The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-06
(Abbeville Press and Banner,

Editor Press and Banner:
It has occurred to me that many
people at home do not know how re-
suits are accomplished in congress.
Some people may think that the men
Der who makes the most speeches, or
the loudest ones, is the most useful
congressman. This is not the case at
all. The point I am trying to make
! was we'll illustrated here this week
when Representative Wyatt Aiken got
through a joint resolution making an
emergency appropriation of $4,000 for
the purpose of fighting the army worm
in Anderson county and other places
where it had occurred.
In order to make the whole matter
clear l had better tell the whole story
from the beginning. Last Sunday
night Mr.. Aiken received a telegram
from Mr. J. w. Rothroc, the farm
demonstration agent for Anderson
county, telling of the appearance of
the army worm in that section, and
asking that an expert be sent to look
over the field and advise the farmers
what to do. Mr.. Aiken went to the
agricultural department next morning
! (Monday) and saw Secretary Wilson
about it. Mr.. Wilson telephoned to
DR.. Webster, the entomologist of the
department, and asked him to come
over. They discussed the matter, and
Mr.. Aiken insisted that Dr. Webster
should go to Anderson at once. DR..
Webster said there was no money
available-that the appropriation bill
for this year had not been passed, and
that all the money given in the last
appropriation bill had been exhausted
Mr. Aiken began feeling in his pock-
cts and pulling out money. Il don't
know whether l have enough money
with me to pay your expenses" he
said, 'but l can get some more by the
time the train leaves
I'm game, too," exclaimed Secre-
: tary Wilson, and he began to dig up,
| too. And between them Mr.. Aiken and
Secretary Wilson made up enough
money to pay DR.. Webster's expenses
on the trip, and he left Washington
that night.
DR.. Webster reached Anderson
Tuesday afternoon and at once got
an automobile and went to the infest-
ed section, in company with Mr. Roth
rock and other citizens. He found the
situation worse than he had. expected,
and went back into Anderson that
night and sent Mr.. Aiken telegram
giving the result of his trip. He urged
that more money be made available
at once in order to put other experts
! in the field:
Mr.. Aiken got this telegram We'd
lesday morning. He did not know
how much money would be needed,
but as soon as the house met he intro
Iuced joint resolution making an
appropriation of $4,000, had the reso-
luton referred to the committee on
agriculture, and then telephoned to
Secretary Wilson to come up to the
capitol and talk to the committee
about it. Mr.. Aiken then went to
work, seeing the members of the house
personally and explaining the matter
to them. The leaders On both sides
of the house, Republicans as we'll as
! Democrats, were seen and all of them
agreed to support the resolution. Mr..
Fitzgerald, the chairman of the ap-
preparations committee, was seen.
i"Well, you know we are trying to
make record for economy" he said,
but this seems to be a case in which
you need money down there, and you
need it right now Figure out just
how little you can get along with, and
will not oppose it." Other infuen-
tial members of the house told Mr.
Aiken the same thing.
Secretary Wilson appeared and
went before the committee. He was
told what Mr.. Fitzgerald had said, and
after discussing the matter for while,
he said he thought $4,000 would be
sufficient to carry on the work until
the regular appropriation bill should
be passed. Thereupon, the committee
reduced the amount named in the res
olution from $4,000 to $4,000, and
Mr.. Hefiin. of Alabama. was instruct