The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-23
stlnhl1 COTTON SAMPLES.
acNATE AGREES To L. ID
SMITHS AMENDMENT.
Measure Provides 100000 TO Make
,C0ssan Standards Accessible to
GsOWesS.

Measure Provides S1OO,O 900 TO Make
,C1ssan standards Accessible to
Washington. May 1s.-The senate
today Agreed to the amendment Of
fsrod sy senator Smith Of South Car
oaihs appropriating 100000 to en-
soss The farmers Of the South to Sc
cure seaadardised cotton samples.
Dtscusstug the importance Of this
matter. Senator Smith said:
Several years ago a bill was
paspsd by congress to stahdardize the
0rades OF cotton. These grades were
standardized. according to law. When
I came to the senate. I found that
these standard grades were lying very
ssrsply In the agricultural depart
mont. The New Orleans market had
adopted ths< grades. but had added
ether grades both above and below.
New York had paid no attention TO
them- They were of no practical
bsnent to the grower. In that nobody
hnsw what they were. except the ag-
riculturai department and the few
s1chaAgss to which q sample OF them
had been sent. I had an appropriation
0adS 20 tsst the relative spinning val
ues OF these different grades. and
tns result Of this test have sent
eeoadcaet all over the South. in
troducsd an amendment to the pres
sat agricultural bin. providing an sp-
Dropriasion Of 500. 900 to place set
81 those sovernment standardized
samples. with sst Of the yarns made
nom these samples. on every local
uarket throughout the South.
81 did this because the farmers who
eeal their cotton are at the mercy Of
NE buyer as to what grade his cotton
~ and At tho mercy Of the buyer as
% the value OF each grade as COM
parsd with the other grades. With a
~ OF these standardized samples of
cetton. each farmer who goes to a
AArket can compare his own cotton
9th the samples furnished by the
government and determine what
eEAds he has. He then can refer to
u yarns made from the grade that
~ cotton happens to be. and deter
nine Its relative value to the other
eAdes In other words. this appro-
station. giving him a set Of stand
e1dized samples. and a set of the
y0rns made from these samples. will
Nnish him with the same knowl-
t4gs that every mill man and every
seysr has. and therefore put him on
- equal footing with them. With
tes knowledge he should demand the
fual value Of every grade of his cot
son.
$50 far as the cotton farmer IL
eqncerned. the legislation Is now al.
Hbst complete. The grades have been
standardized by the government;
snrough my own amendment to the
agricultural bill. yarns have been
soun from each grade. determining
weir relative values; and now, the
appropriation Of 100000 has been
nsade to enable the agricultural de-
Dsrtment to furnish set Of these
samples and yarns to every shipping
Dsint. So that IL the farmer does
net get the full value Of every grade
% his cotton. he Is alone to blame.
for the knowledge Is furnished him.
II promised the farmers of the
state when I came to the senate that
l. would attempt to relieve the bur-
~sns OF this cotton problem. To re-
eoptitulate the work / have done, 1
s9ered and had passed an amend
nent appropriating sufficient money
to spin every grade and prove there
was not much difference between the
lowest and thu hishes,---that is. from
SOD ordinary TO middiing fair. I
pdssed bill In the senate. without a
ebsenting vote. making II unlawful
Tor any cotton exchange to offer for
tsis any cotton on contract that did
ct conform to government standard
ination and the real commercial diff
ference between the grades. 1 have
jdst had passed this appropriation
~ 100000 to give To the farmers
ee tho South a set OF these samples
- standardized by tho government.
and the yarns made from these sam
pies. showing the strength OF the
yarns made from each grade. the
amount of waste and the bleaching
quality.
r'As far as I am able to see. these
but the grower Of cotton in posses
sion Of all Of the knowledge essential
for him to intelligentiy demand the