The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-01
SMITH OF SOUTH CAROLINA
 CELEBRATES 46TH BIRTHDAY

There can be no complaint from the
 well-known Smith family as to lack of adequate representation in the Smiths in that august body, the de- scendants of the original Smith whoever he may have been-are cer- tainly we'll looked after. Without casting any reflections on Marcus Au- relius Smith, of Arizona, or Hoke Smith, of Georgia, or any of the other Smiths, orators all, it may be said the senatorial Smiths is Ellison Du- Rant Smith, of South Carolina, col league of "P1tchfork' Benjamin Till
 man. The Senator from South min Tillman. The Senator from South Carolina will celebrate to-day his for ty-sixth birthday, having been born at Lynchburg. s. c. Aug. 1, 1866.
 the Rev. William H. Smith, and he gave his son the best educational ad- vantages. Ellison DuRant was stu- dent at the University of South Car olina, WofEord College at Spartanburg s. C., and Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn, and holds A. B. and A: M. degrees. besides having won first honors and gold medals in liter ature, science and debate.
 Senator Smith accumulated a snug fortune as a merchant and planter, and at the age of thirty commenced his political career asq. & member from Sumter county of the South Carolina House of Representatives. His ora torical ability found expression in the State law-making body and also in the campaigns he conducted for improving the cotton crop, fighting the boil wee vii and maintaining the price of the South's great staple. The oratorical brOadsides MT. Smith launched at the cotton pest in the boil weevil conven- tions in Shreveport, New Orleans and other cities made him-according to his official ography--a national fig ure." He was a leader in the organi- zation of the Farmers Protective As sociation and the Southern Cotton As- sociation, and as general organizer and field agent for the latter organiza tion he travelled all over the South
 Four years ago MT. Smith decided that his talents entitled him to a seat in the United States Senate. He wag- ed an active campaign, based largely on. his services to the South in war ring on the cotton pest, and in the primaries received an overwhelming majority. Thus he rode to- the Sen ate on the back of the boil weeviI, so to speak. MT. Smith had not been long in Washington before he arose III ms place dnQ. gave the S0ndI0 d sample of his oratory. This is sam pie:
 Back to the farm That is the ad- vice you are always giving us who make our living from the soil, and who seek less 1aborious and more prof itable fields of effort in the cities. But in any great wealth producing profes- sions, vacations or. avocationS, have you heard any man clamor: Back to the law Back to medicine!' Back to the railroad Back to the great manufacturing enterprises. No. The cry. alone is Back to the farm We need a broader foundation of bleed ing hearts and poverty-stricken bodies in order that our velvet-shod feet may walk a little smoother AS no man in the Senate wore velvet shoes, all applauded this sentiment. Senator Smiths oratory harks back to first mother, especially the mother of the farm, clad in calico, with scanned face" and work distorted hands,"-the country mother whQ '1oves the bright darlings at her foot with as glorious and divine love as ever burned in the heart of queen" " Given the text of Mother, Home, and and Senator Smith can preach a sermon as eloquent as was ever heard from any pulpit: