The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-04
INSURGENTS IN 4 CORNER.
RECIPROCITY TESTS SINCERITY
IN DEMANDING LOWER DU-
TIES.
Payne Bill Debate Recalled.-Scrator
Cummins and Others Declared Pro-
lection Did not Benefit Western
Farmers.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Friends OF
the Administration still persist in the
| belief that Senator Cummins and his
Republican progressive associates will
| be found supporting the Canadian re-
ciprocity legislation. The Importance
of the attitude of Senator Cummins
lies in the expectation that in the
Senate during the Sixty-second Con-
gress he will be its virtual leader
The trainers Of the reciprocity
agreement base their belief that the
Western Republican Senators will be
with them mainly on their disclosure
! Of May 81, 1909, in the Senate, when
the tariff on fresh meats and hams
and bacon was under consideration.
The House had made the fresh-meat
rate 1 1-2 cents a pound. The SEN
ate bill raised this protection to 2
cents a pound duty on hams and ba-
con, and Senator Aldrich offered to
make it cents a pound.
Senator Heyubrn, of Idaho, launch
ed long speech in favor Of protec-
ton Of hay at s4 a ton, and hogs,
cattle, freshmeats hams and bacon
at the highest rates.
Senator Nelson, Of Minnesota, in
terrupted to say that the exports of
| I,o 4
States amounted in 1907 to 46O, O,00O,-
600 pounds valued at 0,000, 900, and
the imports to only 475,525 pounds,
valued at s1O2,134.
I'VE are by far the greatest ex-
porters and dealers in the markets of
the world in articles like ham and
bacon, or any two nations of the
world Senator Beveridge Of Indiana,
declared, land we export these enor-
nous quantities. importing practical
| ly none, and we can meet the COM
petition Of the whole world in the
free markets Of the world"
Senator Nelson again took a hand
THE protective duty on wheat up
to this time" he said, has been Of
no earthly value whatever to the
wheat farmers. We have been an
| exporter of wheat and are yet, and
as long as we are exporting wheat the
price is fixed by the Liverpool price,
and If it were not for the drawback
provision contained in the Dingley law
today we should not need any protec-
ton for wheat for years 70 come"
Senator Nelson further said that If
the rate of 80 cents a bushel were put
on wheat he would get 80 cents more
for his wheat than he ever did be-
| fore.
Senator Aldrich, speaking Of hams
| and bacon, said:
There is no possibility at cents
pound of any large importations in
to this country. When the duty which
was imposed by the Wilson bill, about
cents a pound, was in operation,
l
| tions."
Finally Senator Cummins, of iowa.
took the floor.
do your farmers believe that this
| duty on bacon and hams affects the
| price Of their hogs? Do you think
500" he asked Senator Hepburn in
sstently.
Does the Senator believe that the
| duty on wheat affects the price of
wheat?" asked Senator Hepburn in
| reply.
Il do not" said Senator Cummins.
Then" replied Senator Hepburn,
| 'the Senator and l do not belong to
| the same school of politics"
To this Senator Cummins replied:
Il believe we produce hogs-I am
| now speaking Of the four-footed en-
| tirely-cheaper than any other coun-
| try upon the face Of the earth.
represent a State that markets an
| nually 100000 hogs, probably more
| than the State of Idaho in a good
| many years Our farmers do not be-
| lieve that the duty on bacon and hams
has anything whatsoever to do with
the price Of their hogs. l ask the
| question in the utmost good faith
What farmers?" asked Senator
| Hepburn.
Cummins. IF the Senator will allow
me just a moment, we are as firm
| ly welded TO the doctrine of protec-
tion oS iS the farmer from Idaho. we