The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-02-28
SMITH PLEADS FOR
ANTI-FUTURE BILL
South Carolinian Stirs Up
Hornets Nest by Press
ing for Action on Meas
ure to Place Cotton Buy
ers and Sellers on Same
Level.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator
Smith of South Carolina stirred up
a hornets nest in the senate this
morning when he endeavored to get
action upon his bill to regulate con-
tracts for the future delivery of cot
ton After addressing the senate for
more than an hour on the subject,
Senator Smith moved to have the
committee on the judiciary discharg-
ed from further consideration of the
house measure and his bill substi-
tuted therefor, the two bills being of
similar purport. This brought SEN
ator Clark (Wyoming), chairman of
the committee on judiciary, to his feet
with VIGOROUS opposition to the mo-
tion, claiming that the committee had
not had an opportunity to give the
bill proper consideration.
Senator Clark of Arkansas came to
the support of Senator Smith, urging
that some action be taken upon a
measure so important to the South
and to the country at large. Sena-
tor Hoke Smith and Senator Gronna,
a Republican, also joined in the de-
mand for vote on the motion. This
was opposed by Senator Percy Of
Mississippi, who said that while Sen
ator Smith had not overstated the i'm
portance of the proposed legislation,
he was opposed to the measure on
constitutional grounds.
Object to Consideration.
Senators Lodge and Warren object
ed to immediate consideration on the
ground that the cotton exchange peo.
pie were entitled to hearing be-
before action was taken. This objec-
ton was met by Senators Smith Of
Georgia and. Gronna of. North Da-
kota, both members of the commit
tee on agriculture, who stated that
the New York and New Orleans cot
ton exchange interests had been CIV
en- full hearing before their COM
mittee. At this point Senator War
rem still further pressed his objection
by reference to the pending appropri-
alton bills and the brief time in which
they have to be considered.
1t was agreed to allow the matter
to go over until tomorrow for final
disposition.
Senator Smith spoke for more than
an hour, elaborately discussing in
detail every phase of the cotton sit
uation from the time the ground is
broken for the seed until the white,
fieecy staple is carried to the gin,
then on to the mill, where it comes
out in cloth. There was no feature
which he left untouched.
Hard to Understand.
In part he said: eve are reckon
ing with force today that the law of
heredity and habit and the consequent
inertia make us slow to realize. We
are living in an age unparalleled by
any other age; not that human ma
ture has changed, and am glad that
1t has not, but the means of express
ing the desires and hopes and ambi-
tions of each heart are more perfect
than ever. The facilities for trans
portation and communication and ed
ucation are so perfect that the man in
the woods who has been the victim
of the shrewd and the heartless be-
comes like the man who walks the
streets of the city and with better
training and with faithful work, with
honest mother and father, he has had
ground into his bones the intrinsic
principles of honesty and integrity.
He demands no more, he will accept
no less, and the government has yet
to reckon with that class of our peo-
pie who established it.
Means Equal Chance.
The bill that I propose, reduced
to its simple terms, means that
buyer and seller shall have the same
chance; that what seller proposes
to sell shall be specifically and def
initely named, both as to quality and
price, and that he shall deliver that
and shall deliver it at the price
agreed upon and of the grade agreed
upon; that the setting aside of fair
competition shall cease and that so
far as interstate commerce is con-
cerne/ and in so far as congress can
regulate that commerce, the law of
supply and demand shall obtain.
ct is an easy matter, it seems, to
dismiss this question and leave the
farmer to take care of himself It
seems to be the sentiment of some
that he is doing very well; that he
ought to be satisfied with what he
has and thank God that it is no worse.