The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-10-24
WILL TAKE BATTER
TO THE PRESIDENT
Friction Between Agents Under Smith.
Lever net and State Agricultural
Departments.


morning by E. J. Watson, commission
er of agriculture Of South Carolina
and president of the National Assocla-
ton of the Commissioners Of Agricul-
ture. for the meeting of the executive
committee of that body in Washing
ton on Friday of next week, the 2Stll,
are smouldering antagonisms which
may at any time burst into one of the
biggest political battles involving the
! Safes Rights that has swept the Unit
ed States in some years.
The fricion between the agents
working under the Smith-Lever eX-
tension act and the departments OF
, agriculture of the various States has
been apparent for sometime. While
nothing has been given to the public
it is known that the matter has been
taken to Secretary Houston of the De-
partment of agriculture by the COM
missioners of agriculture, but that Of
fcial has either been powerless to do
anything or ignored the complaints OF
the various State officials. Seeing that
there was no hope Of getting any
action from the head of the Agricul-
tural Department the commissioners OF
agriculture are now going to take the
matter ,direc to the President at Sha-
oW Lawn.
IHatsOn's Reasons.
Commissioner Watson in his state
ment as to why he had called the
meeting of the executive committee
said that there has arisen lack of CO.
operation between federal State agents
q number of whom are not natives and
are unfamiliar with local conditions,
and the executive branches of the
State governments. On in his state
ment occurs this highly significant
part: "The elective heads of these
executive departments, represents
the masses of the people, deplore this
tendency, and feel that great good TO
the nation can cone from the pro-
visions Of the Smith-Lever act Wheu
its operation is confined to the aYoWed
purpose Of the act as expressed in Its
own terms, and operated in full co..
cperation with all agencies in the
several States"
Commissioner Watson in his guarded
statement as to the reasons moving
the commissioners of agriculture OF
the various States to take their grieV-
1nces to the President, says: Tne
members of the association for some
time have felt that it was the part
of wisdom to talk the matter over
with President Wilson, disclaimlns
any political significance in the whole
affair"
Asked specifically if there was any
friction between the federal agents
in this State, the various county dem
onstration men under Prof. ". W.
Long. of Clemson College; and his de-
partment, Col. Watson said he mao
nothing to do in this matter, that the
request for the meeting in Washing
ton had come from other States. III
there is any need for the matter l
can take care of myself" said the
commissioner Of agriculture, declining
.o be brought into a discussion OF the
situation in South Carolina.
Questions People Are Asking
"Are the. federal agents trying to
encroach on or sidetrack the various
State AGRICULTURAL departments? Are.
.hey quitting in" on matters with
which they are not concerned ana
above ali is the charge, often before
made and broadly limited at, indirect
ly, in the call for the executive COM
mittee meeting of the State commits
sioners of agriculture, that the Smith
Lever agents, constitute big pollt-
ical machine which constaly are wrap
.ho,,,o1yoe around State poll
tics, true?" are some Of the questions
which the public has in mind and
which they would like to sen answer
ed. as one well known man said here
this morning. "Turn ON the light
said this observer, who appeared 10
he on the inside" of the matter.
If the commissioners OF agricui-
ture cannot get their grievances re-
dressed by the President they may go