The Iola register., 1901-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE SOUTH STRONGLY FAv0Rs
SHIPPING BILL.

scuthern Senators and Representa-
tives Supporting It-Inauguration
Ceremonies VIII BE EIaborate-Ex-
ira Session Not Probable.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-rhe southern
senators suddenly find themselves "be-
tween the devil and the deep sea-" and
they have deemed 1t necessary to hold
a caucus about it.
In the beginning the Democrats in
the senate presented a solid front
against the pending shipping bill-that
is, they supposed that they did. 1t ap-
pears now, however, that at least six
of the southern senators are going to
vote for the bill 1t also appears and Is
a fact that there is a great and grow
ing sentiment in the south In favor OF
the bill, particularly among the cotton
growers of the plantations and the
business men of the cities. This is evil
denced by large number Of petitions
and Endorsements by commercial bod
les, by the tone Of such authoritative
organs as The Manufacturers Record
Of Baltimore and by private letters re-
ceived daily by senators and repre-
sentatives at the capitol. These ex-
pressions of popular opinion have nat
urally had much weight with southern
congressman.
On Wednesday news was received at
Washington that the Savannah board
of trade had unanimously adopted res
olutions directing its delegates to the
maritime conference at Brunswick to
favor subsidies. Previously indorse-
ments of the shipping bill had been re-
ceived from more than 90 other repre-
sentative southern business organiZa-
tions, including the chamber of COM
merce, Produce Exchange and board of
trade of New Orleans, the Foreign
Trade association and Merchants Ex-
change of st. Louis, the chamber of
commerce of Richmond. the boards Of
trade of Norfolk, Little Rock and Tar
boro, the Southern Industrial associa-
ton, the Live Stock Exchange of Fort
Worth, the Alabama State grange and
the Kentucky Millers' association, the
Southern Industrial association and the
Southern Cotton Spinners' association.
-
The effect of such a combined ex-
preston of southern sentiment is visi-
bic in the house of representatives as
well as in the senate. Representative
Grosvenor of Ohio says that there are
at least ten or dozen southern Demo-
cratic representatives who will vote for
the bill and that these votes, combined
with the solid Republican vote, will
give the bill a large majority in the
house.
In the senate 1t was noticed that soon
after the action Of the Savannah board
OF trade had been made public Senator
Clay of Georgia came to the front with
amendments to the shipping bill, limit
ing the period of the subsidy to ten
years and reducing the maximum rate
of speed for receiving compensation
from IS knots to 10 knots. This would
indicate that under the conditions
which he names Senator Clay is, after
all, In favor of the proposed subsidy,
He says that his opposition to the
measure arises from his belief in free
trade, and yet he allows that there is
no use in trying to make this country
adopt free trade policy, because even
when the Democrats are in full power
a very considerable number of north
ern Democrats, who are protectionists
always side with the Republicans Oh
questions relating to the tariff and
similar matters and thus always de
feat free trade legislation.
-
A pleasant little episode frightened
up the debate in the senate on Wednes
day and secured for Senator Turley Of
Tennessee a reputation for humor. Ii
the course of his speech against the
bill he took occasion to paraphras'
Senator Frye's appeal for the bill in 6
tone of good natured satire. Senator
Turley referred with pathos to his re
cent attempts to secure small appro
! priation for the Washita river, or rivu
let, and remarked, "If 1 could only ge
that appropriation, we would hav'
American ships laden with American
commerce and sailing under the Amer
lean flag navigating from that river Il
every port in the world, and peace ant
civilization would be greatly benefited
thereby" This sally vastly amuse,
the senators and no one more thar
Senator Frye himself.
Unusually elaborate preparations ar
on foot for President McEinley's sec
ond Inauguration. 1t will be an i'm
pressive affair unless one of our Marcl
blizzards should decide to take part IL
it. The whole community is mixed III
in some way with the preparations. !
small boy should hurl a snowfall
nowadays, it is an even chance that h
would hit member of an Inaugural
ton committee. An immense crowd o