New-York tribune., 1901-02-16
AN AGRICULTURAL CONTEST.
AMUSING EXCHANGE OF PERSONALITIES
BETWEEN SENATOR'S TILLMAN
AND BEVERIDGE.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRInryE. !

Washington, Feb. 15-The last stage Of the rather
Wearisome and proatless discussion which has been
running in the Senate for two or three days over
the Agricultural Appropriation bill was marked to-
day by a lively exchange OF personalities between
Senator Timan. OF South Carolina and Senator
Beveridge Of Indiana These versatile orators
clashed a question Of practical agriculture the
one holding that the Federal Weather Bureau and
Forestry service were OF genuine benefit 10 the
farmers Of the country and the other maintain
ing that the money spent on weather observations
and forest preser ervation brought no adequate COM
pensaton the ter OF the soil In developing
This conflict Of opinion. each OF the disputants
succeeded in conveying his belief that the other
knew little or nothing Of farming apart from its
political side. The passage al arms was not Of a
violent character however and the incident showed
noteworthy abatement in Mr.. Tillman's original
pitchfork manner. The Agricultural hill was
finally completed and passed
Mr. Tillman asserted thar the bill provided rom
siderable sums for the Weather Bureau which was
Of insignificant benefit the farmers OF the coun-
try and for forestry, which had no direct connec
ton with farming
To this statement Mr.. Beveridge took sharp ex-
ception- declaring that the South Carolina SEN
ator exhibited dense ignorance" in his statement
as TO forestry.
TN be obliged TO wise friend the new
solomon from Indiana" said Mr. Tillman de-
risFely' If he viii tell US what he knows about
farming"
i got my knowledge by practical experience " re-
torted Mr. Beveridge
MI Tilman replied, laughngly that there
seemed 10 be innumerabe lawyers I'm the Senate
who were born farms and perhaps had fol-
.1~ee low the plough Tor few days and now posed in
Ihere are other farm implements of vaIue he
Is the pitchfork.' e
Aht We have got the pitchforls in AT las, >, said
Mr Iillman, goodnaturediy. Now ri proceed 70
use IL on the Senator. Does the Senator mean when
he talks OF the denudaton of the land OF trees
2nd OF the drying up Of rivers that IL affects the
farmer or the commerce on the rivers?"
Mr. Beyerioge replied that nothing affected the
tarrn ana FARMER more than the waters in the
timately concerned the farmer than the culture
AND growth OF trees. Although he added sar-
castcally, The Senator shows the same Ignorance
OF thls raet as he shows OF farming IN generGl."
MI Tillman explained that ne had said that
forestry had nothing do with farming but that
Il accept the apology" said Mr.. Beveridge.
II that is the kind OF apology you get in Ind
lana: SAID Mr.. Tiliman, laughingly. 1T is i'm
mediately followed by a nght."
Mr. Chandler protested that Senators should not
adoress each other as you"
Perhaps the Senator would like address
the senator from South Carolina as thee Il" sug-
eested Mr.. Beveridge
After some further goodnatured badnage. Mr.
Iillinan said he would let this little wasp from
I'm glad 10 see" retorted Mr.. Beveridse that
the wasp sting had its effect"
The trouble Is, replied Mr.. Tillman. that this
wasp didnt nave sting II buzzed and buzzed
The South Carolina Senator then pressed his
proposition 10 increase the appropriation seeds
and seed distribution from $40 O0 10 500 eco and
after some discussion IL was agreed 10.