The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-01
FOR ANTI.FUTURE BILL.
SENATOR T.. ID. SMITH PLEADS
FOR REGULATION OF con-
TRACT BUSINESS.
South CarOlinian StirS up Hornets
Nest by Pressing for Action ON
Measure to Place Cotton Buyers
and Sellers on Same Level.

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 he subject,
Senator Smith moved to have the COM
mittee on the judiciary discharged
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-
ton, claiming that the committee had
not had an opportunity to give the
bill proper consideration.
Senator Clarke 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. Senator Hoke
Smith and Senator Gronna, a Repub-
lican, also joined in the demand for
vote on the motion. This was op-
posed by Senator Percy of Mississippi,
who said that while Senator Smith
had not overstated the importance of
the proposed legislation, he was op-
posed to the measure on constitutional
grounds.
Senators Lodge and Warren object
ed to immediate consideration on the
ground that the cotton exchange peo-
pie were entitled to a hearing be-
fore action was taken. This obiec-
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
ter. exchange interests had been given
full hearing before their committee.
At this point Senator Warren still
further pressed his objection by ref
erence to the pending appropriation
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 Tor the seed until the white,
fleccy 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.
In part he said: I'VE are reckon
ing with a force today that the law of
heredity and habit and the consequent
inertia make us slow to realize. We
are living i'll an age unparalleled by
any other age; not that human ma
cure has changed, and l am glad that
it has not, but the means of express
ing the desire ard 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.
The bill that l propose, reduced
TO its simple terms, means that Il
buyer and seller shall have the same
chance; that what Il seller proposes
to sell shall be specifically and def
initcly named, both as To quality and
price, and that he shall deliver that
and shall deliver ii 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
Ccrn"d, ana i'm So far as congress can
regulate that commerce, the law of
supply and demand shall obtain.
1T 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 ne is doing very we'll; that he
ought to be satisfied with what he
has and thank God that it is 40 worse"
one reason that this sentiment is
prevalent is because the former has
NOT yet realized that one reason that
b." is i'm tho condition that hc is, is
tha, the legislators of this country