The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-05-04
On Whose Authority.


The clip following is from the
New Orleans States Of May 4. On
this date there was held meeting
of cotton men at which it was de-
termined to make joint appeal to
the Senate of the United States ito
forestall the passage OF certain In
6erwood schedules directly affect
ing the cotton industry.
As reported in the States:
'Mr. Atkins of the traffic rate de-
partment of the Chamber Of Com
merce of Shreveport, La, also APP
peared before the committee and
lodged a complaint as to certain
features in the Underwood bill. r. S,
Lunt, representative of dye con-
Germ. was another witness who fur
nished the committee with valuable
information"
If Mr.. Atkins appeared as an IN
dividual at this conference, no OBJ
lection could be urged against the
expression of his views of the I'm
derwood bill or any part thereon
but if his complaint was as repre-
sentative of the Chamber of Com
merce of Shreveport, it may be per-
tinent to inquired from whom he
derived his authority?
The Chamber of Commerce is not
a political organization and should
not become entangled in. political
issues.
Was he instructed by committee
or by the board of directors to lodge
q complaint to certain features OF
the Underwood bill, which are I'M
specified as to their application to
Louisiana, but, as aggregated from
various sources, would, il operative,
lead to the emasculation OF the
Democratic tariff bill.
As pointed out clearly in recent
issue of the Caucasian, this agita-
tiOn, we repeat, is designed to dis
credit the Democratic plan of tar
id revision downward, in the hope
OF continuing the protection Of SUI
gar.
II is conceded if the success Of the
tariff were predicated on state or
local interests, there could be NO
revision downward, and the OPP
pressive system Of Republican pro-
lection would be never ending, but
the pledge Of the Democracy has
been made to the people and this
pledge must be fulfilled and MAIN
tanned in good faith.
If it were possible for the sugar
interests to make deal with some
combination besides cotton, would
the sugar interests hesitate to leave
cotton to its fate?
1t would seem that cotton is being
made the catspaw to draw the
chestnuts for the sugar interests.
From the Caucasian's view of the
issue, it is not the province of the
Chamber Of Commerce to become
entangled with any proposition
whose aim is to discredit the DEM
ocratic tariff, which has the hearty
approval and support Of President
Wilson, as it is being considered in
the House of Representatives. The
Democratic doctrine is that as far
- possible every industry in every
section of the country must be
treated alike and exemption from
the tariff revenue is expected from
the things which are the most need
ful by the masses, such as sugar,
lumber, rice, cotton, iron and are
necessaries of life.
The Democratic pledge to revise
the tariff downward is imperative,
md therefore it is the duty of every
Democrat to be loyal to that pledge,
and in its fulfilment there will fol-
low readjustment of the industries
which are proflting from the system
OF Republican protection.
No sensible patriotic citizen will
accept seriously the awful calamity
which is forecasted, for effect, by
the sugar interests and the varied
Interests which have been and are
being protected to the great detri-
ment Of the people.
As an illustration. it may be re-
called that when Howe had invent
ed and perfected his sewing ma
chine, the first introduced, thel
seamstresses were appalled,. as are1
4he sugar and other interests pre-
sumably, but their fear was abatedl
when they realized that with thel
machine they would have the facil-
ity for more sewing, which they
could not do by hand. and in time
the name Of Howe was reyered as ]
one Of the great inventors who had
been z benefactor to the human
race.
y From this record The annlicafionl