The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1914-04-09

william Robert Smith. who has
been In congress as representative OF
the 18th Congressional District since
March 4. 1908. Is one Of those public
servants who has won the confidence
of the whole congress. as well as oil
the people OF his district His sue
cess is due TO the exercise OF those
qualities OF craftsmanship that have
enabled him 10 take leading posi-
ton on all great national questions.
without however. sighting or becom-
ing unmindful OF the simplest needs
OF his immediate constituents.
Il takes a man OF commanding in
fuence in congress TO accomplish the
more important things that Congress-
man Smith has achieved, and cour-
age. common sense and integrity are
the things that lift a congressman
above the average membership OF
the house, and make II possible. even
though an opposing political party be
in control, for him 10 get what he
goes after.
! In congress Judge Smith is regard
ed as an authority. particularly on
the tariff. on antitrust legislation
and railroad rate regulation. He Is
consistently and steadfastly progress
sive. Some Democrats are progress
sive in spots, but Congressman Smith
has come clean in his progressive
ness. He was progressive in the boss
ridden days before Woodrow Wilson
east down the corrupt politicians OF
! his party and William Jennings Bry-
I an purged the Baltimore convention
of the influence OF Wall street. II Is
needless to say. that William Robert
Smith was an original Wilson man.
and was among the first members
OF congress TO declare for the New
Jersey Governor for President.
but long before the momentous
turn in the tide OF American politics.
which has naturally made his one OF
the strong hands that uphold the pro
gressive administration Of President
Wilson. Congressman Smith won q
measure Of distinction in the house
OF representatives that enabled him
to bring from Republican congress
two great bupns-ene particularly foT
Texas. and the other FOR the whois
South.
The first feat referred to was e
. amend the Reclamation Act, 20 as tc
extend TO Texas the benefits Of the
. national reclamation law, which sci
, aside the proceeds from the sale ol
, public lands in the Western states
for the construction OF vast irriga
. ton projects IN public land states
! CONGRESSMAN Smith faced a doubl,
arduous task. because for one thing
Texas has no public lands. and con
, sequently contributes nothing TO the
, reclamation fund and also, because
Texas Is a solidly Democratic state
> and had learned 10 expect small com
fort from an overwhelmingly Repub
q lican congress. So hopeless did tn
!. situation appear. that no Texan ha'
ever undertaken to win this grea
, boon for his state But such wa
!. Congressman smiths standing viii
9 his legislative colleagues. and so ef
fec,ively did he present his case q
!. both President Roosevelt and con
!. gress. that the Smith bill was adopt
n ed. and Texas was placed on al
/. equal footing with other Western
states in the enjoyment Of the pre-
o visions Of this act.
q The second important law tina
. Congressman Smith put through
4 Republican congress was for the In
!. auguration by the federal govern
!. menf OF campaign to eradicate tn
q cattle tick. The work that the fede'
e al government has done throuehou
If the South az the result OF Congress
man Smiths hrst appropriation 20
n tick eradication six years ago. ha
"a been a blessing to cAttlemen through
!: out the South.
,s Congressman smiuhs work in b
d half Of these two legislative achiev'
"a ments. has kept him busy ever sine
r He Ia constantly called upon by ca
ID tlemen everywhere to protect the ca
a tie interests before the DepartmeI
Il OF Agriculture. with lis ever shiftin
Of rules and regulations Affecting n
cattle industry. while his connectio
&c with the problems Of reclamation h
Is resulted In calling him TO the chat
h manrhip Of the important Commits
70 on Irrigation Of Arid IandA
ID The extension under the smith b