The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-03

Ellison Durant Smith. familiarly
known as "Gatling Gun" Smith,
Cotton" Smith, and Farmer
Smith, along with other pseudonyms'
born in Sumter (now Lee) county,
August l, 1866, so that he celebrat-
ed his 4Sth birthday while the re-
cent campaign was in progress.
Senator Smith comes from a fami-
ly that has contributed much In
ischolarly leadership to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, South. His
father. the Rev William H. Smith,
was one of the historic circuit riders.
and was we'll known and beloved
throughout South Carolina. Two
brothers followed the example OF
their father, and ably carried for
ward the labors which he laid down
after a long and successful life of
unselfish service. These, by virtue
of their character. ability and train
ing, forged to the very forefront IN
leadership of the church-A. Coke
Smith being elevated to the rank OF
b. hop and the Rev. Charles B.
Smith elected presiding elder OF MS
district. The mother, Mary Isabelle
McCloud Smith, came from a family
of influence throughout the State
which. contributed many leaders TO
the various walks of life.
Ellison Durant Smith. after at
tending the public and private
schools at Lynchburg, was prepared
for college at Stewart's school, Char
lesion. He then entered the fresh
man class of the University of South
Carolina, but later withdrew and
completed his college career at Wof-
ford, the school of his church. From
this inNitution he was graduated in
1889 with honors, receiving medals
in debate, science and literature.
Twice he has been married. The
first wife was Miss Matte Moorer, OF
St. George. From this union one
son was born, who after reaching
the years of young manhood, acci-
dentally shot himself with a 22-call-
bre rife little more than one year
ago. The young man died from this
wound a few days later.
Senator Smiths present wife was
Miss Farley, of Spartanburg, niece
of Former Adjutant General Farley,
and of Will Farley, the famous Con-
federate scout. Two little girls and
one little boy have blessed this un-
ion.
Senator Smith served two terms In
the State iegislature-1S96 to 1900
from Sumter county before his ad-
vent into the cotton movement,
which eliminated in his election to
the United States senate.
It is an old adage that the crisis
develops the leader. Senator Smith
first began to study the cotton situa-
ton when Sully "conered' the mar
ket and the price in consequence
was driven to II cents. Wall street
brokers beared the price down to 8
l-2 cents and broke the speculator.
1t was this catastrophe that first at
tracted the attention of Farmer
Smith, who was himself an extensive
planter, and who felt keenly the
fuctuation of prices That was in
1904, and E. D. Smith went as a
delegate to the cotton boil weevil
convention at Shreveport, La. Out
of this developed the plans to hold
a cotton congress in New Orleans in
1905, which was organized as the
Southern Cotton association, when
for the first time in history, an ef-
fort was made to have the cotton
stored and to have farmers fix the
price. Senator Smith was made field
agent. His territory was the entire
South and he soon became a national
figure because of the nation wide in
terest which the movement attracted
and the eloquent speeches he made
in defense of the movement at New
Orleans, Birmingham, Shreveport
and Dallas. For three years Senator
Smith served in this capacity, from
1905 to 1908. It was in 1908 that
the farmers of the State united in
solid phalanx and promoted the cot
ton leader" to the United States SEN
ate.
In the present campaign Senator
Smith has been chided for devoting
most Of his time for five and one-half
years to farmers interests in the
United States senate. For this he
has made no apology. His platform
six years ago, as in this campaign.
uas to see that ''the farmers those