Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-06-24
MAYOR RHETT
ON PUBLIC MATTERS

need for more business methods IN
government. 1t is significant that the
Democratic party has not been in
power, with the exception of eight
years, for almost half a century, al
though the solid South, constituting
almost one-third of the country, has
almost invariably cast its votes for
that party. I believe it is largely due
to a lack of confidence on the part of
the people of the country in the ca
pacity Of the Democratic party to
manage the government upon a bust
ness plane and by business methods.
The South does not lack msn of busi-
ness capacity. and there are not a
few Of them at present in the halls
Of Congress, but they have been fol-
lowing political and not business lines.
My belief is that if they subordi-
mated their political to their business
talent they would regain the conf
dence Of the entire country. More
than this, my belief is that they
would once more secure the lcaocr-
ship and guide the policies OF line
Demo ratio party, and through that
party the government of the nation.
As business man, who has found
that the applications of business
methods to all problems-goverl:-
mental as we'll as others-has effect
ed the best solutions, | am offering
myself as a candidate for the United
States Senate. believing, that I can
be of some use to the people of my
State, to the South and to the coun-
try.
Currency.
The present currency laws of the
United States are framed for the
benefit of the holding frater-
nifty of New York and New England,
and against tine interests of the far
mer, the manufacturer and the pro-
ducer generally. Under these laws
the Southern bank. from whom alone
the farmer can obtain the currency
to gather his crops, is now compell-
ed to buy this currency in New York.
Every fall the Stock Exchange spe-
culator runs up the price of money
and thus makes it difficult and ex-
pensive, and at times impossible, to
get the currency needed. The farmer
is driven to pay higher rates is
driven gather his cotton under
spur and whip, and to sell it, not as
his Judgment dictates, but as neces-
sity demands. I have prepared a cur
rency plan in detail which enables
the Southern banks to obtain this
currency when it is needed by the
farmer, without going to New York
or depending upon bonds-a curren-
cy based upon the credit of the banks
themselves, which means the credit
of the communities in which the
banks are located. By making il a
condition that every bank to obtain
its charter shall guarantee the note
of every other bank, the currency is
made the strongest in the world. do
not believe it is realized how ma
terially this currency question af-
fects every interest in the country.
The intricacy of the question has
made it so Gificult to understand
that the representatives of the large
moneyed interests of the northeast
have blinded the people of The coun-
try .and enable them through the
present currency system to levy tri-
butte upon every industry to a great
er or less extent. For instance,
there was panic last fall and no
currencv could be obtained at any
price The reason was that all bank
note currency had to be secured by
the deposit of Government bonds, and
the government bond market was
cornered in New York. l have con-
structed system on the lines of our
federal government-a system of the
people and for the people-a system
baseG upon the credit of the coun-
try, its industries and commodities
distributed throughout the length and
breadth of the land-a system from
the proportionate benefits of which
no community can be excluded-yet
a system behind which stands more
than the combined currencies of Eu-
rope; a system which will forever
free our industries from currency
farnines and our country from panics.
The Tariff.
The tariff duties should be imme-
diately reduced to the lowest point
consistent with the needs Of the gov
crnment economically administered.
In the process of reducing the du-
ties the utmos. endeavors should be
used to prevent discrimination
against Southern industries, coupled
with diligen care that our industries
shall receive the fullest share of ad-
vantage from whatever duties re-
main.
The tariff, of course, is tax-an
Indirect tax-and the whole question
is one OF adjusting this tax so that
each industry and clement shall bear
it fair proportion.
Railroads.
The state knows my attitude on
the railroad question. I have claim
ed that there was a discrimination
not only against the port of Charles
ton, but against all parts of South
Carolina. I have cited tariffs which
show this eoncIusively. A railroad is
a public service corporation. 1t is
the public's trustee for its highways
and it should be so regulated as not
to discriminate against any indus
tries or any localities. I have never
favored an indiscriminate reduction
in rates. I believe that railroads
should be permitted to earn profits,
and good profits, upon actual values,
but not upon watered securities. /
believe that service is of moro i'm