The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-10-13

Can a Democratic congressman from
this district expect to be consistent
with the Democratic principles OF Tree
trade and at the same time obtain pro-
lection for rice? Can he expect to
WELD an influence with the dominant
party by demanding the removal OF
the tariff duty from all commodities
except that raised in the district!
Most assuredly not. On the other
hand, cannot Republican congress
man, with all consistency and in full
accord with his party's principles, de-
mand that rice receive full and ample
projections; demand that rice be left
untouched when the reduction OF duty
is commenced; demand that our sugar
and lumber industries receive the
same protection? And will not a Re-
publican congressman WELD far
greater influence with Republican
majority than would Democrat?
Two other interesting little items OF
history apply very forcibly along
tIlCSS iIISSg 1A0 ~ VILE AOui obCA SlOiS3
be out Of order to refer tothem, towit:
It is we'll known to both Prof.
S. a. Knapp and myself that when
the delegations from Louisiana,
Georgia and South Carolina, sent by
the rice interests of those states to
look after the protection OF rice,
| wished to call upon Mr.. Dingley to
| urge the proper protective duty, the
then congressman from the sixth
Louisiana district, S. Nj. Robertson,
refused TO introduce the committee
men to Mr.. Dingley, giving as his
| reason therefor that it would not be
| consistent n him to appear be-
| fore the Dinsiey committee and ask
| for tariff on rice, as this was
against his Democratic principles,
and he did not wish by SO doing to
commit himself or his party. Gov
ernor Warmoth, who happened to be
/ in Washington city at the time,
volunteered to perform this Office
| for US. The Democratic congress
man would not even introduce the
committee from the rice interests to
the one man who could guarantee
them protection.
Again, when Hon. r. N. Sims and
myself were representing the rice in
dusbry il Cuba in an effort TO gain an
entrance for American rice, and we
intimated to the Cubans that if they
did not comply with our request we
would take the matter up with our
own congress, their reply was: why,
you cannot hurt as in your congress.
/ You have no representatives from
Louisiana and Texas but Democrats,
and they are all 'free-traders,' and
i could not ask for a tariff on rice
/ against US. The only way Louisiana
can ask for such legislation as you
want would be through Republican
congressman, OF which you havenone. T"
This left us without q reply. We had
to admit that their statement was true.
i A Democrat cannot demand protec-
1 ton for rice and expect hearing.
1 And this brings me to q point OF
vital Importance to the entire rice
industry, and OF equal Importance TO
the sugar industry OF our fair state.
There is but little doubt that sooner
or later and possibly at a very early
date1 the unsettled conditions in
Cuba will force the issue of annex alton
i upon this government; and when
| such thing does arise, it is OF the
greatest Importance to the rice and
sugar industries of Louisiana to have
at Washington at least one repre-
sentative, duly accredited by the peo-
pie whose interests he represents,
who affiliates with the dominant
party and who can get tie ear OF
1.-THE powers that be-" instead OF
sending someone who can only peep
in at the keyhole and ask some
friendly Republican TO try TO do some.
thing for him personally in order
that he may please his people. Ever
though annex alton is not forced upon
us, the administr alton Of the aft airs
OF Cuba BY this government vii
cause many questions Of vital i'm.
portance to the agricultural indus
tries of this state to come up fol
settlement; and is it not reasonable
| TO say that man who has spent
much time in Cuba studying these
!. very conditions which will now arise
who has already gained the support
Of those in authority who can be Of
the greatest assistance to our in.
dustries, and who will be with the
! majority, instead of the minority, ir
: the'next congress, can best represent
!. the rice and sugar Industries of the
seventh congressional district?
. President Roosevelt, at the reques
> OF Prof. Knapp, did all he could fol-
the rice industry of Louisiana ant
Texas. Not only was Minister Squire,
requested to assist MIR. Sims ana nv
self, but the Cuban adminlstr atior
!, was all but told that, in Justice Il
!. Louisiana and Texas and in justice TX
! our reciprocity relations, they shoult
: pass the Gown bill. Through the ia
! auence OF President Roosevelt th'
. bill passed the Cuban house of rep
resentatives, and was killed in tn,