The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-09

history Of the cotton schedule, say
ing that In no Tariff Act have there
been fixed rates so low as the sched-
ule pertaining to cotton cloth and cot
ton manufactures generally.
When Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, inter-
rupted Mr.. Aldrich to assert that the
latter's estimate Of the difference in
the price of cotton In 1897 and at the
present time was erroneous. Mr.. Aid
rich intimated that he did not pro-
pose to yield the floor for questions
while he was making his statement.
Reviewing the various court decis-
ions In reference to the cotton sched-
ule, Mr.. Aldrich declared that the
government has paid out as much as
$4,000 year as refunds Of duties on
account of decisions resulting from
ambiguity In the Dingley law.
Proceeding to show that estimates
OF advalorem equivalents Of specific
rates could not possibly be accurately
figured. Mr.. Aldrich said that nothing
could be told about equivalent adva-
loren rates In the cotton schedule. He
said It was impossible to do so when
the value Of the goods range from Z
cents to 80 cents square yard.
He declared that there were high
and low rates In the specific rates of
the cotton goods schedule, and the
foreign manufacturers would change
their methods Of manufacture IL nec-
essary to take advantage Of low
points.
Declaring that the menace to the
cotton goods industry Of the United
States will be the manufacture Of
those goods by Japan. Mr.. Aldrich
said that japan today has four large
cotton manufactures in operation. and
said that 1t would be hard to say what
would be the result IL in the next ten
years Japan should go extensively into
the manufacture Of cotton. He call
ed attention to the cents a day la
Dor In the land Of the Rising Sun, and
to the ability OF Its people In decora-
tive work. He predicted, on the 9TH
er hand, that the United Safes would
become the greatest producer and
manufacturer Of cotton goods in the
world II It's interests were properly
protected.
He reviewed the progress Of the
Southern States in the manufactur.
OF cotton goods. declaring that South
Carolina has become second only to
Massachusetts, in the manufacture Of
cotton goods, that North Carolina is
third and Georgia fourth.
1T is not for me to say how the
Senators from the South shall vote on
this cotton schedule" said Mr.. Aid
rich. after his review of the growth of
the industry In the Southern States.
Continuing. he said:
II say to these Senators on the
other side OF the chamber that the
stake of the South is greater than
that Of the North. and I predict that
when another bill is drafted the
South will have three-fourths of the
cotton mills" Insisting that no man
could point to an act or word Of
his to indicate that he was not as
vitality interested in the prosperity of
the South as he Is In the progress Of
his own section, Mr.. Aldrich appeal
ed directly to the representatives OF
Southern States to meet the question
fairly
'I appeal to you directly, not to
vote for this bill. for know that this
you will not do while I am in the SEN
ate. but to look at this question as
Affecting the prosperity Of your sec
tion." said the Rhode Island Senator
The time will come when the South
will be found standing shoulder to
shoulder with the North in an effort
to perpetuate this great industry In
the United States"
A"hh"6 straight dcToSS the dlSle III
to the faces of the Democratic SEN
ators. who were giving the most re.
spectful attention to his speech, Mr..
Aldrich said that the time is near
when the cotton manufacturing in
dustry would be far more important
to the South than 1t is to the North
He declared that the New England
Senators had proved themselves to
be the South's best friends.
Mr.. Aldrich addressed the Southern
members of the Senate. telling them
that he thought their obligations to
their constituencies demanded that
they support the Senate bills cotton