The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-31

their timber in Canada, ship it to
their mills across the line in the
United States without having to pay
into the federal treasury the ordinary
tax which other commodities paw for
that privilege. Here is your doctrine
OF free raw material that these gen.
tlemen would have me advocate as
your representative, but l shall not do
1t so long as 1 am in congress- and if
the people Of my district are unwil-
ling for me to battle in their interests
against the aggressive greed of other
sections of the nation, then I have
greatly misunderstood the people of
the district
If the House Had Been Democratic.
II the Democrats hao controlled the
house, and we had been called upon
to frame tariff bill constructed along
the idea Of reduced expenditures and
increased revenue from an income
tax as part of our plan of revenue
taxation, it would have been possible
to have put lumber on the free list,
and yet work no discrimination
against the taxpayers Of the South. A
Democratic bill would have SO re-
arranged rates and schedules that
they would have borne equitably and
justly upon all sections, persons and
industries--as is repeatedly demanded
in various Democratic platforms. The
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill, in it's unjust
determinations against the South
gives the Western farmer his binding
twine free of duty, but puts a tax Of
s7,O00,000 annually upon the bagging
and ties Of the people whom in part
L represent. A Democratic bill would
have given the Western farmer free
binding twine, the Southern farmer
free baging and ties, and the lumber
consumer along the Canadian border
line free lumber; and here is a prac-
tical illustration Of how these duties
may be equalized under a Democratic
system, with equal advantages to ev-
cry and special hurt to no section.
would not force my people to bear
the burden Of this Republican tariff
bill, thereby permitting a large section
Of the country to escape it's share
MY people are entitled to a fair deal
In this government; and so long asI
| am in congress intend, as far as lies
within my power, to see that they get
it L believe in the real doctrine Of
the Democratic party founded upon,
the everlasting truth of equal aid and
exact justice to all men and all Sec
tions. A representative of the people
| who is content to be mere nonentity.
| following the lead Of others, fright
| ened by every shadow across his path
way, too cowardly to do his duty for
fear Of criticism, is unworthy Of a seat
in that great body which represents
the intelligence and patriotism Of the
American people. I could not fit a
Democratic peg into Republican hole
and do justice to the people Of the
| South; and rather than do otherwise,
am willing, regardless Of the mis-
understanding Of few and the direct
misrepresentation Of a few more, to
| submit the issue, and I do II with a
full reliance upon the intelligence,
broad-mindedness } and business of
heart Of the people who have honored
me so long. Believing with the great
Jefferson tina. the consent Of the gov
erned is the seat Of power, I shall
make my appeal to the living source
of true Democracy with the full con-
sciousness that the will Of the people
is the very genius Of popular govern
ment.