The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-13

states that he win not call the legis-
lature into extraordinary session to
consider the cotton crisis, because he
would not advise that course OF ac-
tion IL he were a private citizen or
\ practicing attorney, and he can not
approve the suggestion as All official
of the State
The Governor enters at length into
the entire question of legislation de-
signed to help the farmers, and says
help should come from Washington
that the States virtually are without
power to act.
The Governors interview follows:
Relative to the requests that are
being made of me to assemble in ex-
traordinary session the General AS
sembly Of Georgia, it is proper that I
should make public. statement az to
my attitude. These requests come in
the form of personal letters. of reso-
lutions indorsed and adopted at
county gatherings ~ trade bodies,
and by Chambers of Commerce.
| Representatives in Congress of
the United States have taken the
| position that Congress cnn do moth
ing and assert that the burden of
averting the impending calamity rests
| upon the individual States.
ITO this last, proposition / heart
| lily dissent. for believe the great leg
| islative source OF relief is Congress.
| II the Government does not now as
sist the South when the President and
| large proportion of the Cabinet and
| of the chairman of the powerful COM
mittees OF House and Senate are from
| the South, we may expect little bene-
| it, by eXaltation to office of South
srn men.
Sees EVIL In Remedy.
II need not say as Governor that
I am deeply Interested in the ques-
ion now imperiling the business
interests of the State. recognize
fully the gravity of the situation, but
further know that a, bad situation
could be made worse by doing the
wrong thing. ,ts
"The prevailing idea so far express
ed as sovereign remedy is the curtail
nent OF cotton production, by law. The
'armers of the South have made more
cotton than the market, restricted by
European wars. will absorb. The crop
of cotton may not exceed the worlds
need. but the world is not in posi-
Ion nowstor take it. 1t Is no doubt q
ruth that, the farmer would have
more wisely planted ihadt he devoted
l greater acreage not only this year
Ind beast. The effect OF the war en-
,hasizes the power of THIS policy in
the past.
'"rhe request that 1 call an extra
qsae;ou oE the General Assembly as
sumes that the Southern farmer will
repeat this same peliey during the
ensuing year. The suggestion is that
by law he must be saved from his own
folly. ,sg., r.,
sIt is curious thing, that those
who exalt the farmer as the embodi-
ment Of character, patriotism and in
seniEs1ce 1i8.id declare that the cur
tailment of the crop is essential to
his welfare, but from lack of intelli-
gence he will not do SO. and we must
4 place Jail penalty over him to pre-
vent him from raising cotton On his
own land. Either this must be done or
4 4 prohis;.ive tsS mus. BE placed upon
him to insure action on his part that
will rebound to his own benefit.
Distress is Predicted.
when the farmers presented their
cause in Washington to the Bank
4 ing and Currency Committee, they
j objected to the forcible curtailment
anu uCCIaEGu llSy WGLc nOIt BEtpatS gu
4for revolutionary management of the
ffarms, and that in thousands of in
distances great distress would be oc-
casioned by 1t.
II 'I could not as lawyer conscien.
q tiouiIly recommend the enactment oi
such laws. and dare not do so as Gov.
teTnor. The President of the United
!. States has declared against suggest.
& ed legislation. on the ground that Il
; woul5 violate sound economic policy
Assuredly the Governor OF State
4 should not recommend the violation o
its fundamental law.
"The Attorney General VI this state
has advised me that the plan OF cur
tailments by prohibition taxation Oh
lpenal statute are unconstitutional.
"The suggested plans challenge the
intellignee OF the Southern farmer snt
are in violation, OF the principles O
4 liberty. I .
'oThe struggles OF the people for 50t
years have been to achieve freedom
} OF thought. OF contract, and OF &C
ton, and temporary sacrifice Is pre-
I ferabie to this advancement of gov
/ ernmental power which would menact
j the freedom OF every Individual.
H'It woald be an easy step to fore,
each farmer to plant o. certain pro
, portion Of his land In corn, hay ant
oats. and force him to raise so man!
+ hogs ana beef cattle, on the theor!
/ that It would be to his interest. Sucl
) action would mean the death blow
Ito independeAce and the paralysis o
! IWhOlesoShe Initiative.
Sets Dangerous Precedent.
This precedent prepares the wa
Il for Legislative control Of every pri
ivate huainess and regulation of tn
leneTgies OF every Individual.
Extrasagance Is an evil and ] thin
lit wise fof every citizen to save
tporticn pf his Income. but wcul
: be reluctant to- force any citizen :
: HE economical under penalty OF 0 jaI