The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-01-12
WORKING HARD TO
SECURE Big EXPO
Especial to the Silver State)
(By F. j. DYER.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Dip
lomatic world has been intensely inter
ested in the outcome of battle being
waged between the state department
and the German government, the out
come of which will determine to large
extent how far foreign nations can
discriminate commercially against citi-
zens of this country without the dan
ger of suffering penalty.
The "average readero has seen
references during the past year or less
to the "potash question" 1t did not
look very interesting and the public
generally did not look into the true
inwardness Of what seemed to be
merely a squabble between certain
commercial interests and the German
government. The fight has now inter
ested congress and it is likely that
there will be better appreciation of it
by the country at large.
Briefly stated, Germany possesses the
only developed mines of potash in the
world, and they are capable of sup
plying more than three times the
worlds demand for potash. The SUBJ
stance, besides being used for the
manufacture of gunpowder and for
other commercial and chemical pur-
poses, enters into the composition of
fertilizers. Hardly a pound Of cotton,
or ear of corn, or other agricultural
product in the United States is raised
without the use of potash fertilizers.
This gives some 100000 American
farmers a vital interest in the supply
and cost of potash.
Certain companies supplying the
market in America hold contracts for
potash with the independent German
companies at price below the figure
fixed by the syndicate controlling the
bulk of the output, and the German
government has passed law which will
put tax amounting to $22 ton on
the potash exported by the independ-
ents to this country, while it will af-
feet the exports to no other country.
In this way it becomes a direct dis
elimination against this country. The
state department protested against this
action by Germany, and sent special
commissioner to that country to see if
the regulations complained Of would not
be withdrawn. Germany refused to
remove its discriminatory tax, and
while the state department has not CIV
lieves to be simple justice, pressure has
been brought to bear on the president to
put into effect the maximum and mini
mum provisions of the tariff law
against German importations into this
country as a retaliatory measure.
Senator Flint, of California, being ap-
lpealed to by the fruit growing inter
ests of his state, made this request Of
the president; Senator Crane, of Mas
sachusetts, made similar request, and
many kilograms from all parts Of the
country have been addressed to the
president to the same purpose.
Every southern state is large user
of potash as fertilizer in the cotton
fields, except Texas; every fruit grow
ing district uses potash literally, and,
in general, the farming community is
dependent on it for insuring good crops.
The issue is becoming strained and a
tariff war with Germany seems to be
imminent.
A. Working Senotor.
Speaking of SENATOR Flint, it sug-
gests the thought that he is essentially
working senator. He is man who
accomplishes results, and there is much
regret in California that he is retiring
voluntarily from office. While the leg
islature of California has been strug-
Cling with the question as to who
should succeed him in an Office which
he has positively declined to accept
for second time, Senator Flint is
working like the traditional galley
slave to improve everv minute Of the
final weeks of his term instead of fol.
lowing the example of some other leg.
islators, more or less known to fame
in considering their careers closed and
absenting themselves from the scene
of labor and activity.
Senator Flint has been one of the
most active and influential forces in
congress for recognition Of San Fran
cisco g claims to the Paama exposition
With Senator Perkins, he has thrown
all Of his influence, as of course was ia
be expected, for the metropolis of Cali
fornia, and both senators have been
not merely passive, but on the other
hand, exceedingly active and forceful
champions of the Panama-Pacific ex
position. Besides this, Senator Flint
has had an ambitious legislative pro
gram which he has been working hard
to carry out. Not to go into this in
too great detail, it may be remarked
that Senator Flint is very greatly in
terested in legislation for the contro
of government lands supposed to con
tain oil and gas. He has succeeded il
having modified bill, fathered by tn.
interior department, for the leasing Of
public lands under royalty system
Another bill leading to oil develop
ment will give relief to many oil ope
rators who suffer from the so-callet
yard decision, which denies the privi
lege of company to take up and pat
ent more than 20 acres Of minera
land.
Senator Flint has also introduced /,
bill aimed to prevent steamship line
owned by railroads from using tn,
Paama canal on terms which will max,
them dangerous competitors of indie
pendent lines. He is urging the pas
sage Of his bill granting authority TO
national banks to establish branche
in foreign countries, a step whicl
would add greatly to the extension o
e. 4