The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-09-08

| lOuI LllIlCo do ldI &c 90 tAO AiS" OoAA
fornia acreage.
1t is commonly supposed that the
Carolinas are large rice producers,
but it is interesting to know that
there are more acres planted to rice
in the Seventh Congressional district
of Louisiana than the Carolinas pro-
duced in bags during her palmiest
days, and the production in the Caro-
linas today would not make enough
grist to keep a modern rice mill going
but a few days.
What we Of this district are most
vitslly interested in is thetariff as l.
affects rice, not so much from thu
standpoint # protection wholly, bur
with the view to conserving the INDUS
try to the end that American labor
and capital shlll not be sacrificed,
dealt with unjustly, or Disseminated
against. Our eyes have been blinded
during the past two years IN the tai
if question dI4 to the great prosper
ity of our section of the country.
At the outbreak of the European war
the West Indies and South America
were cut off in a large measure from
the enormous rice SUPPLIES of India
and the Orient. Previous to the time
American rices were unknown factors
in the rice markets of the world. Dur
ing the twelve months just ended
southern rice mills have exported
one million bags of rice to foreign
countries. This was only possible on
account of the European war. When
the war is over and commerce is re-
stored, it will be just as impossible for
us to enter the foreign trade as it
was before the days of the European
war. With the largest acreage in the
history of the rice business for the
coming rice season, and prospects
pointing to peace in Europe in few
months or a year at the most, it is
of the utmost Importance that imme-
diate and intelligent steps betaken to
once more restore the duty on rice to
two cents per pound, for the very
simple reason that the millions of dol
lars invested in the production of rice
in Southwest Louisiana, great part
Of which has been invested in very re-
cent years, will shrink in value over
night, when the European war is over,
and even with one cent duty on rice,
fancy rices from Siam, Japan and
India can still be sold in the consum-
ing markets of the United States at
below the cost of production to the
American farmer.
Now, when we consider that there
are about three hundred thousand
acres of rice land actually in cultiva-
ton in this congressional district;
when weconsider that there are at
least twenty-five million dollars in
vested in rice lands and improvements
necessary and essential to the success
Jul promotion of the rice industry;
when we consider the vast numbers of
people who are dependent upon this
product as a food necessity; the
great number of laborers, aside from
thefarmers themselves, who depend
upon this industry for their salvation,
It is my opinion that ayone who
would foster and support legislation
Of any character detrimental to this
great industry is not 4 proper person
to represent this congressional dis
trIct.
If elected to this office shall not
only work for a restoration of the
!wo-cent tariff on rice but shall op.
pose and vote against any measure
reducing thetariff below this ratio.
The conditions prevailing for the
past two years throughout the world
[ may say, have enhanced the demand
for this important article of food
which has enabled the rice producer
to hold his head above water. How
ever, Notwithstanding these favorable
business conditions, some foreign rice
has been dumped upon the markets
of the United States, and when thee'
coalitions are changed. which, in m!
opinions is an inevitable result within
the near future, the present tariff rat
is positively inadequate to keep on