The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-04-02
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, April 2, 1902.
Tillman's Tariff Speech.

Senator Tillman, when the bill for
the repeal of the war revenue taxa
tion was called up in the Senate last
Friday, introduced the infant to the
Senate as "a poor, measly Southern
tariff baby, with only one protected
citizen, so far a South Carolinian. "
He referred of course, to DR.. Chas.
U. Shepard and his tea farm at
''Pinehurst," Summer7ilIe, S. G. A
short time ago DR.. Shepard wrote a
letter to Senator Tillman asking his
assistance in defeating the repeal OF
the war tax on foreign teas. 1t was
in this connection that Senator Till
man called the Senate's attention to
the tea culture experiment in South
Carolina. And while he did not care
to plunge the Senate into tariff de-
bate just at this time, Senator Till
man gave notice that he would, at
the earliest opportunity, attempt to
have this tax on tea reinstated.
In his letter to Senator Tillman
DR.. Shepard stated that under the
protection OF the ten cent per pound
tax on tea and the assistance Of Cor
gress in providing funds for expert
mentation in tea culture, there was
strong hope of successfully launching
q new industry in the Southern
States. An estate of one thousand
acres is being established gradually
and foreign capitalists are seeking to
invest 100000 in another planta-
ton in that vicinity. 10 addition
DR.. Shepard says in his letter that
the numerous small undertakings
and correspondence with the leading
officers of the big trunk lire systems
of the South and Southwest both
lead him to believe that tea culture
will soon be established on large
scale and that parties are now con-
templatiDg the purchase Of expert
mental tea estates along these rail-
roads.
The repeal of the tax on foreign
teas will, in the opinion Of DR.. Shep-
ard, deprive American growers of as
sistance equivalent to the difference
in the cost per pound of tea between
the local and Oriental price of labor,
and net only discourage those who
have embarked in the industry, but
prevent others who are now consid-
ering the project from attempting to
follow them.
Senator Tillman read to the Senate
DR.. Shepard's letter and an extract
from an official statement of the
Secretary of Agriculture commend
ing the industry heartily. Senator
Tillman then went on to make the
poin. that the establishment of large
tea farms in the South would offer
employment to many of the thous-
ands of little pickanirnies along the
coast. DR.. Shepard utilizes this
labor with success on his farm, and
in addition to being taught how to
pluck tea and to perform other work
in connection with the product of the
crop. DR.. Shepard has established
schools at Pinehurst, where these
negro children are received and edu-
Gated.
"HaVlng called your attentlon TO
the fact," said Senator Tillman in
conclusion, "tbat We have a little
baby in South Carolina that might,
With your assistance and benevolence,
Weld some aid and comfort to those
little colored children in the way of
calico frocks, handkerchiefs, ribbons
and a little better food, and in time
enable capital to 60 into those lands
and, by training the negroes in plant
ing tea, have that region, which is
now selling from only one to five
dollars an acre, blossom like rose;
and notifying you that whenever the
opportunity offers, if I am in this
chamber, 1 propose to press for a
tariff on both tea and coffee; although
o Lovo MT onv cCffae plantations