St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1913-05-24
MIR CONGRESSMAN'S
VIEWS ON TARIFF
Dr. Lazaro States Why He VOt-
ed Against Underwood
Tariff Bill.

hill as he gave it out to a Times
Democrat representative during
his stay in New Orleans, recent
The Seventh District Congress
man says:
IF the cotton people get busy
we can get something for sugar
and rice in the Senate. The
wool interests are putting up a
good fight. They have good
case and will cut a figure. The
rice men and the cattle men are
fghting. too, and if the cotton
neople come in now and the op-
nosition will get together every
body will! have a chance.
1T is absolutely no use to go
mn there and ask for something
for yourself only. To ask for
the protection of sugar, and turn
D deaf ear to the other fellow
who makes out as good a case, is
insane. For that reason | voted
with the wool people, with the
rice people, with the cotton peo-
nle--right down the line Wher-
ever / believed the industry
would be injured by the cuts pro-
posed.
'There is absolutely no ques-
tion about the cotton schedules
iniuri1g the cotton farmer. The
schedules now in the bill will
DESTROY the American cotton
manufacturing industry and the
home market for cotton. It Will
result in a reduction in the price
of cotton much larger than IS
now predicted. It will put the
cotton farmer absolutely at the
mercy of the foreign buyer.
''The cotton farmers were late
in realizing this, but they seem
to be getting busy now. II they
viii ali get behind the fight on
the schedules of the bill that
hurt the farmer, we can accomp-
lish something. Cotton, wool
rice, sugar. cattle and other
farming products combining can
obtain recognition of a substan-
tiaI character for the farmer. Ii
is no use for them to try and
fight it out separately. They
must get together.
The Senate is the place where
they must make their fight. The
majority in the House is SO big
1t IS useless. Those fellows are
absolutely wild on the subject.
They seem in have it in their
heads that everybody is paying
too much for what he consumes,
and tnat the farmer is getting
it, when, as a matter OF fact,
the system of distribution IS
responsible.
AS the Representative OF the
Democracy Of the Seventh Lou
isiana District, I acted strictly
within the rules of the party in
voting against the Underwood
tariff bill. and in my opinion,
likewise in strict conformity with
the enunciations of principles in
the Baltimore platform. My
action is further buttressed by
the resolutions adopted at the
State Convention held at Baton
Rouge to send delegates to the
national convention at Baltimore.
The rules of the Democratic
caucas permit a member to re-
fuse to be bound whenever he.
prior to election, made contrary
pledges, or when he has received
contrary instruction from the
nominating authority.
All candidates for Congress
in my district were pledged to
vote to retain the present tariff
on rice and the other main in
dustries of our state; and, be-
ieving as I do, that the over
Whelming sentiment Of my peo-
pie desire it, promptly availed
myself of the rules of the caucus
and refused to be bound by its
action. My position was made
50 clear that there was no OBJ
lection on the part of the caucus
toImy release from its actions. +
The Baltimore platform, as
understand it, stood for a
downward revision without
lnJusy or destruction to any legi-
innate industry; and that the
nee list was to be for those
rust-controlled products, sold
cheaper abroad than the consum-
er here at home, I cannot bring
myself to believe that our main
farming interests are not legiti-
mate industries. Nor do I be-
neye it fair and just to curl
own farmers to com petel
with free trade on the farming
products of other nations until {
tnose nations at least permit the
products of our farmers to COM
Pete freely with the farmingl
products of their own country 4
Wnen Z we send our products I
m,ere. Further, I do not be- /:
neVe that the most radical froo.