Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-13
SOUTH IS AGA INST
THE TAWNEY
BILL
SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIVES,
SUPPORTED BY GENERAL
eeRosVENoR, OF s
OHIO,

WASHINGTON. D.. c., Feb. s.-The
Tawney bill providing for a tax on oleo<
margarine Of ten cents a pond, which
bill occupied the attention. of the house
this week, was declared by southern con-
gressmen on the floor and in private TO be
the most pernicious and dangerous piece
OF class legislation that northern repRo-
hcanS ever used TO threaten the indus
trial interests of the south. The bill, they
declared, has for its purpose not only the
overthrow Of the oleomargarlne industry,
but ii seeks the life of the cotton seed oil
and cattle industries of the south and
west. The debate in the house on Monday
and Tuesday brought out clearly the fact
that a tax on oleomargarin would de-
preciate the value Of the product. which
is a legitimate one. and thereby depre-
ciate the value of all its ingredients, the
most important of which are cotton seed
oil and the fatty substance of cattle. The
opponents of the Tawney bill declared
the southern states would lose millions of
dollars If the measure became a law.
One Of the surprises OF the heated de-
bate came when General -Grosvenor, the
great republican debater from Ohio, took
the floor to fight the measure. He Is
seldom heard on the same side of a cues
ton as the Democrats assume, and when
he began to weld his cutlass in defense
of oleomargarine the democratic mem
bers left their seats and crowded about
him to catch his words. His speech was
unquestionably one of the most potent
influences brought to bear against the
Tawney bill But no one imagined for
a moment that Grosvenor was fighting in
the interests of the southern industries of
cotton and cattle raising. IT so happened
that his constituency in Ohio would be
affected seriously by the passage Of the
bill. Hence his attack in unison with
The democrats.
One Of the queerest co-incidents in the
history of congress occurred during the
debate. Missouri has a representative
named Cowherd- He represents the dis
trict in which are located the gigantic
packing houses of Kansas City and. OF
course, he showed on the side of oleinar-
garine. He made red hot speech, too,
one of the best heard on the floor this
season, but during the course OF his re-
marks the galleries. showed continuous
smiles as the occupants were told that
he who stood practically against COW
butter was named cowherd.
The speech of this gentleman gives in
clear. concise language. the effects the
south would feel if the Tawney bill be-
comes 2 law.
In part it is as follows:
II have here the statement Of John c.
Mccoy, of Kansas City, VINO has been in
the live stock business all his life-a man
in whom, as know. you can place the Ut
most confidence-and he estimates the loss
to the stock raising industry of the United
States at $50, 100000 per year If this bill
should be passed
+'You are beginning here today to Iegis-
late against the products of some states
for the benefit Of others. You are begin
ming TO break those iron bands that run
from one state to another. carrying the
commerce OF enc freely into the COM
meree Of the other. In this bill YOU are
recognizing the right of one section, If 1t
has suficient votes. to destroy the COM
merce OF another. section because 1t has
not sufficient votes"
Congressman Bartlett interrupted the
speaker to ask:
IF this bill passes. what is to prevent
them from destroying the cotton seed
industry of the south.
Nothing" answered Mr.. Cowherd.
Certainly 1t can be done"
Those who wished to tax oleomargarine
frequently interrupted the speaker with
questions which sought to show that they
were only favoring the tax in the interest
Of the poor farmer" whose butter, they
claimed. was being put out of the markets
by cleo. Statements Of this character
pervaded the speeches of the anti-oleos,
but the only effect OF their utterances was
TO convince their opponents that the state
ments were being made TO curry favor and
get votes from the rural element OF their
districts In reply to these arguments Mr.
Cowherd said: .t
saThe farmers butter does not compete
with oleomargarine. The butter of the
farmers wife does not go into commerce
| It is taken 10 the country towns-such as
Is not consumed on the farmland is there
sold to the purchaser direct. The farmer
wife does not get the city price She
only gets the country price. She does not
suffer from competition with oleomargar-
inc. and this bill does not help her in any
particular"
He told of the formation of a trust with
a capital of SIS, 600 which already con-
trolls the products of over 400 creameries
in this county. and the purpose of which
is 10 control the products of every cream
erv in the country. The president of tho
trust draws a salary Of $4,000 per year
and the secretary is to get $4,000 per year.
These are the poor farmers" he cried.
Gin whose behalf the gentlemen raise their
Vailing voices.
During the three or four days debate on
the subject 1t was generally believed that
the bill would pass, for while the Demo-
crafts and some Republicans fought va
ffantlv II was conceded that the majority
of the house would vote TO tax oleomar-
Rariue because their rural constituents
believe the product is fake and greatly
Injuries the industry of making dairy
butter.
Representative Burleson, Of Texas. sent
a volley of hot shot into the advocates OF
the bill. He said
1--WE may view this matter from differ
ent standpoints. but to me 1t seems II you
vote for this bill you simply aid your
dairymen, by force of legislation, to push
their hands into the pockets of our cotton
growers and cattle raisers and steal a
certain per cent of the value Of their
products I know there are some timid
and misguided Democrats who win vote
for this bill, but when you do, gentlemen,
I want you to realize that it is protection
ism run mad If you propose to adopt
Republican methods and permit policy.
narrow, selfish policy, to control you.
rather than be guided by the broad demo-
cratic principle of opposition TO all per-
nicious class legislation then, for Gods
sake, I implore you. do not disquiet the
father Of democracy IN, his grave bylonger
calling yourselves Democrats"