World War I 100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 10-17

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, October 10, 1914: “Buy-a-Bale-of-Cotton” has been the call for the past several weeks.  The European war has shut off the sale of cotton and has placed the southern planters in distress. To help the small grower, corporations and individuals who can afford to buy a bale for $50 (2013: $1,146.22) can have it stored and insured until the war is over. Others can buy a bolt of cloth or a piece of cotton clothing – underwear, gloves, hosiery, shirts, and dresses. The South grows three quarters of the world’s cotton supply, and less than half goes to American mills. The rest is exported. If every loyal and patriotic niece and nephew of Uncle Sam bought cotton products this month and every succeeding month, the entire surplus of cotton would be absorbed.