The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-24
WYATH AIKEN
MAKES SPEECH
DECLARED CONGRESS COULD DO SOMETHING; TO RELIEVE
CONDITIONS in THE SOUTH, AND OPPOSED AD-
JOURNMENT UNTil. THAT SOMETHING WAS DONE
Special TO The Intolligencer.


WASlIlNGTON. Oct. While the
bill for the relief OF financial condi-,
tions in the South was before the
house on Wednesday, representative
Wyatt Aiken made T. speech setting
fcrth his views. lie declared that
congress could do something to re-
ljcYc conditions I'm tho Sonh, and hc
opposed any adjournment until that
something was done. He did not
speak long. but he had something to
say. as ne always does when he gets
up To speak, and his remarks attract
cd general attention. He said:
Mr. Speaker. ] am one Of these
who believe the government can do
something for the relief of the people
OF the South. who are facing disaster
because of the great dror in the price
or cotton, their principal crop, and
| Will oppose the adjournment of
congress until somethilr is done
along this line.
The people Of the South are not
asking aims, they are moi asking a
gift OF any kind; they are simply ask
ing that the government perform It's
lightful functions. They are asking
lhat The government do something for
great part Of the people and not
Tor any special interest. One-third
CT the people of the United States are
directly interested in the cotton crop.
The price OF cotton has been cut in
half by the war in Europe. and unless
something is done for the people of
the south they are going to have the
Vaiue OF their labor this year cut in
4half They can not afford to bear
this loss, and 1t is not right that they
should have TO bear it.
In tho past the government has
been lavish with the public funds.
We have built the Panama canal nj
enormous expense, to benefit the
whole country. and during the last
session CT congress we appropriated
S"0,OO0,OO0 to build railroad in Alas
ka to develop that far-off terriotry.
The Panama capal will be of no
special direct benefit to the people of
the interior of the country. and the
railroad in Alaska will net benefit
one person in 100000 in the United
States proper. doubt seriously If
we had constitutional authority for
canal or for. the railroad in Alaska
yet thcre was no great objection to
these appropriations, And if we had
authority for these appropriations we
certainly have authority, for emer-
sehcy Legislation now for the whole
people of the South.
Ihen we have spent many millions
for the irrigation OF the arid lands
Oh the West, and every year we spond
millions on river and har5or improve
ments The money spent on these
projects can benefit at best only a
comparatively small part OF the peo-
pie. We seem able to find constitu-
tional authority for these appropria
tions, and there is, as q matter of
tact. no great objection to them ON
the part OF the people. NThe people
OF this country, and especially the
people of the South, are broad-mind
ed and they indorse the proposition
that it is good policy fer .he govern
ment to try to develop the country
IN every reasonable and proper way.
This attitude on their part makes II
all the harder for them to understand
why the government can not do
something for them now in the hour
OF their. greatest distress. The peo
pie of the South will be disappointed
II something is not done, and I be-
lieve the people Of the other sections
or the country will indorse all req
sonable and proper legislation along
this line. Sectional lines have long
peen obliterated and an appeal from
one part CT our people In distress
touches the hearts OF all our people.
There may be honest differences
OF opinion as to what is the best
thing to do, and think that perbaps
the people of the South may. have
suffered in the opinion or the rest of
the country because of some measures
that have been advocated. Some pro-
positions have been made that have
impressed mo as being utterly I'M
practicable. But we can not excuse
ourselves by simply opposing what
we consider unwise measures. II we
are to be true to ourselves and to
the people who sent us here. il we
are to be worthy of the positions we
held. We must work out plan that
viii give the relief that is needed. ii