. of normal. An estimate was made ulon this, but marked it the press reports "unofficial," that th< probable yield would be 14,700,00( bales. I introduced a resolution in the sen ate requiring the secretary of agricul ture to furnish detailed information aE to the methods employed in ascertain ing the condition of the growing crop the names of the persons by States making the reports. Appeal From Sumter. On August 15 I received the follow ing telegram: "Sumter, S. C., August 15, 191. "The Hon. E .D. Smith, Washington, D. C.-Joint meeting Sumter Farmers union and chamber of commerce. Cot ton situation discussed. From infor mation cotton yield greatly overesti mated. Drought unbroken. Deteriora tion rapid and general. Request you urge department of agriculture make immediate investigation and publish results. (Signed) "E. W. Dabbs, "President Farmers' Union. "A. W. Snell, "Secretary. "R. I. Manning, "Acting Ch'm Chamber Commerce." I took the matter up with the de partment of agriculture, and the as sistant secretary informed me that the department had been discussing the advisability of making arrangements for an inter-monthly report when the conditions were extraordinarily un usual, but that they were not prepared to do this work efficiently in this em ergency; that it was only about ten days before they would issue their Au gust condition report. In order to get the facts officially as near as possible, I saw a senator from each of the nine principal cotton grow ing States and requested them to send the following telegram to the commais sioners of agriculture of their respec tive States: "Wire immediately what deteriora ton, if any, has taken place in condi tion of cotton crop your State since July 25. Also give prospective yield our State, this year, as compared with last year." The following replies have been re eived: ilne States IEespon1d. Jdckson, Miss, Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. John Sharp Willaias, Wash ington, D. C.-Deterioration 20 per cent.. Excessive rains. Overflow. Boll weevil and worms. Outlook not en couraging. (Signed) A. E. Blakeslee. Atlanta, Ga., August 15, 1911. Hon. A. 0. Bacon, Washington, D C.-Deerioration of cotton since July 26 is at least 20 per cent The' yield comparison to last year about the same. (Signed) T. G. Hudson. Montgomery, Ala., Aug. 15,1911. Hon. J. H. Bankhead, Washington, D. 0.-Deterioration since July 25 al least 15 per cent. Estimate the yield as compared with last year 5 per -cent greater. (Signed) I. F. Kolb. Austin, Tex., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. C. A. Culberson, Washington, D. 0.-Your wire 15th. Slight deter ioration in cotton crop since July 25. Prospects very slight increase if any, in yield in this State compared to last year. (Signed) Ed R. Kone. Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. James P. Clarke, Washington, D. 0.-Cotton crop has slight deprecia tion since July 25, caused by rain. In ferior fruitage and lateness of plant will not give us a crop exceeding last 'year,- notwithstanding fine appearance of stalk at this time. (Signed) Clay Sloan. Raleigh, N. 0., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. Lee S. Overman, Washington, D. 0.--Commissioner absent. No de terioration in cotton crop. Outlook for better yield than last year. (Signed) Elias Carr. Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. Murphy J. Foster, Washington ). C.--No reports of deterioration re ceived since date mentioned, though the continued rains now prevailing might prove disastrous. The present outlook indicates a third more cotton than last year. Oklahoma City, Okla., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. Robert L. Owen, Washington, D. C.-Practically no change in con dition of cotton since July 25. Estima. ed yield for this year 1,000,000 bales. (Signed) G. T. Bryan. Columbia, S. C., Aug. 15, 1911. Hon. E. D. Smith, Washington, D. C. -Yours even date. Our crop now in the midst of crucial period. In certain sections deterioration rapid and heavy. In many others none. Condi tion not as good as on July 25. Until end of August would not care to ven ture prediction as to total production. If no adverse conditions in three weeks this State's crop will be about an average crop. (Signed) E. J. Watson. Bumper Crop not Indicated. From the foregoing it will be seen that, according to the commissioners of agriculture of the States of Geor gia, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, the yield will probably be no greater in these States than last year. In Alabama deterioration since July 25 to August 15 has been 15 per cent., and with present prospects the yield only 5 per cent greater than last year. From North Carolina the report does not come from the commissioner. The increase, if any, is not indicated. From Louisiana the report is to the effect that the crop would be a third greater than last year. Louisiana made last year, according to the de partment, 256,375 bales. From Oklahoma the report is to the effect that they will make 1,000,000 bales. Oklahoma, mane last year, ac cording to the department, 955,951 bales. From South Carolina the report is that, if conditions remain practicaly the same, the yield will be about an average crop. The conclusion, there fore, from these reports would seem to be, taking the increase\of Oklaho ma, Louisiana and North Carolina and Alabama, not exceeding 1,000,000 bales. The conclusion drawn from these reports are widely at variance with the preliminary estimate made by the department of agriculture. The stock of cotton on hand Is, per haps, the smallest in more than a de cade. Were there to be an unusually large crop, the world has need for every pound of It at a much higher price than they are now offering. I hope the farmers will see to it that they shall not be deceived, stampeded and led Into sacrificing their cotton gy these reports.. -Act wisely and coneervatively. 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