The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-06-19
BLEASE AND SMITH
CAME NEAR ''MIXING''
blease Opened and Accused Smith of Appoint
ing Sims u. S. Marshal Smith Denied the
Charge and Said No Man Could
Call Him a Lie

body to so regulate the cotton ex-
changes as to make them deal fairly
With the cotton producers. passed
this bill without a dissenting vote
The public can understand that in a
body of lawyers, manufacturers and
professional men, it would TAX. time
to demonstrate to them, to elucatr
them to understand, the injustice done
those who were producing that upon
wflch the whole world depended. This
was the task before me.
AS said before, l passed this bill
Again, 1T seemed to me that if one
rain on cotton, staining it, could
change its grade and make it worth
from $1.25 to $500 per bale less, then
four or five rains would make it prac-
tically worthless. In other words, |
did not believe that the ordinary
methods of grading cotton were fair
and just. In 1912, 1 introduced an
amendment to the agricultural ap-
preparation bill, carrying some S12.-
600 to test the tensile strength of the
yarns made from the different grades.
In 1913, a manufacturer told me that
the tensile strength of the different
grades was about equal, but that YOU
could not bleach the lower grades as
well as you could the higher. So in
1913, secured an appropriation suf-
flclent to enable the agricultural de-
partment to spin certain number of
bales OF each grade, in order to deter
mine the strength of the yarn of each
grade, whether or not it could be
bleached, and what was the relative
cost OF bleaching each grade, and the
amount of loss or waste in converting
bale of each grade. This test was
completed this year, and it is a start
ling revelation. l have sent an illus
tratlon of this work throughout the
state, which proves that the difference
In price between the various grades,
as fixed by the trade, is not only un-
warranted but unreal.
AAfSer this work was completed,
an amendment the pres
entl agricultural appropriation bill,
carrying 100000 to put a set of
standard samples and a sample of
yarns, bleached and unbleached made
from each grade, on every market in
the South. This will enable farmers
not only to get square deal from
the exchanges, under the law recu-
lating the exchanges, but will give
them the true information as to the
value of each grade of cotton as that
value is determined by the depart
ment, and the samples being upon the
platform, he will not be at the mercy
OF the grader who buys his cotton.
but by comparing a sample of his
own cotton with the sample standard
lzed by the government, he can cor
rectly grade his own cotton.
~, His Work Helped State.
Therefore, my work in the senate,
IN my unceasing fight for cotton, to-
gether with the work of the Farmers
Union and the Southern Cotton asso-
cation has resulted in giving South
Carolina alone in ten years $3.50 600
OO0 of ready cash. These are the fip-
ures of the department of agriculture
which can be verified by any one send
ing for them.
In conjunction with the legislation
l nave passed bill which is pending,
instructed by me to have refunded to
the cotton growing states the money
for the cotton confiscated by the Un-
ION army during the war.
l have introduced bill looking to-
ward the segregation of the races in
interstate travel and one looking to
the repeal of that part of the 18th and
10Th amendments which took away
from the states the right to discrimi-
nate in suffrage on account of race.
color and previous conditions of SER
vitude.
| have introduced, in conjunction
with Chairman Burnett of the house
committee on immigration, a bill reg
ulating the possible restriction should
be enacted in order that the purity
of the American life, and the oppor-
tunity' of American citizens may be
guaranteed.
Stands for Right of Labor.
l have stood for and championed
the right of labor to organize and de-
mand it's just proportion of the wealth
1t produces. I believe that the agri-
culturists of this country and the la
borers of this country should be trust
ed with the same consideration under
the law as any other profession, vo-
cation of avocation, and my record in
the United States senate will attest
this fact. My platform, therefore,
now is the same that it always has
been: that those who produce the
actual wealth of the country are en-
titled to first consideration of the gov
ernment that they feed, clothe, shoe
and support.