The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-26
BUSY CALAMITY HoWLERs.
STAND PAT REPUBLICANS HAVE
NO ARGUMENT AGAINST
, TARIFF.
Debate ON Underwood Bill Is Not a
Discussion Hut Series of Bitter
Attacks by Protectionists--Morm
Prophet smoot Prophcsies Disaster.

Washington, July 12.-Republican
senators continued to- lombard the
Underwood Simmons tarifr bill today,
Senator Burton of Ohio, expressing
the assurance that II would fail i'm
Its purpose to- lower the cost of living,
and Senator Smoot of Uutah, In an ad-
dress TO be continued tomorrow,
branding II as "the most injurious
tarin measure ever taken up for con-
sideration by congress-"
'''rhis bill." said Senator Smoot, "is
a Jartisan and sectional measure. the
outcome Of secret caucus methods
such as never ruled before in the
senate of the United States. In his
book Our New Freedom President
Wilson says that there is no excuse
Tor caucusing I'm congress and i'm a
speech I'm Indiana preceding his cleo
tion he emphasized that point by as
sert!ng that there was no necessity for
secrecy In congressional proceeding.
Yet not In the history of congress has
there been anything equal to this
record In the way OF dark methods
In the preparation of tariff bill.
Gov. Foss of Massachusetts, who
has been three times elected to his
present Office by the Democratic party,
and who was supported as a candidate
for president at the last Democratic
national convention, denounces this
bill, IN sacrifice Of the interests Of
the nation. He has purchased a site
In Canada for his large manufactur-
Ing plant I'm Massachusetts, and says
that he will remove his there II this
bill becomes a law. Mr.. William II.
Hearst, prominent Democrat, men
toned az candidate for president,
agrees with Gov. Foss. We all know
what Democrats OF Louisiana, Color
ado. Montana and other States vitality
interested think of this measure.
Y.
senator from Colorado has denounced
II In vigorous terms. How could he
40 otherwise when IL sacrifices prac-
ticaily every important industry in
that state as well as other States,
excepting possibly some In the South?
Manufacturing is developing all
over the South; crops are more di-
versified and there Is every reason
to believe that IL left alone under
the protective tariff It's prosperity will
continue To increase with great strides
But this bill will hurt, instead of
helping the South, as its originators
seem to think will be the case"
Analyzihg the bill from end to end,
Senator Smoot declared that "of the
many monstrous provisions of this
tariff law. perhaps the worst is the
one designed to annihilate the pro-
duction OF sugar in this country.
ut seems almost incredible that
any party should make itself respon-
sible for such a great calamity as
putting sugar on the free list to bene-
ne few refiners on the seacoast," :"
the senator continued. THE per
capita consumption OF sugar is over
81 pounds annually now and 40 per
cent Of that enters into the manu-
facture OF confectionery. etc, making
per capita consumption Of the re-
mainder of 4S pounds. No one an
ticipates the slightest reduction in
confectionery and such things as a
result OF the removal OF the duty on
sugar. On the remaining consump-
ton free sugar will apparently
make an annual pr capita saving Of
50 cents. but when the beet sugar in
dustry is extinguished. the sugar re-
fincrs will control the business and
the consumer will not benefit, as ex-
perience has shown"
Predicting dire results. when the
bill becomes "A law and that the first
Industries Of the country To suffer
from its passage. would not be the
great trusts and powerful corpora
tions. but tho thousands OF manufac-
turers of small capital" Senator
Smoot said.
II have been so proud of my coun-
try's development OF her people that
L never get tired Of singing her
praises nor never cease thanking my
God that I was born an American
II sm interested In maintaining her
present standards Of living and pre-
venting IL possible her working peo-
pie fror coming In direct compcti-
tion with the unfortunate working
people Of less favored countries
There Is only one way to prevent il
and that is by a protective tariff and.
therefore. / have been and am still
= protectionist without qualification"