The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-21

Smith. in an interview, today gave
out the following statement with ref
erence to the South's cotton crop, as
compared with like period a year
ago.
Reports from every cotton State
of importance indic ate that the pre-
sent crop will not very greatly ex-
ceed last years crop.
I'm view Of the fact that last year
was an unprecedented short crop, the
demand for the staple increases year
by year, the outlook for an adequate
supply to meet the demands of the
world Is poor indeed.
1.-The farmers Of the South. and
the business men whose prosperity
depends upon the farmers, have the
situation fully in hand. Everything
depends upon whether they will mar
ket the crop judiciously. The South
is not a section in which the doctrine
of protection finds many honest ad-
herents. We do not ask laws enacted
TO protect us from competition; we
simply ask an open field and a free
highland that there shall not be
national legislation which will dis
criminate against us. We are con-
tent to let the law of supply and de-
mand-honestly enforced deter
mine the price of our commodity.
Il wish the cotton growers Of the
South to remember that last year the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill was en-
acted to give a profit to the manu-
facturer. This year, during the lat
ter half Of the session, the Attorney
General of the United States,
through information given him by
certain parties who seem to have
been short on cotton, indicated GER
tain ones who were attempting to get
an approximately legitimate price for
cotton.
Now to state the case clearly:
The wole machinery Of the Govern
ment was set in motion to pass such
laws as would guarantee the man.
ufacturcr a profit, and then to in
woke the law to prohibit the produc-
er of the raw material from getting
the price that the simple law of ma
ture-the law Of supply and demand
entitled him to.
THE so-called bull clique were to
be hauled into court to answer to the
charge Of an illegal combination in
the restraint Of trade, while the same
body that passed the Sherman Act
were busy passing the Payne-Aldrich
bill to legalize the artificial profit to
the manufacturers of America.
No Exceptions.
II asked the question of a leading
Republican Protectionist if he would
not vote to exempt labor and indus
trial organizations from the opera
tions of the Sherman Act. His reply
was that he believed that all should
stand on the same footing before the
law. He knew then that the dis
elimination, under the law, was op-
pressing those who labor for wages,
and who produce the raw material,
in favor of those who clip coupons
and own the manufacturing inter-
ests Of America.
Il shall not attempt to dictate to
the farmers Of the South what they
shall do. But, under the circum-
stances, ! would be delighted to see
them combine and hold their cotton
from the market, wherever it is pos
sible for them to do so, until it shall
bring such price as shall measure
the artificial price placed upon man.
ufactured articles by virtue Of the
tariff.
my honest conviction is that 20
cents a pound for the present crop
is none too high. in view of the sup
ply, the cost of production, the COM
parative value Of cotton with other
textiles and the artificial price that
now obtains on manufactured goods.
Last year, when the Attorney
General Of the United States was set
ting the machinery of the law in
motion to investigate the bulls, /
introduced a resolution in the Sem
ate. which was unanim ously passed,
that he should in common decency,
investigate the bears also.
Pledges Cooperation.
81 shall do all in my power.
whilst a member OF the United States
Senate, to see to 1t that those who
produce the raw material shall get a
square deal.
ut seems that the tide is turning
our way; and If the people will only