The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, April 16, 1914, Image 4

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LOSE GREAT SUMS MISHANDLING OP COTTON IN THE COUTHJBRN STATES MEANS HUGE LOSS TO PLANTERS Farmers of the Southern States Fare Great Annual Loss in the Wasteful Methods Used in Shipping and Haling Their Cotton?MuAt Improve It. It has been estimated by students of the cotton industry as it exist* today that the American people are losing $75,000,000 per annum from the mishandling of their cotton crop. Our present system of procedure Is both slipshod and wasteful. Therefore, one of the vital problems confronting the people to-day is the efficient and economical handling and marketing of the products of the soil. It presents a problem of vast magnitude both from an agricultural and economic viewpoint, and it is a problems in which every wearer of cotton goods is interested. It so happens that cotton, the purest known natural form of cellulose, will bear more abuse than any other crop material and yet retain a large proportion of its original value. Corn, because of its perishable nature, demands far .better treatment, and receives it. If our billion-and-a-halfdollar corn crop wero treated onehalf as badly as our cotton crop it would no doubt shrink in value half a billion dollars annually. There are corn cribs on the farms and elevators and warehouses at the railroad stations and primary and secondary , markets for the protection of the crop in general. Still, 10 bushels of corn, worth ordinarily at market prices from $5 to $6, requires as much space as a bale of cotton, for storage, which is valued at from $50 to $60. Pntf nn nlaniope nnroiot in npn/liin. V/v UI.V * W 1 U jpvsl UJIOV A 11 | / A V/U UV ing too many varieties in each community, and are careless in picking and in handling unginned and ginned cotton on the plantation. Nevertheless, in a broad sense the individual farmer is unable, because of the complexity of the present system, to cope with the great problems that exist. Most of the abuses with which spinners, especially foreign spinners, charge the American planter arise after he has parted with his cotton and when he no longer lias any voice in Its treatment, These facts must he clearly recognized as necessary and permanent reforms can be brought about only by community action among the planters and by co-operation between growers, ginners, compress men, common carriers, bankers, buyers, spinners and merchants. An occasional period of low prices is not as serious a danger to the American cotton industry as continual high prices that servo tc stimulate a rapid development of cotton in foreign lands. A well established foreign market means an ultimate reduction or restriction of our own prices. This in turn, injures every one concerned, from the planter to the producer. The United States possesses no natural monopoly of production. for cotton may be grown In many other parts of the world. Active efforts to develop the culture of cotton are to-day being made in numerous foreign countries, particularly Moxico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Algeria, Sudan, Togoland, Nigaria, India Turkestan and China. The only adequate protection against foreign competition would be to improve our own industry by growing better cotton and by growing it more cheaply than other countries are able to do, notwithstanding the lower wages of the foreign plantation laborers. Some manufacturers are frank enough to say that they do not desire long or strong cotton, thus encouraging the planters to plant inferior varieties. If the goods wear out faster new garments mu X bo purchased more frequently and this brings larger profits in turn to the manufacturers of this weak stock of fabrics. Such entire disregard of the interests of the ultimate consumer may serve to gain a temporary profit, but it can not be expected to establish the cotton industry on a basis or permanent prosperity. The American public is at last beginning to appreciate the vast difference in values of strong and weak cotton products. Manufacturers of long staple cotton goods have undertaken an active campaign of education regarding the superiority of their fabrics. Some of the more advanced states have Jaws forbidding the adulteration and misbranding of textile goods. The nsea ior pure-cioines laws is one or the same vitalness as that for the pure food law, for the rapid wearing out of weak cotton not only results in enormous financial loss to our public, but represents a general danger to our national health. Broken cotton fibers form a large portion of the household dust that is to-day recognized as a serious factor in the steady development of tuberculosis. Notwithstanding the unique commercial importance of the cotton industry the farming public has less knowledge of cotton than most branches of agriculture. Unlike oth-1 er principal crops, cotton is not raised for storage purposes, but is a purely industrial or commercial product. A food crop remains a part of the life of the agricultural community where it is produced, only the surplus passing into the general channels of commerce. In former days, when the weaving of cloth and the manufacture of garments were domestic arts, both producers and consumers were more familiar with cotton and more able to apprehend tho better or poorer quality of the fiber. 13ut to-day cotton is no longer a part of the domestic life; it is raised on tho farm to be shipped to a city a 4 h < \ it (1 rt ?-% #1 m i l<\n n urn 4 r\ V\ /-k r% r\ n f n /l tuuuotviiu am iti's* ana/ iu uc uiauuia^tured into poods. Improvements in textile machinery and the factory system of labor have led in the last 50 years to an enormous expansion in production and use of cotton, yet there has been no corresponding improvement in quality or intrinsic value of the fiber, nor in the methods of growing and marketing the crop. The industrial superiority of cotton is usually supposed to lie merely in its cheapness, but cotton of good quality can compete with any other fiber in strength, fineness and durability. Though the consumption of cotton has vastly outgrown that of any other textile material, the true possibilities of the fiber are still very inadequately appreciated by the general public. A lack that educaton alone can remedy. The popular conception of a generation ago that fine fabrics were stronger and more durable than course fabrics was based on methanols have thoroughly overcome. With ical limitations which modern inventstrong long staple cotton can to-day bo made from much shorter and weuK.er noer. ine uecnne in tne wearing qualities of cotton fabrics is often ascribed in cities to the use of destructve chemicals in public laundries, yet the samo deterioration is recognized in rural districts, where household washing is still practiced. Fully $25,CCo,000 worth of cotton cloth is thrown away by the consumer each year, which represents a loss from which no value has been appreciated. This loss has been made a fact because the textile manufacturers are producing a poor quality of material in cotton cloth. Millions of dollars are being lost annually in cotton by the farmers who endeavor to hold their crop until the markets raise sufficiently to warrant a sale of the product. The majority of the planters who are following this pastime have insufficient means for the storage of their crop. It I means leaving the bales out in the weather, sometimes on platforms or boards, but ofte nalso llat on the ground without any protection whatsoever. The saving of this cotton each year would make such a material difference in the cost per yard of cotton cloth to the consumer that all buyers would immediately notice the saving. Under the present system, the ginbox, plantation, flat, or uncompressed baie, as it is variously termed, has a density of about 12 to 15 pounds to 4. U ? * 4- Ti- 1 mit? uuuiu iuui. us usuai dimensions are 5 4x2 7x4 3 Inches. An average of 25 flat bales are leaded in cars of ordinary size and shipped to the nearest compress, usually as a re-compress or railroad compress. As the usual commercial lot consists of 100 flat bales, four ordinary cars are required for the haul. The compress collects its fee for service, amounting to ten cents per 100 pounds, or about 50 cents per bale, direct from the railroad company, the latter having included this amount in the freight bill. This the producer pays, as well as insurance, freight and other charges, all of which are deducted before the price has been fixed. Upon arrival at the compress platform, which often has insufficient roof protection for more than onequarter of the total shipments on hand, the 100 bales are unloaded, weighed, put on range, which means lined up side by side with faces out. and sampled. They are now classed, compressed, and patched while in the press, and then are ready for reloading for shipment to port or domestic mill. Compression reduces thickness one-half or more, bringing them to a density of 2 2 pounds to the cubic foot. Two cars will now accommodate the 100-lot shipment. Compresses ordinarily employ the cheapest type of labor, and are under pressure to show a largo output of bales during the season they are in operation. In the Southeast their earnings must be ample, as the overage number of bales handled is relatively largo. As an example, Georgia, with a crop averaging 2,000,000 bales annually, has ,but 35 compresses, while Oklahoma, production hut 7 50,000, has 35 compresses. Although the bad condition of m.in V huloc Ar?l 1 *'>? ??? > ^ VIVIVW Ut/llivivu vu ''I' 1 <'lll presses furnishes some extenuation, tlie quality of the work is in many instances unnecessarily poor, due to overcrowding and carelessness in handling. Pressure by carriers, legislation, and systematic compress inspection would vastly improve the present undesirable conditions, which cause the ultimate consumer to pay a far higher price for his cotton goods titan is necessary considering the vast amount produced in this land to-day. The character of the American cotton bale, both as to condition and covering, has been a source of universal complaint and criticism for many years. The blame has quite naturally been laid at the door of the plant STOP TRACK BETTING I ? GOVERNOR STUART OP VIRGINIA RUNS BOOKMAKERS OUT. ? Detectives Raid Track and Arrest Bookmakers?Governor Threatens to Call Out Militia. Acting on orders Issued by Gov. Stuart of Virginia ten detectives employed by the Baldwin agency, entered the Jamestown race track, near Norfolk, Va., Wednesday and arrested fourteen men accused of book making. The detectives were armed with big revolvers and one of them carY'io/f Q rl Ho HTh n ro 1 /I /i? .1 i ivu u t iiio> i mi l (VIU umai'u CUIlBlll* erable excitement among: the women, but amused the majority of the race followers, who followed the detectives to the gate, slior':'*.g joer'T warnings. The detectives poked their revolvers under the noses of the men offering odds on the races, and made a grab for the money, which in most cases was carried in a satchel. Only four alleged bookmakers were arrested, while ten others were not molested. The raid occurred after the second race, but the entire six races were run and many bets were made after the officers left. Manager Bob Levy, of the Jamestown track, Wednesday night announced that meeting would continue, but instead of offering purses, the horse owners would divide the gate receipts each day. The race track management will flglit the case in order to get a legal opinion that will prevent future interference. Tt is claimed that the system of betting in vogue at the local track is not a violation of the Virginia laws. After being warned by Gov. Stuart that the State militia would be used if necessary to suppress violation of the Virginia anti-botting laws, the Jamestown Jockey club late Thursday night abandoned the spring race meeting, which was to continue until April 17. Sensational raids and fines ana prison terms imposed upon bookmakers had marked the few stormy days the meet had been in progress. In a formal statement the officials of the Jockey club announced that they had decided to discontinue the meet to avoid "any conflict of opinion". The statement added that if the higher courts later construed the laws so "that we can conduct racing without fostering a violation of the laws of Virginia, we will resume; otherwise the course will be permanently closed." ers. lie is reality has .been merely the victim of an out of date, incorrect, and oppressive method of arriving at the net weight of cotton in a hale. The buyer, whether for domestic or foreign trade, does not pay cotton prices for the bagging and the ties placed on bales at the ginnery, although a vast majority of the cotton planters suppose they do. Allowance for "tare" always is figured in same manner of form in the price offered to planters for their cotton. In other words, a 500-pound bale is considered as containing 47 0 pounds of cotton. If the "middling" price in Liverpool is 12 cents, the bale is worth not $60 but $56.40. As the buyer purchases on a gross-weight basis he must protect himself against the tare rule; hence his offer to the planter, profit and other items of expense having already been reckoned in, is $56.40 divided by 500 pounds, or 11.28 per pound. The effect of the whole are situation is, indeed, vicious. Its net result is to introduce complications and confuson n all cotton transactons whether it will go to New England or to some of the numerous Southern cotton mills. In other words, lie does not know whether he should put on 2 2, 24, or 2 0 pounds of tare. As a matter of fact he practically puts on the same amount of,baggings and ties, weighing usually from 19 to 22 pounds. If he attempts to "tare up" his bales he is met by the notice from the great cotton-buying concerns that operate in his section or from mill owners if in the Southern mill sections, that they will not purchase cotton that carries more than the usual amount of bagging and ties, which is six yards of bagging and ties. In the interest of good, straight > forward business and for the protection of planter, cotton merchant, spinner and consumer the present diversity in assessing tare and in making tare calculations should be at once terminated. The economic waste involved in the purchase of millions of pounds of extra canvas, on which freight and handling charges must be paid should be stopped at once. The present system of cotton growing and distribution is both wasteful and costly. It loses money for the I OTAUfnp fi n rl fnf v" ui uuu iui me uiiiiuinio OUDBQIH* er, and the needed reform of these melhods will aid in solving the problem of the high coat of living for the great army of cotton consumers. ? Double Killing. Because his sweetheart, a housekeeper, quarreled with him, George LeFauve of Poabody, Mass., Saturday shot her and her employer. ? Columbia leads the league! Rise up, ye ancient hopes. INTEREST AROUSED) EXPULSION OF 8PAN1AKOS MAY CAUSE COMPLICATION ?? ? . THIS COUNTRY WATCHING Constitutionalist Chief Sustains Villa's Order and Aflirms as a Constitionalist Policy the Expulsion of ci 1 - m r?i>iiiiiiiruN n cuiiiiy iieiu^ues Reach Border. Olficial interest in the Mexican situation at Washington Wednesday night was divided between the grave problem presented by the arrival 01 the 800 Spanish exiles at El Paso and the outcome of the battle at Tampico. Sharp lighting already has occurred at Tampico, and army and navy strategists expect the battle there to bo the next decisive struggle. Itear Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz Wednesday notified the navy department that refugees already were going aboard men-of-war in Tampico harbor. He forwarded a report from Rear Admiral Mayo at that port asking for an army transport as a refuge for non-combatants. The American fleet at Tampico is composed of the battleships Minnesota and Connecticut, the cruisers Chester, Des Moines and San Francisco and the dispatch boat Dolphin. The battleship Utah has been ordered | there from Vera Cruz. Read Admiral Fletcher reported he had ordered the hospital ship Solace, now at New Orleans, to coal and be in readiness for service at Tampico. State department officials were reticent in discussing the expulsion of Spaniards, in whose behalf vigorous representations were made to Gen. Carranza. Officials were noncommittal when asked whether further representations would be made. The war department probably will be called on to direct measures for the care of the refugees at El Paso, although at the state department late Wednesday it was said that phase of the question had not been considered. While officials agree that in international law these Spaniards have a right to seek asylum on American soil, it is realized that the problem of their ultimate disposition is likely to bring up many questions to be adjusted by the United States, Spain and Mexico. The gravity of the situation will be increased if the constitutionalists carry out their threat to drive the Spaniards out of all the territory they conquer. A dispatch from El Paso, Texas, says eight hundred members of the Torreon Spanish colony, expelled by Gen. Villa, found a haven in the United States Wednesday. They had been stripped of their property temporarily at least but supplied with temporary funds. They had refused to leave the train in which they and their baggage had come from Torreon to Juarez until American Consular Agent C^rothers arrived to advise them. Carothers was unable to assure any vhat they would be restored to their homes, his interview with Gen. Carranza having met with the flat statement that expulsion of Spaniards from Mexico was a settled policy of the rebels and would be modifled only in the cases of individuals who had not been involved in politics. Rafael Arozena, wealthiest resident of the Laguna district and reported to be the most extensive grower of sea island cotton In the world, was one of the Spanish refugees who rode to the border in a second class coach, with only his personal possessions to show for his lifetime struggle in the Coahuila cotton country. Aronzena is to the Coahuila Spanish colony what Luis Terrazas is to the Chihuahua refugee colony of Mexicans. He is the leader in commercial activities of the Laguna district, owns a number of the largest haciendas in the district and his wealth is estimated at $17,000,000 Mexican currency. Aronzena carried only a leather satchel, a big steamer rug and a bag filled with his personal belongings, which he hastily gathered when the order was given by Villa for the Spaniards to leave the country. The Spanish millionaire is a striking looking man with a heavy white beard, a shock of white hair and a pair of gold rimmed glasses over which he looked sharply when parrying the questions of reporters. "I am alone. My relatives and my possessions are all in the Leguna district," he said. "I hope to he able to return, for I have had no part in the internal politics of the country. For that reason I prefer not to say anything for fear it will be misunderstood. I was not mistreated by any one at Torreon and have no plans for the immediate present." The most important property left behind the Spaniards was cottbn said to be valued at $15,000,000.. Word was received from Torreon Wednesday that $1,000,000 worth of cotton was being loaded on trains for shipment to El Paso by Villa. It is said the Spanish owners can not touch the property if it. arrives at El Paso in bond, as is frequently CONFIRMS WILSON'S MAN i ^ AFTER tHREE DAYS* FIGHT THE t SENATE GIVES CONSENT. Witlirop M. Daniels of New Jersey is Named a Member of Interstate ? Commerce Commission. Nine members of the Senate, headed by Senator ILaFollette, openly re- 4 volted against proceedings behind closed doors Saturday night after an executive session in which the Senate, by a vote of 36 to 27, confirmed the nomination of Wiuthrop M. Daniels of New Jersey to De a member of the interstate commerce commission. tSenator LaFollette declared on the floor that he proopsed to defy the rules of the Senate in future and discuss publicly legislation not affecting foreign relations, and later it was announced that Senators Rristow, Cummins, Clapp, Kenyon, Morris, Jones and Gronna, Republicans, , and Poiiulexter, Progressives, would maintain the same attitude. The revolt created a sensation and there was much speculation as to the effect it would have 011 future execu- 1 tivo sessions. The general opinion was that there would bo no attempt to take action against members who disregarded the rule of secrecy. Confirmation of Commissionar , Daniels closed a three-day light marked by one o? the most bitter debates j heard at the capitol in years. Both sides contested determinedly, Mr. i Daniels' advocates having the sup- port of President Wilson's well ( 1/ n n 11? n /I Atil V? ^ 1) ! n o n?\Al n no n n /I nnu n it ucoiiu iiiuk ma iijijiuiuico niiii personal friend be confirmed without : delay. Opponents to the confirmation based their objection on tho grounds 1 that Mr. Daniels' views on the valup- ( tion of public service property wotfe { unsound. As during the two preced ing days, senators continued to In- J, sist that Mr. Daniels' ideas, as expressed in the decision of tho New , Jersey public service commission, of which he was chairman in the Pas- , saic gas rate case, would make him dangerous as a member of tho interstate commerce commission, at a time when the commission wa3 fix ing a valuation on railroad property. ( Senator Hughes of New Jeisey j called back from a congressional fight , in his state, spoke at length in sup- , port of Mr. Daniels, and was joined ; by Senators Nowlands, chairman of the interstate commerce committee; ' Pittman and Williams. The opposition was nettled by the patching up of tho split in the Democratic ranks over night. They consented to postponement of a vote Friday, when victory apparently was in sight, to allow Democratic senators to talk with the president about withdrawing Mr. Daniels' name after the noimnation had been recommitted. They denounced the determination of Democratic leaders after a visit to the White House to force a vote on confirmation as evidence of bad faith. ? KILLS LITTLE HOY. ! While Firing at Each Other Two Men Cause Lad's Death. In a difficulty Saturday afternoon between R. E. Briscoe and Ben Bradley, both of St. Stephens, Briscoe, it is said, in attempting to shoot Bradley, fired the gun and killed the little son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Jaudon instantly. The little fellow received the whole load of shot intended for Bradley in his breast. Bradley saved himself by catching hold of the muz zle of the Run. He lost almost the entire hand, it being shot away by the same load that killed the child. The boy was about seven years of age and a fine little fellow. Excitement was very high, but violence was prevented by cooler heads. ? Mexicans Quit War for Work. Ten Mexican federal deserters threw their rifles into the Rio Grande at Laredo, Tex., a few days ago and crossed the U. S. border to find work. ? ? Gunmen ltob Gamblers. Five armed men entei ed a New York club early Thursday morning, broke up several poker games, grabbed $5,000 and fled. ? ? ? Had an Eye Shot Out. During a general row among Rome negroes at church near Reno, Laurens county, one negro bad his eyes shot out at the hands or another Sunday. ? ? ? Could Not Stand Rlindness. Rften.11 HA tlA Wfno J 1 * ~ ~ .. c*o ' "Hi:; U11II U /\ I0X I Olazer of Philadelphia Monday killed J his wife and himself. Their two sons I believe robbers killed them and the police are withholding the truth. I Bandit Bobs Express Car. A masked bandit robbed an express car near Littlo Rock, Ala., Thursday of $3,000. the case.4 If it comes bonded for transit through the United States for shipment abroad it can not be recovered, it is said. It is said the only way the original owners have of getting their cotton back is in a court of equity in case the consignment is released from bond in the United States. t ? ^ THE HORRY HERALD . CONWAY S. C. 1 i Published Every Thursday. * THURSDAY, APRIL. 17, 1014. PROFESSIONAli CARDS. H. H. WOODWARD, 1 Attorney and Counsellor at Iiaw. CONWAY, S. C. * II. II. SCARBOROUGH. Attorney at Law. CONWAY, S. C. H. H. BURROUGHS, Physician and Surgeon. CONWAY, S. C. W. E. McCORD. ^ Dental SurgeoD. jt nnvw #v o n v/vn f* nx| (3* Vi W RENE RAVEN EL, ^ Iiand Surveying 1 and | Drainage. Spivey Building, Conway, S. O. SPEAKER LOUDLY HISSED. ^ Retired Army Major is Cat-Calle<l ? | When He Attaeked Wilson. f liaise and blame for President ) Wilson's Mexican policy wero min- i gled at last week's session of the American Academy of Political and ^ Social Science, held at Philadelphia, hut there was general agreement that there will be no peace in that country i until the land question is settled. The i joncensiiH was against intervention. I Major Cassius L. Gillette, U. S. A.,, retired, described conditions in Mexico, and declared that it was his belief that the president would not be unwilling to becomo a war hero in ^ order. to get a second term. Loud and long hisses came from different parts of the hall at once. He added that he knew yhat ho said would arouse protest, and prophesied that, such a situation would come about. Congressman S. F. Prouty of Iowa ? resented the remarks of Major Gillette. "Although I am a Republican and have fought all my life to defeat Democrats," he said, "I will uphold with all rny power the president of my country in his Mexican policy and in his eftorts to avert war." He also resented, he said, the "dragging f of the president down to the level | Huerta". I -?~ II BLIND TIGER IN JAIL. ? jj^H \cgro Arrestee! at Gaflfoey Keeps Ills Whiskey Sales* ^ VH On Saturday afternoon the Gaffney Mj police arrested Cephas Littlejohn un- H der the charge of selling whiskey, to- 3BN gether with two other negroes. They Ifl also raided an alleged blind tiger and |H captured 36 pints of booze. Thf I n whiskey was in a box near the door ! X of the cell in which Littlejohn wag II confined, though not quite within I, reach. A confederate from the out- B side handed him a piece of stiff whiT* I with which he pulled the box near tflg enough to be reached, and during the day disposed by sale and otherwise \l of 15 pints of the whiskey. A great crowd was around the city jail dur- * i ing the whole day, but it was not die- U covered until later that Littlejohn JH had been supplying the thirsty deni- II zens. Hi ? ? ? ? S Dynamite Kills Three. * Three men were instantly killed, one was so badly hurt that he lived ^ only a few minutes and four others T^l loss seriously injured by an explosion Hi on The Dalles Celilo canal works near Dalles, Ore., Tuesday. * Town Terrorized by Crazy Negro. Lewis Martin, a crazy negro of H Pendleton, armed himself with a long ^^ knife Tuesday and went on the warfftB path. Citizens organized a posse and finally captured him. He was sent to I the insane asylum at Columbia. I M Life Convict Freed. The governor has granted a parole ^ to Lobe Mungo, who was convicted in * Kershaw county in July, 1911, of murder and sentenced to a life term in the State penitentiary. I Negro Stabs Colored Woman. Leila Smalls of Florence, a negress,. ^ was stabbed Saturday by Fred Mel- A ton, another negro. She was rushed h to the hospital in a dying condition. JB Fireman Fatally Ilurned. |H A. C. Fage, captain of the Troy? Ala., fire department was burned to- * death Monday when he entered a. building in a search for a child. Unknown Men Drown. Two unidentified men were drown-s^t^ ed when a bride over the Mohawk jM River, Schenectady, N. Y., was swept ? away Friday. r ? ? u Lexington to be Wet. y The election in Lexington in favor of the county dispensary sytem was< I declared legal Friday by the supreme 1i court. f i. Explosion on Torpedo Boat. An explosion on the torpedo boat a Aylwin stationed at Norfolk resulted J in the death of a fireman Monday, op II