Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-16

and each day found the auditorium full
OF interested listeners at the work OF the
congress. All the papers read ana dis
cussed were OF national importance and
bore particularly upon the needs and in
terests OF national agriculture. The per-
sonnet OF the delegates in attendance con-
sisted OF the best material from the al
ferent states represented. and the result
OF their deliberations. profoundly inn
pressed those who had not before been
in attendance upon a session OF the con-
gress.
cosensus of Opinion.
There was an almost unanimous con-
sensus of opinion I'm the minds Of the
delegates in the discussion OF those papers
referring to national legislation in the in
terest OF the producers OF this country.
This unanimity Of sentiment found eN-
preston when the question Of the en-
dorsement OF the ship subsidy scheme
came up for action. Although the AFFIRM
alive Of the proposition was ably present.
ed by Mr. Smith. OF New York, when
the matter was finally put to a vote, the
resolution endorsing ship subsidy was
overwhelmingly voted down. Mr.. Smith
admitted 10 me that he was not a farm
er but came as the representative of Mr..
B. X. Thurber. who is one of the most
notorious lobbyists in the United states.
AIr. Thurber, Il viii be remembered, en-
deavored to secure action favorable on
ship subsidy scheme before the session OF
the congress held at Sioux Falls, 5. D.,
last October, and signally failed. Every
one OF the farmer delegates from the state
OF New York voted solidly against the
measure. II this congress had gone upon
record as endorsing or favoTing the ship
subsidy bill, there is no question that
the next congress of the United States
would have enacted the provisions OF the
bin into a law. But the farmers Of this
nation are a unit against such schemes or
wholesale robbery Of the producers in or
der that a few wealthy ship owners head
ed by ]. p. Morgan, may make annual
raids upon the United States treasury.
Likewise upon the question OF reciprocity.
the general consensus of opinion was that
such a law should be enacted, and apply
with Il force 70 all products, when such
reciprocal interchange did not have the ef-
feet OF injuring the markets for some OF
our infant industries. The strong plea
made by the Michigan delegates against
reciprocity, because Of its probable hurt
ful influence on beet sugar, had no
weight when the general good OF the
whole country was at stake. The south
particularly does not object 10 reciprocity,
because II Is on the line Of free trade.
a reduction OF the tariff, and breaks the
protection now afforded the manufactures
by he government or the united states.
The great trouble with our tariff is that
Il affords protection 10 the manufacturer
and gives no protection to the farmers.
1t enables the manufacturer 70 hold down
the market for our raw materials and TO
keep 70 a high figure the price of the
manufactured articles OF commerce re-
quired by TIE consumers Of this country.
That this session OF the congress should
have gone so forcibly upon record as
against the ship subsidy scheme. and en-
dorsed the policy OF reciprocity, is not
only important. but II win have great
weight with our representatives in the
national legislature.
The effect OF bringing together represen-
tative men engaged in agriculture from
all parts OF he United States meeting
on southern SOIL in the Empirt State of
the South. will have a splendid. effect
upon the future development Of this state.
Georgia Is Regarded as the best state In
the union for diversified industries. The
northern delegates TO the congress ex-