The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-17
SUGAR SCHEDULE ATTACKED.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSED TO FREE
SUGAR ASSAIL UNDERWOOD
TARIFF BILL.
Republicans Aid Anti-Free Sugar
Democrats i'm Fight i'm Senate
Senators Simmons and James En-
deayor to Stay Assault Heal. d by
Senator RanSdell of Louisiana.

with fluent pen for an oracle, the !
anti-free sugar Democrats, led by SEN
ator Ransdell of Louisiana, assailed /
the Underwood sugar schedule in the |
senate today despite strenuous efforts
Of Senator Simmons and other Demo- I
Gratis to stop the flow of the attack
Republicans enjoyed the efforts Of
the Democratic leaders to prevent the |
reading of long letter submitted by I
Senator Ransdell, written by Lewis /
c. Rowley of Lansing, in which free
sugar advocates were characterized as
"accursed, objectionable apostles OF
Democratic faith" and the free sugar
schedule as "a boomerang to knock
out the Democratic party"
With Republican votes Senator
Randsell was aided in getting the long
, epistle before the senate as a part of
the argument against the proposed
sugar tariff
1t precipitated lively discussion be-
tween the Louisianian and Senators
James, Simmons and other Demo.
cratic leaders. In his plea for Mich
igan, President Wilson's attitude on
sugar, the party platform pledges and
the presidents campaign pledges not
to hurt any legitimate industry, were
recalled, the writer declaring there is
almost imminent danger that in his
almost hilarious enthusiasm for the
Democratic ideals, the president will
try to do too much'"
The Democrats also were forced to
hear from this same trenchant Mich
igan protestant that the statesman
or party leader who, in formulating
! important legislative measures, does
not take into consideration the psy-
Geological effect as well as the ulti-
mate practical results of these meas.
ures is a raw hand at the business"
He said he did not believe President
Wilson was that kind Of an imma-
ture leader"
Il refuse to believe" he continued,
that the president will commit the
party to radical courses which-how-
ever sound Observation-Disclosures calcu-
lated to alarm and ALLEVIATE large
numbers Of voters in many of the most
populous agricultural sections of the
country"
Republicans applauded when the
senate clerk read lis free trade, too.
inscribed as the party gonfalon, which
erstwhile bore the immortal watch
word Of free silver?" And again
when the admontion was sounded
that the Democratic party had bet
ter effect changes moderately and
safely rather than hastily and at the
dictates of a caucus too many Of
whose members leave their private
Judgment and consciences where the
Mussulman leaves his shoes-outside
the door"
Senator Penrose later injected
levity into the proceedings when SEN
ator Simmons, on behalf of the
finance committee, tried to get an
agreement for a vote on the question
of public hearings on the Underwood
/ bill.
! The pennsylvania senator emphati-
cally denied that he had any idea OF
conducting a filibuster on the issue.
lie had asked for public hearings, he
said, because he cOnscientiously be-
heved that they should be held and
he felt sure that the senator from
North Carolina had not entertained
any idea that he ever had captained
any Legislative piratical craft"
While Senator Simmons was en-
deavoring to fix a time for a vote,
the time for the consideration of the
matter expired and again it went over
until tomorrow, when the Democrats
Will endeaVor to bring the reference
of the bill and the Republican public
hearing amendment to vote.
Discussing the attitude of the Dem
"cratic party towards the sugar
tariff, Senator James asked Senator
Ransdell if he did not think that the !
platform Of the party gave fair warn"
ing to Louisiana. Mr.. Ransdell en- |
phatically replied: NO" The Ken
tucky senator then proceeded to read |
from the platform indorsing what the |
party did last year and demanding re- |
duCtions To lower the cost of living. In .
this connection the Louisiana senator
referred to statement in the Row /
ley letter which said Neither in his !
campaign for the Democratic nomina-
tion nor for his election did Mr.. Will
son pledge himself To give the coun-