The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-21
POLITICIANS VS.. EXPERTS.
FRICTION BETWEEN AGENTS CN.
DER SMITH-LEVER ACT AND
HEADS OF STATE AGRI.
CULTURAL DEPART
MIINTS.
Signs of Storm Brcwing-Smoulder
AntagOnisms Threaten to Burst Out
in Great Political Battle.

the surface of the statement issued
this morning by +. j. Watson. COM
missioner of agriculture Of South Car
olina, and president of the National
Association of the Commissioners of
Agriculture, for a meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee of that body i'm
Washington on Friday of next week,
the zSth, are smouldering antagonisn,s
which may at any time burst into one
OF the biggest political battles involy-
ing States Rights that has swept the
United States in some years. ....
The friction between the agents
working under the Smith-IIever 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
1T is knwn that the matter has been
taken to Secretary Houston o. the De-
partment of Agriculture by the COM
missioners OF agriculture, but that Of
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 direct to the President at
Shadow Lawn.
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. number Of whom are not ma
tives and are unfamiliar with local
conditions, and the executive branches
of the State governments. On in his
statement occurs this highly signif-
cant part: 1.-The elective heads of
these executive departments, repre-
senting the masses of the people, de-
plore this tendency, and feel that
great good to the nation can come
from the provisions of the Smith-Le-
Yer act when it's operation is confined
to the avowed purpose of the act as
expressed in it's own terms, and ope-
rated in full cooperation with all
agencies in the several States"
Commissioner Watson in his guard
ed statement as to the reasons NOV
ing the commissioners of agriculture
of the various States to take their
grievances to the President, saws:
THE members of the association for
some time have felt that it was the
part of wisdom to talk the matter
over with President Wilson, dis
claiming any political significance i'm
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. w.
Long, of Clemson College, and his de-
partment, Col. Watson said he had
nothing to do in this matter, that the
request for the meeting in Washing
ton had come from other States. "If
there is any need for the matter
can take care of myself" said the
commissioner Of agriculture, declining
to be brought into a discussion of the
situation in South Carolina.
Are the federal agents trying to
encroach on or sidetrack the various
State agricultural departments? Are
they "butting in" on matters with
which the are not concerned and
above all is the charge often before
made and broadly hinted 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 a big politi-
cal machine, which constantly are
wrapping themselves around State
politics, true?" are some of the aues-
tions which the public has in mind
and which they would like to see ans
wered, as one we'll known man said
here this morning. Turn on the
light" said this observer, who ap-
peared to be on the inside" of the
matter.
If the commissioners of agricul-
ture cannot get their grievances re-
dressed by the President they may go
to congress. This is mere suppose
ton, but observers here this morning
were pointing this out as the only
logical thing to do.
That there has been friction and re-
sentiment over this situation has been
known to those close i'm touch with
the situation for some time.
Whether there will he a kick