The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-09
SEN. SMITH WILL COOPERATE
Thinks the Republicans Will NOT W.
erreaeh.-New Tariff Would
: Mean Ruin.

Hon. E. D. Smith was in the city
yesterday, says the Columbia State
for q few hours on his way to his
home in Florence. Mr.. Smith is IN
excellent health and spirits, seeming
" stronger than he has been tor
wears. Many friends congratulated
him, for it was the first time that
they had seen him since he had tax
en- the oath of Office as United States
senator.
With reference to the much dis
eussed subject of tariff on kaln!t'
which would impose a great hardship
on the. agricultural classes OF the
South, be said to a reporter OF the
State:
Zone thing Of paramount mpor.
tance to the agricultural interests OF
our people is the proposed tax IN the
PAYNE bill on potash, which, as every
one knows, is a necessary ingredient
in all our fertilizers, and it IS OF the
greatest Importance to the country at
LARGE that the farmer shall be allow
ed to get his fertilizer as cheap as
possible, as the prosperity Of the
. country is dependent upon the pro-
duction Of our fields, and these IN
turn are dependent on their fert1l1-
ty.
"I do not believe that the Repub-
lican administration is so welded to
their determination to tax the South
as to 90 50 far as to really threaten
the life O. the goose; whose golden
egs they've been stealing since the
inauguration of the protective tariff.
con my return to Washington, II l
find it necessary, I am going to try
to interest the agricultural depart
ment in protesting against this mon
strous outrage with which We are
threatened.
"There seems to be a disposition
-on the part of good many OF the
members of both senate and house TO
listen to and be governed by a partlai
sense of justice, at least.
EsThey seem to be disposed to help
rs in every way which does not I'M
mediately effect their intersts, while
others Of the Republican party seem
to have it as fixed principle that no
national legislation shall be enacted
which shall directly or indirectly ben
eft the South. :..
ttAGv hope of a better condition Of
affairs is based on tendency OF the
agricultural West and Northwest to
ioni with the South in a common pro
sest against the injustices OF a high
protective tariff.
GA moments reflection, and the
public will understand that the agrl-
cultural Development Of the West IS
R Comparatively recent data. As the
I,onnlation becomes denser, and the
consequent struggle for existence be-
comes sharper, the burdens OF unjust
legislation are more acutely felt.
"The present bill passed in its
present shape means a Democratic
administration four years from to-
: day; and I am almost reconclled to
Its passage if this will prove the re-
suit Of it,
. The effort to retain potash salts on
the free list and abolish the proposed
dutv Of 20 per cent. now in the Payne
tariff bill will be made in both
branches of congress by the repre-
sentatives from South Carolina. Since
Director Harper has called attention
to the fact that this duty would mean
a cost Of 100000 annually to the
farmers Commissioner Watson, Dlrec-
tor Harper and Mr.. Earle Sloan, who
is practical fertilizer man, have
been at work on some convincing fig
ures, which will be forwarded Repre-
sentative Lever at once.
Mr.. Lever says that the only way
the paragraph can be killed IS by per-
mission of the ways and means COM
mittee and this he has been unable to
obtain as yet: It is also impossible
for him to obtain the floor to protest
against the duty, and it may be nee
essary to transfer the fight to the