The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-07-23
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1W III riticism From fnycne in
10 Tax FIXTURE Contracts.
80 7Sr Smith Writes his opinions.
N. Dabbs cg Mayesville. presi-
3ty3R the State Farmers union, has
W 10 the press for publication GER
IN letters pertaining. to, the Clarke
n ,.affoy taxing cotton contracts or "fu-
mreg" The paper follows:
sf',To the Press of the State:
"There is no better way to learn the
wiahes. OF the formers OF the state
upon q matter affecting their interests
{ than discussion in the papers. There
fore I am sending to the press a copy
of aletter TO Senator 70. ID. Smith,
and would ask you TO publish same,
and would ask for such farmers as
are Informed on the subject TO pub
lish their opinions. Especially do I
ask the delegates and visitors to the
State meeting of the farmers union
next week to study this question OF
taxing future contracts with view to
giving our senator's and representa-
ttyes light upon the subject My let
Ter follows:
Mayesville, July 10, 1918.
Dear Senator Smith: Your favor
with Senator Clarke's bill for taxing
cotton contracts received. I have not
Nm nh hlnh kN Il
the farmers of the State, but will lay
a before the State Farmers union
next week at Charleston. Mr.. Nc
Elderry OF Talladega, Ala, writes me
and incloses copy of letter he wrote
the New Orleans cotton exchange
strongly indoFsing the measure.
Without having heard the argu-
n,ents for the bill must ask, Why
single out cotton? Why not grain,
cpfee, cotton oil, steel rails, etc., ETC.,
ad dibitum? Stocks, bonds. etc.. in
fact everything tradedF in any vol
nfne In the exchanges of the country ?
" Il think you best stick close to
Your bill to require the grade to be
named In the contract according to
standard grades, and let the govern
ment establish the standard OF grades,
just as 1t does the fineness of gold
and silver and weights and measures.
: Then not allow anything to be ten
dered but the grade contracted for or
one better at the difference in price.
81 think Senator Clarke in his
zeal to make the cotton exchanges be-
have as they should will do harm.
With fair rules / can not see any
thing wrong in sales for future de-
livery, but when thingssare jpggled as
we think they are it is most
1 ubiquitous business. The question is
= how to regulate 1t in the interest OF
legitimate trading. L ought to al
lowed free right to trade in the
products of my labor as in my labor
itself, and no one would attempt to
prevent me from contracting to labor
for. another at stipulated wage for
stipulated time-except to prevent
abuses and the oppression of the igno-
rant. / think labor contracts are
limited to one year, or the calendar
year. We see another exception In
labor unions and their employers fix
ing a labor scale for term of years
III the exchange are SO bad that
they should be abolished, do SO by di.
rect act under the general welfare
clause OF the constitution. For the
above reasons, / con not, without
more light, approve the measure. ]
am giving out this letter that the peo.
pie OF the State may discuss the sub
1ect.' Yours truly,
'B. w. Dabbs,
President South Carolina State
Farmers Union
"Mr. Elderly, who was appointed
by the National Farmers Union con-
ference In Columbia in January to
secure the enactment OF legislation
that will make effective the Standard
cation Of cotton grades, writes strong
J, letter In favor of the Smith bill, SEN
SO. TO-. ITO regualte trading in
tufes and provide for the
z &he tion of upland" and
gulf Soetons seperately.' In his let
ter to, the New Orleans cotton ex-
change referred to above. he said, If
you would do as much to correct
abuses as you do to prevent legisia-
tion, we would not need to legislate,
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