North Carolina Newspapers

THE SUIN Advertising Columns Brings Results Sun THE SUIN Job Printing Department Solicits Your Work. VOL. J 7. NO. 44. RUTHERFORDTON, N. C, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 194. $1.00 A YEAR. THE SUN HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY WEEKLY IN THE TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WAR CAUSING LOW PRSCEGOTTON Staple Was Selling At 14 Cents When War Started. PLENTY MONEY; NO MARKET Mr. 0. Max Gardner Answers Criticism Made By The Opposition Politicians Against The Wilson Administration Beware 01 Man Who Would Deceive. (O. Max Gardner, in Cleveland Star.) It is utterly amazing.to hear Repub lican politicians, who really know bet ter, attempting to attribute the present price of cotton to the Democratic Ad ministration of vVoodrow Wilson, Ev ery intelligent person knows that at least two-thirds of all the rotton grrowr in the South is exported to Germany, Belgium. France, Japan and England. There is now no market for our cotton in any of these countries except Janan. They are now engaged in an unparal leled and unprecedented war a war that staggers civilization, and is leav ing in its wake misery, poverty, suf fering and death, so sad, and dark and awful, that wood and pious men won der why God in His infinite love and mercy permits it to continue. Wars of Alexander the Great, Caosar, Hannibal, Napoleon and our great Civil War, were but skirmishes as compared to the collossal drama of death, being enacted in Europe today. Think of it, every Continent on earth is involved in this campaign of cruel destruction, save and except America. Is it any wonder, then, in view of the situation abroad and ibis almost com plete paralysis of our cotton trade, that the South is a keen sufferer by reason of this war? Last year the South received from England. Uer many, France, Belgium and Japan, all of whom are now at war, approximate ly six hundred million dollars in gold, lor its cotton crop. These countries were then at ppaee, and the ocean was free from the terrible armed fleets of battleships, that now prey upon com merce. This stream of gold that has been yearly pouring into the pocket? of the Southern farmer, has almost dwindled to a vanishing point, and ev ery intelligent man. who stops to think, knows why this stream of gold has been interrepted. FOREIGN MILES IDLE. The cotton mills of Europe are large ly idle, the male employees are at war. and ihe hearts and minds of the Na tions engaged in this contest for Na tional existence has been transposed from the contemplation of business to the horrors of war. The predominant idea in Europe at this time is not the price or ihe value of cotton: they are bending: every energy, spending over fifty million dollar0 a dav, and devot ing the full concentration of mind and body to the cultivation of the art and science of killing men. During September of this year, the amount of cotton exported was a little in excess of one hundred thousand bales, while during the month of Sep tember. 1913, it amounted to a little less than one million bales. These figures indicate the importance of cot ton in the economic affairs, not only of this Nation, b"t of the world; and partly conveys an idea of the disas trous and appalling condition this war ha3 brouerbt about, MONEY IS NOT LACKING. There seems to be an iaea prevalent that the reason cotton is not bringing a higher price is attributable to lack of money. Thi9 is a mistake. We do not need 'money with which to handle or finance the crop. The Rplendid Dem ocratic Administration of Woodrow Wilson has provided five hundred mil lion dollars more currency now than last year. It is not money we need, it is a market. We have the cotton, no body will buy it, and until this Euro pean war is ended and the market is restored, there can be no relief. Of the fifteen million bales produced in the South this year, ten million wouia now be going abroad but for this war. At the rate the foreign Nations are tak ing Southern cotton, the total exports of the present crop will not equal one half million bales, it is clearly ap parent to any sensible person that the retention in this cotintry of ten million bales of cotton, which ordinarily would have gone abroad has practically de stroyed the local market for the re maining five million bales. The sur plus of any product fixes the price of the whole. If there is a surplus of cotton, that is more cotton than the trade will take at a reasonable price, the surplus must first be disposed of before normal conditions can be re stored. The size of the present crop is not responsible for the existing con ditions of the South. If the world's condition was normal the price of cot ton would be normal. On account of this war the largest consumers of raw cotton have practically erased to buy. HOLD BACK NEXT YEAR TN COT TON. If this terrible struggle, mostdestruc tive of life and property the world has ever known, continues for six months, their supply of food and clothinsr will be exhausted, and Europe will be en tirely bare ot cotton and cotton goods. If the South will only hold back and not produce a big cotton crop next year, there appears to be reasonable hope for a good price for all cotton that is now being withheld from the market. But if the South should raise fifteen million bales of cotton in 1915, to which would be added the surplus of 1914, it would result in such an over production, as to wreck and financial ly paralize the South next year. How small and insignificant is the economic loss we sustain in the price of our cotton, as compared to the in calculable loss that would follow the frightful destruction if this Nation were to be plunged into the vortex of war. WILSON AND HIGH-PRICED COT TON. Let us examine the Administation of Woodrow Wilson, with respect to the price of cotton. He was inaugurated President, March 4. 1913. The South received more money by many millions of dollars for its cotton crop during the first year of Mr. Wilson's Admin istration than it received for any crop previously marketed in the entire his tory of this country. Cotton sold last year for an average of about KU cents per pound, and this price prevailed all winter and spring and cotton was -selling at 14 cents in the face of a big crop, July 28, when Eurone became aflame with war: therefore, the man who seeks to charge the Democratic Administra tion as being responsible for the low price of cotton, is either igrnorant, or wilfully attempting to mislead and in sult the intelligence of the Southern farmers. The farmers of the Middle West are receiving unusually high and abnormal prices for their grains, meats and live stocks, and the person in the West who attempts to construe the fa vorable conditions of that section as attributable to the Democratic party, would be considered as either a fool or a demagosue, more likely both. The West knows that the big high prices it receives for its products are results of the abnormal Eurorean demands. Warring Nations must eat. and they must buy our wheat and meat from necessity. They do not eat cotton and with the surplus cotton goods already on hand Europe could live comforta bly for many months, without operat ing a sincrle spindle or loom. If we had enough cotton mills in America to utilize our crip of fifteen million bales, this country, while Europe is at war, would seize the markets of the world, and the price of raw cotton would ad vance beyond doubt, but without pres ent capacity, the mills of America can not consume at most, running day and night, over two-fifths of this year's crop. It is perfectly apparent that there is but little hope for an advance in the price of cotton until Europe withdraws the ten million men how on the firing line and returns to the peace ful puisuits of civilization. We know j nothing of hard times in this country, and instead of criticizing President Wilson, every loyal citizen of this country ought to be thankful for the Divine inspiration that directed this Nation to elect the man of peace, who now presides over the destiny of the United States. A bigoted, blustering, bluffing, bulldozing attitude by the President of this country could involve our Nation in a war in twenty-four hours. Behold! Woodrow Wilson ad ministering the affairs this Nation. With a vision unclouded, and pursu ing a perilous path, he is leading us safely and cautiously through the dan gerous intracacies of international di plomacy and is keeping" this Govern ment free from the baneful alliances with foreign Nations in a manner that excites the admiration of the whole world. The man who tries to make political capital out of the present price of cot ton, is unquestionably actuated by passion and prejudice, and is too nar row between the eyes for clear, fair, upright and wholesome thinking. He is a dangerous man to follow at any time, and especially is he dangerous in a period of National crisis. ttttSSStStS9SliStttSMS0 GOVERNOR CRAIG COMING Governor Locke Craig:, who is making: a number of speeches in the Tenth district in the interest of Democrcy, will deliver an address to the people of Rutherford county in the court house here tomorrow (Friday, October 30th) and all are cordially invited to come and hear him. A. Hall Johnston, former solictor of this district, will ad dress the voters at Caroleen, Friday, October 30th, at 7:30 p. m; Ellenboro, Saturday, at 3 p. m and at Hollis, the same date, at 7:30 p. m- Messrs. Roy R. Blanton and M. L. Edwards will also address the people at the following- times and places: West minster, Friday, October 30th, at 7:30 p. m, Sulphur Springs, Saturday, October 3st, at J p. m., and at Bostic. Saturday, October 3 1st, at 7:30 p. m. The County Democratic candidates will speak here Mon day next, closing: their campaign. Don't fail to hear them. The ladies are also invited to attend all of these meetings. i MR. BRITT FLAYED BY GOVERNOR CRAIG Political Record Of Republican Candi date For Congress Is Severely Criti cised By The Governor At Ashevilie. BERLIN NOT BOWED DOWN WITH DREAD The City Brighter Under The War Cloud Than Is London Leaning To War Toned Amusements Is Pronounced. (Special to Greensboro Dailv News,) ASHEVIL.LE, Oct. 24. The Demo cratic enthusiasm is rapidly reaching: the boiling point in Buncombe county over the present campaign was evid enced last night at the county court house here when a rousing: Democratic rally was featured with addresses Gov. LiOcife Cr.tig and Coa-grewm James M. Cuder, Jr.. who is seeking: re-election in the tenth district to the national House of Kepresentati ve on his record in that body and upon the record of the Wilson administration. Despite unfavorable weather condi tions, every seat in the court room was filled last night and scores stood in the aisles and doorways. The meeting lasted for something over two hours and the speakers were frequently ap plauded and cheered as references were made to the administrations of Wood row Wilson and Locke Craig. Boin speakers dwelt at length on the record of the present Democratic ad ministration, guided by the master hand of Woodrow Wilson: and both speakers took occasion to attack in the strongest terms the campaign of James J. Britt, the Republican-i'rogrrssive congressional candidate, in asking for Democratic support. Incidents we're sighted in Mr. Britt's career to show that he has stood for negro suffrage and has voted for local option, liquor, and against the aged Confederate vet em, rather than cast his lot on the side of or for iepresentatives cf the j opposition party. Yet. it was pointed out, he is asking Democrats of the tenth district to vote for him. "The record of the Republican party in North Carolina," said Governor Craier, "is bs black as damnation, and the record of James J. Britt, as a par tisan of the Republican party, is the same as that of his party. He is a Republican by birth and instinct and has stood by Republicans in trying: to perpetuate negrro domination in North Carolina, in plundering the public schools and school children of the State, in standing solidly against a pension for Confederate veterans, and in an attempt to return the State to the liquor ranks. I believe he is a conscientious man but he has s aerified his principles to stand by his party. He has made his bed. Let him lie in it now and be forgotten." Chairman J. W. Haynes of the Bun combe county Democratic executive committee preside at the meeting and presented the speakers in a few brief words, stating that neither needed any introduction to a Buncombe county as semblage. Congressman Gudger was the first sneaker, and Mr. Haynes in troducing him as the Representative of the tenth district in the 163rd Con gress and the man who will be the Representative of the district in the 164th. President Wilson has been invited to come to Charlotte February 16, 1015, and make a speech before a big convention of Presbyterian laymen. The President said he would like to accept the invitation and would give a definite answer later. The invitation was extended by Dr. W. J- Martin, president ot Davidson College, of which institute President Wilson waa once a student, (By tha aeaociated Press.) BERLIN, Oct. 9. An American, re cently arrived from London, was sur prised to find that the German capital showed less outwai'd changes due to the war than London. He remarked iihat there was less nervous anxiety ere winch was evidenced in the facw thitfc Berlin still shows its usual blaze of electric lamps at night, while Lon don, fearing a Zeppelin visit, has greatly reduced its illumination. Another cause for comment was the number of men capable of doing mili tary duty still ensraged in their cus tomary work here. As a matter of fact most of the mili tary barracks of the Empire stiil are well tilled with soldiers who are to re ceive further drilling before going to the front. Another class of soldiers now fre quently seen on the streets are the con valescent wounded. The life of Ber lin, in fact, centers just now about the wounded soldiers as well as the sol dier still in the field. Social life is dominated by benevolence for him. The theaters and concert halls are open as usual, but the attendance is not larfe. The war figures largely in the iffht musical farces and in the productions at the variety theaters and the moving picture places present mili tary films of many kinds. The theaters and concerts give evi dence of the wave of patriotism on which Germany is now riding:. Be tween the acts latest war bulletins are read. There is loud applause over victories and patriotic songs are sung Concert programs also show a strong leaning to patriotic music. Some of the people in Germany, however, fail to catch the spirit of deep seriousness in which most Ger mans are living and a recent experi ment of getting out comic war post cards fell flat. The newspapers have requested their readers to refrain from sending such missives to the front. The play impulse in Germany, how ever, has by no means been suopress ed. The other day a Berlin football team went to Vienna and played a match came with a team of that city. The German children are waging war with a zeal hardly less intermitting than that shown by tne soldiers. Wherever a group of them get togeth er they soon divide into two armies and proceed to enjoy the delights of bloodless battle. PRICES HAVE BEEN LOWER Cotton Was Down To Four Cents During McKinley Administration. To the Editor of The Sun: FOREST CITY, Oct. 26. It is a musing to a person who is famil iar with the actual facts to hear some of the Republicans attempt to aryue that the present low price of cotton is caused by the pres ent Democratic administration. I won der how many of these persons would admit that the lowest price of cotton on record was reached during a Re publican administration and while William McKinley was President. However, such is the case, but we did not then hear of these demagogrues go ing about blaming the McKinley ad ministration with th9 low pr ice of cot ton. Thev then had another excuse ready. It i3 a matter of record that on Oc tober 13fch, 1897, cotton sold at 4 cents per pound; October 1898, o 516; Octo ber 1899, 5 7-8, and, mind you, this was during McKinley's administra tion. It was during: the latter part of Roosevelt's first administration, viz: December 29th , 1904, that cotton sold for 6 1-2, and again in January 1905 it sold for 6 1-2. As we all know, cotton was selling at around fourteen cents per nound in July, when that awful war broke out in Europe which wiped out our market for two-thirds of our cotton crop, and the farmers had received a good aver age price for their cotton all during the Wilson administration up to that tiin. I merely wish to call the people's attention to the facts in the case, so they will not allow themselves to be misled by these false leaders. Respectfully, W. W. HICKS. The Losses Estimated. German military experts estimate the the losses of the French, the British, the Russians and the Belgians in kill ed, wounded iand prisoners at at least 750,000 men. A dispatch from Petro grad says that reports reaching mili tary headquarters from the front say that the total losses of the Germans killed, wounded and prisoners in their operations in Poland to date number 200,000. The Presbyterians are considering the formation of a Synod to embrace the Presbyterian churches in the moun tain sections of North Carolina, Vir ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. SCHOOL TO OPEN MONDAY. Sowing Big Crop Of Small Grain Forest City Rural News. (Special to The Sun.) FOREST CITY, R-2, Oct. 26 The farmers are in a rush just now trying to finish gathering corn and cotton and are preparing: for sowing wheat, oats and other small grain. It seems as if there was groing to be an unusual amount of small grain sown this time. Owing to the low price of cotton it seems the best thing to do just now, then next spring plant more corn than usual and less cotton. The farmer could be more independent if he would raise less cotton, more corn, wheat, oats and hogs. Too many of us have our smoke house and grainery in the North and Northwest, which is too far from home. Fat back is now selling at l.r cents per pound while cotton is down to only 6 1-2 cents. Farmers, can you raise it at such prices? The school at Piney Ridsre will open next Mondav, November 2nd, with Mr. Dudley Brown as teacher. Mr. John Womick and family visit ed kinspeoole in Polk county the latter part of last week, returning home Monday evening. Misses May Nanney and Cora Lewis, who are in school at Union Mills, visited the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. WTill E, Lewis, last Saturday and Sunday, returning to Union Mills Sunday niht. Mr. Thomas Geer, of the Gilkey sec tion, visited Mr. Will Callahan last week. e Mr. Luther Hardin, we are sorry to learn, is quite sick at tnis writing. We hope for him a speedy recovery. Mr. Crawford Hardin and Miss Blanche Dobbins were happily married last Sunday evening, Squire J. K. Thomas officiating. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION. Committee Meets At Boiling Springs High School. The committee on ministerial eouca tion for Boiling Springs high school met at Boiling Springs October 16, and organized by electing Rev. J, M. Goode, Shelby, R-3, chairman; A. J. Jolley, Ellenboro, R-l, secretary and T. M. Holland, Shelby, R-3, treasurer. Eieht fine young men preparing for the ministry were examined and en dorsed. Two of the ministerial stu dents were away and will be'examined inside two weeks. Churches or individuals in tne Kings Mountain or Sandy Run Associations having made pledges for this work may send their remittance to the treas urer of this board, T. M. Holland, Shelby, R-3, as soon as convienent. Anyone desiring: to help in this grood work may feel assured that their favors will be highly appreciated by the stu dents and this committee. A. J. JOLLEY, Secretary. PRESIDENT WILSON TO CONGRESSMEN Expresses Pleasure At Work Carried Gut By Congress. FULFILLS PARTY PLEDGES In Letter To Represetative Underwood The President Outlines Work Accom plished. And Says The Nation's Future Depends On The Democratic Party. President Wilson wrote a letter a few days aeo to Majority Leader Un derwood, of the House of Representa tives, in which he reviewed the achieve ments of his administration, outlined the program for the next session of Congress, and declared "the Demo cratic party is now in fact the only in strument ready to the country's hand by which anything can be accomplisn- ed." The President wrote the letter as an indorsement of all Democratic mem bers of Congress in lieu of speeches he said he would like to make in every congressional district. He predicted victory for his party in the elections, because "every thoughtful man sees that a change of parties iust now would set the clock back, not for ward," and because "a practical na tion is not likely to reject such a team, full of the spirit of public service, and substitute, in the midst of great tasks, either a party upon which a deep de moralization has fallen, or a party which has not grown, to a stature that would warrant its assuming the re sponsible burdens of state." The legislative prosrram begun dur ing the present Congress was declared by the President to have been beerun "to destroy private control and set business free." He said that the peo ple of the country had been served by this Congress as ; 'they have never been served before. " Outlining the work already accom plished, Mr. Wilson mentioned the re form of the tariff, the passage of the currency bill, the anti-trust bills and the handling of foreign problems. He said he doubted if "there has evr been a finer exhibition of team-work or of unhesitating devotion to the ful fillment of party pledges," t'raising the new tariff hill, the President asserted that "private con trol had shown its sinister face on every hand in America, had shown it for a ous time, and sometimes very brazenly, in the trusts and in th virtu al domination of credit by smal groups of men. " He said that high prices did not spring directly from the tariff, but out of tha suppression of competition which flourished more easily under the protection of a hiarh tariff. He declared that the panic which opponents of the new bill pre 3icted had not come, and that despite the European war, there had been sufficient time to prove the success of the act The trade commission bill and the Clayton anti-trust bill were spoken of as designed "to make men in a small way of business as free to succeed as men in a big way, and to kill monopo ly in the seed." He added that "mon opolies are built up by unfair methods of competition," which would be elimi nated by the new legislation. "Mono poly is to be cut ofT at the roots," he declared. "If cur warty were to be called up on to name the particular point of principle in which it differs from its opponents mo3t sharply and in which it feels itself most definitely sustained by exp?rlence, " continued the Presi dent, "we should no doubt say that it was this: That we would have no deal ings with monopoly but reject it alto gether: while our opponents were ready to adopt it into the realm of law, and seek merely to regulate it and moder ate it in its oneration. It is our pur pose to destroy monopoly and main tain competition as the only effectual instrument of business liberty." Justice has been done the laborer, declared the President, and his labor is no longer to be treated as if it "were merely an inanimate object of commerce disconnected from the for tunes and happiness of a living human being, to be dealt with as an object of sale and barter." Of the currency bill, Mr. Wilson said: "We have created a democracy of credit such as has neyer existed in (Continued ou Third page.)