The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-08-22
SMITH DEMANDS PROMPT ACTION.
Declares Government Cotton Estimates
ErrOneOuS-Demands Immediate
Investigation.

WASHINGTON. Aug. Ex-senator E.
D. Smith, of South Carolina, today
spoke at length in the senate in be-
half of a resolution which he intro
duced, requesting the secretary OF
agriculture, if feasible, to issue pre-
liminary report upon the condition OF
the cotton crop, and to make the re-
port public at the first possible mo-
ment.
Senator Smith contends that it is
only fair to the Southern cotton far
mers that the department should issue
a special statement of the condition
of the crop now, in order to atone in
some degree for the damage done to
the farmer by the advance estimate OF
June 25. In this connection, the SEN
ator read telegrams from the agricul-
tural department Of the various cot
ton States, tending to prove that the
federal departments advance guess
was heavily excessive.
Supported by Simmons.
Senator Simmons, of North Carolina,
supported Senator Smith by calling at
tention to the fact that the federal de-
partment's pessimistic guesses as to
the corn cror in the cotton States,
where corn is subject to very much
the same influences as the cotton crop.
Senator Burton, of Ohio, corn
growing State, endeavored to break
the force of the South Carolinian's
argument, but with no success, and
also did Senator Burnham, of New
Hampshire, a leading cotton mill State.
Senator Smith agreed to referring
his resolution to the senate committee
On agriculture, if senator Burnham,
the chairman, would promise to call
the committee together at once to con-
slider it. The chairman promised, and
the committee voted to submit the
matter to the secretary of agriculture,
asking him to report, before the meet
ing Of the senate tomorrow, whether
or not the request made in Senator
Smiths resolution is feasible.
Ws7,ox D,.ou,icoe pnnlv
Chairman Burnham and Senator
Smith went to see Secretary Wilson
and communicated to him the commit
tees wish and the secretary promised
TO "talk with the boys" who get up
, the departments figures and let the
senate know. In the event of an un-
favorable answer from the secretary
Of agriculture, the South Carolina sen
ator announces his intention to push
his resolution with all hi" might.
Senator Hepburn, who was in the
chair when Senator Smith was speak
ing today, asked the latter if his reso-
luton was offered as a substitute for
the previous resolution, asking infor-
nation as to the methods employed
by the department Of agriculture in
making advance estimates. Senator
Smith replied emphatically it was not
and that he would press both resolu-
tions separately.
Senator Smith said cotton dropped
$40 a bale On the strength OF the gov
ernment's report of 3,0oo,O o,OOO-bale IN
crease in this years crop.
"This estimate was made June 2S,'
he declared, before part of the crop
was out of the ground"
F. Protest Apparently Unheeded.
He said he protested to Secretary
Wilson and was informed the secre-
tary did not know the preliminary re-
port had been issued and that it would
not occur again. But on August 2
Senator Smith added, another glowing
preliminary report was issued.
ssI should hate to draw in the SEN
ate of the United States" Senator
Smith said, "the conclusions that ]
might feel might be drawn from this
remarkable report of the agricultural
department. Either the commission
ers of all the cotton States, men right
on the ground and familiar with con-
ditions, are utterly mistaken Or else
the agricultural department is wrong
in it's deductions that there will be a
record crop this year,
On account of his belief that the
cotton growers of the South have bee
heavy losers by the guesswork advance
crop estimates of the department OF
agriculture Senator Smith of Scutn
carolina. today issued the following