The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-24

tCItNtt luGI we CdU moi
do this
Like many other thinking men, in
congress and cat OF il. have my own
IDEAS as to what should he done, but
my pride OF opinion does not carry
me so far as tc oppose everything
else If j can not get Just what
want. | believe there is sufficient
ability and craftsmanship in this con-
gross to sCIvc the problem that Is
before us, and I will support any plan
That meets the approval of the ma
jorty
/ have been an advocate of n rural
credits system and have introduced
bill along this line. ! believe that
the problem of the South e today
would be solved if we had system
by which farmers could borrow mon
ey direct from the government ON
their farm lands. on long time. and
at low rates OF interest. If we had
that law today, the farmer who has
cotton could borrow moncy-not ON
his cotton hut on his land-and he
could store his cotton and grow 9TH
er crops until cotton again became
profitable. The mechanic in the CITY
or, town who finds himself thrown
out OF employment because of the
business depression could under such
a law buy . little farm and make n
living for himself and his family
while he was paying for his home.
Farm land, managed and titled bv an
ambitious man. would be rs good Sc
curity for government loan as q
government bond itself.
mink we might mass such q law
H. and get it in operation within
q time and that It would be the
salvation of the South, and there will
probably come times when 1t would
be the salvation OF the farmers OF
other sections of the country.
But II ii be impossible to work cut
4 rural credits bill now and put It
In operation, then do something else
tive us emergency legislation of
some Kind, for there can be no de-
nying the fact that the people of the
South today need help as badly as
any people ever needed 1t. And
am net vet ready to believe that con-
gress VIII adjourn without giving Il.
can not conclude these remarks.
Mr Speaker. without giving expres-
sicn to thought that weighs very
leavily upon me. and that is that the
farmers OF the South are themselves
very largely to blame for the plight
,hey are in today. or course they
had nothing to do with bringing en-
the war in Europe and thus cutting
on the market for their cotton. hut
iiscy have been to blame for attempt-
ing to grow nothing but cotton. Bv
dong this they have put themselves
nj the mercy OF people and conditions
over which they could have no CON
iTol. The climate of the South is
IDEAL: its soil Is the most fertile IN
the world. The people of the South
can grow successfully any .cron thar
Is grown anywhere in the United
States. The people OF the South can
make all their foodstuffs ut home
And il they had been doing this. and
,. ,nnh,ns cotton as surplus, they
would not now be facing disaster
ana coming here in desperation and
ASKING for heip. But while they NAV
nave contrihuted to their present
condition, they are none the Iess In
sore straits, and they deserve what
eFer help we can give them. And ]
ociieVe the heiD we are asked to give
now VIII be simply emergency help.
S'NN'S ehS pSOpiS VI the South will
learn much-needed lesson from this
experience, and that from this wear
henceforth they will pursue better
methods. They will grow on thei-
farms the things needed on their
iarms-grains and meats-and that
IN the future cotton Will be n snr-
Plus cSop, q money crop, pure and
simple, and not food crop. That
10 the trouble now; many farmers
depend on the sale Of their cotton for
actual food for themselves and their
families and the horses and mules
that pull their plows. II they can not
realize money on their cotton tbav
can net eat. This Is an ugly truth.
but i; Is the truth nevertheless. So
we are asked for emergency legisla-
ton, and the emergency is very reaI
and pressing. t's 4
And for this reason am prepared
70 cupport almost any legislation
that meets with the approval of INV
colleagues. and am unwilling for
the congress to adjourn until some
thing is done. (Appiause.)
E ..it j .-si