The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-10-13
DUsON FOR CONGRESS
Leader Of Rice Industry Accepts
Republican Nomination.
Common Sense Appeal to Seventh Dis
trict yoters-How Sugar and
Rice Were Cared for in
the Dingley Bill.


| of the best known men in Louisiana
and the acknowledged leader of the
great rice industry of this state and
southeastern Texas, was last week
nominated for congress by the Repub-
licans of the seventh district. It was
apprehended that Mr.. Duson might
not accept the proffered honor on ac-
count Of the multifarious demands of
/ his varied business interests upon his
| time and attention, but he has con-
cluded TO make the race for the reasons
set forth in the following letter, which
| merits the careful reading and calm
consideration of every citizen, not
only of the seventh district, but of the
entire state:
Crowley, La. October 4 1906,
| To THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SEVENTH CONGRESS
sIoNAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN CONVENTION:
Sir-In compliance with the promise
made by ne to you and the delegates
to the Republican convention which
met in Lake Charles on Sept. %, I
write you today.
Inasmuch as there seems to be no
other man in this congressional dis
trict willing to make the race for the
Office of congressman from this dis
trict, I will do SO, although with con-
siderable reluctance, realizing that
there is duty which one owes to the
people and especially at this period
SO vital to our section of Louisiana,
and particularly TO the rice and sugar
to become candidate, [ feel that it is
but just TO myself to make the follow
| ing statement to you and to the voters
| Of the seventh congressional district:
| In company with Prof. Knapp and
others I spent four months 10 w ash
| ington city when the Dingley tariff
bill was before the Dingley Committee.
Our success for the present tariff on
rice was due almost entirely to Sena-
tor Samuel D. McEnery, who. stood
alone against his party for the Repub-
| lican tariff bill. But for the fact that
we could vouch for his favorable vote
on the Republican tariff bill in the
senate, the rice schedule would have
remained as it was made by the DEM
ocratic congress. TWAS his ability to
assist the Republican party by his
vote at that time that snatched sugar
and rice out of the grasp Of the I'M
/ porter-an act for which our people
| should never cease to thank him. He
promised his people to stand by them,
and he did it nobly. | was with him
in the ordeal he went through at Wash
ington with his party associates-a
| Democrat standing alone in the the
/ United States Senate and voting for a
Republican tariff bill from start to
finish, when every other Democrat was
voting to put rice where its price for
the American producer would not be
over s1.50 per barrel. Many persons
will naturally inquire why it was this
one Democratic vote against his party
associates could accomplish this much;
and what my part in the matter may
| have been. This will now proceed to
explain to the voters of this district as
follows:
| While the tariff bill was pending in
| the United States senate, quite di-
vision Of sentiment arose upon GER
tain articles, particularly wool, hides
and lumber. Some of the eastern SEN
ators, who were tariff men, did not
/ wish a tariff quite as high on these
commodities as was scheduled for them
| in the house committee, because the
eastern N manufacturers wanted cheap
leather, cheap wool and cheap lumber.
The western senators wanted wool.
hides and lumber on the Dlngley
| schedule to help their people of the
west, who would profit by such tariff
and sell their hides, wool and lumber
to the eastern manufacturers and keeE
the money paid for these raw materials
at home instead OF sending it to for.
eign markets.
This disagreement led to split II
the senate, as result of which, II
order to pass the Dingley Bill witt
it's protection OF rice as it exists today
the vote OF one Democratic senator
i had to be obtained. It will be remem
bered that the bill had passed the
house, giving rice the present protect
) i've tariff: but when it reached thk
!. senate committee they threatened &c
, leave rice where it was under the WI
son bill, and under which the rice IN
:. dustry would have been doomed, say
ing to us: our Democratic congress
men voted for the Wilson bill. Eyl
IDENTIFY this course was approved Q.
i their constituents because the SAM
Democratic congressman we're re
I turned. Therefore, why snoulo VI
help protect your rice industry Wnel
your own congressman will not he'll
US do so? You are appealing to US t.
do something, and then turn rlgh
around and send Democratic congress
men up here to prevent accomplishing
the very thing that you want. Is tn1
consistentsn No one sympathlze'
with rs. The situation was desper at
for the rice industry.
5 1 =. EsSasx