The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-24

" 'hcii'pci VI INC CaDlnCl as pug
noscd Yankee | shall never assume
that every man is trying to injure me
personally, nor shall | never use the
Political power vested in me to build
up for me a political machine in my
own political interests. / shall never
go beyond the good American man
hood I'm South Carolina to appoint an
Italian dago to Il position that would
require the young manhood of South
Carolina to march i'm review before
him."
r.. ID. Smith was the last speaker.
and at once entered into defense of
his record I'm the United States SEN
ate. This dealt largely with the
amendment which he had written into
the new banking and currency bill.
which prolongs the 90-day limit Of
farmers notes to six months, and
charge Of HaskeIlsm, and said that
he would not refer to it again. 81
was not at the Haskell convention.
The only way they could have gotten
my name was when passed through
Columbia on my way to Georges
Station, now st. George, to see the
woman I afterward married. have
letter in my grip which bears me
out in this. 1t is necessary only for
me to give my word. When the time
comes that my word is worthless and
have to substantiate that, then I'll
resign from the United states senate,
so help me God"
In giving an account Of himself,
the senator said that he prided him.
self on being the hardest working
man on the agricultural committee.
He had worked for the reform Of the
cotton exchanges, and parallelcd the
price Of cotton during the decade Of
1894 to 1904 and the prices from 1904
until 1914. 1--WE are not only raising
more cotton. 100000 bales more
each year. but we are getting $40
that would mean $4,000, 900 for the
six years / have been in Washington.
That isn't q bad return for $4,000
worth Of good health and good man
hood"
In answering the accusation that
he had done nothing to restrict i'm
migration, Senator Smith referred to
the immigration bill which he has in
troduced and which has already pass
cd the lower house Of congress. IF
1t were not necessary that 1 should
be here now, l would be working in
Washington this very day to get it
through. However. If i had my way
about oil this immigration business
/ would write a single clause that
would forbid the entrance of any
foreigners that would apply for citi-
zenship for tine next ten years"
Senator Smiths speech dealt largely
with his record in the United States
senate in lighting for a better cot
ton market. when / became sena-
tor six years ago." the Junior senator
began, "the cotton exchanges Of the
country under tho domination and
control Of Europe, were debating to
American producers what American
cotton was worth. These exchanges
made such contracts that they were
at liberty to put the prices up or
down as they saw fit. 1t made no diff
ference whether the crop was large
or whether it was small, that 10 prac-
tically no difference, because these
exchanges could manipulate the mar
kets to suit themselves. Therefore,
what l have done in furtherance Of
II Is encumbent upon me to show
the promises l made to the farmers
Of this State six years ago."
The first move made by Senator
Smith to initiate legislation that would
permit the supply and demand to reg
ulate the price Of cotton was to in
troduce a bill that would regulate
these exchanges, one which would
force them to give a contract fair to
both the buyer and the seller. In the
senate at that time were rs lawyers
13 manufacturers or other prOfes~
siOnal men. three farmers with allied
interests, and two farmers pure and
simple. Senator Smith being ono OF
the latter class.
The author of the bill aptly illus
trated the difficult position in which
he found himself in advocating cotton
legislation when he learned that his
colleagues knew absolutely nothing OF
what he meant by "strict middling,"
"lOW middlinp" or any Of tho otlspr