The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-01
THE GREAT AMERICAN FARMER
Congressman Levers Speech on This
National Institution was Well
Received by the House.

The State.
Washington, April 26.-Among
the many things that come up for
i'll the house of representatives. while
it is trying to take as much time as
possible passing the few important
bills it has been decreed it shall pass
is the American farmer. The Ameri-
can farmer, as we all know, is great
institution. The agricultural bill"
is before the house this week and
Representative Asbury F. Lever,
sometimes known as the Honorable A.
Frank Lever Of the Seventh congress
sional district of South Carolina, took
opportunity yesterday to deliver him
self of few Of his ideas, very good
ideas, too, about this great institution,
the American farmer. Just before
making his speech Mr.. Lever was
heara to say to some Of his collea-
CUES, on the side, that he would not
swap his place on the agricultural
committee with any Of them, not even
to be chairman of the ways and means
committee, or words to that effect or
along that line. He was loaded then
for his speech, which he was about to
make. He made it. Contrary to the
general custom when such speeches
are made, he got good and respect
full as we'll as semi-respectable hear
hnn nd 1f ,I>o,
were in their seats, fair average on
such an occasion, and they not only
listened attentively, but they frequen~
tly interrupted the speaker with ap-
plause. When he finished speaking
something like a dozen Of his colea--
CUES left their seats and went, up to
shake hands and congratulate him.
The great American farmer and the
agricultural department seemed to be
his subject. He said among many
other things that the first sugges-
tion of department of agriculture
for the government came from mes
sage sent to congress by the "Father
of His Country" in which he recon-
mended governmental agency,
which should be charged with the du-
ty of "stimulating enterprise and en-
perimcnting along agricultural lin
esq The suggestions Of Gen. Wash
ington were met with favor by the
wiscst and best craftsmanship of that
period. The response of the senate
to those suggestions was written by
South Carolinian, Senator Read.
"The truth isl, asserted Mr.. Lever,
"that from the earliest days of this
republic, the South has been vitality
interested in every effort to better
the condition Of the agricultural
classes and there is no section Of the
country which gives heartier support
to the present administration of the
department of agriculture. The
South believes in the integrity and
wisdom of Secretary Wilson and it
believes that he at least will give the
South square deal >"
Mr.. Lever charged that the govern
ment had been tardy in extending aid
to agriculture, "the most potent
agency in our industrial develop
ment,' and declared that this tardi-
ness reflected on the patriotic fore
sight Of the nation. "For," said he,
ga policy Of liberality to agriculture
would bring to the country n two
fold benefit; it would help the farmer
individually and would add to the
revenue of the government by in
creasing the farmers taxable prop.
erty.' He also claimed that such
recognition as agriculture finally won
from congress the result Of Democra-
tic effort. A Democrat Of Missouri,
Mr.. Hatch, lead the fight in the house,
and the act was signed by a Demo.
cratic president. ...... ....
He said that agriculture was the
largest contributor Of the nation IS
wealth and argued that the appfopria-
tion made annually by congress for
this industry was not gift to the
farmer but an investment for the
government from which it expected
and did actually receive large re-
turns. lie said the farmer did not
expect the government to give him