The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1917-09-07

mercial and Industrial progress never ex-
perienced in its history before. Bank
deposits grew out of proportion, gran
aries were filled with the products Of the
soil and foreign countries were demand
ing the fruits of our industry in ever
increasing quantities.
But we had no merchant marine, nr
ships IN which to TRANSPORT our goods
and wares after they had been sold
Ocean freight rates became first exor-
bltant. and, then prohibitive. The mer-
chant marine Of the belligerents were
becoming impaired; the people Of for
eign countries were crying for foodstuffs
only as far as the seaboard and thel Q
they remained, pyramiding and longest
ing every available wharf. The lack of
ships forced the price of cotton to six
cents a pound and lumber to less than
the cost of production.
In this trying situation, President WI.
son. with statesman-like vision. saw that
II the prosperity Of our people was to
be maintained that the means of ocean
transportation must be had, ships must
either be constructed. leased or bought.
and asked for an appropriation Of $780,
OO0. 900 to procure ships. The measure
passed the House 81 Representatives
overwhelmingly. but when 1t reached the
Senate a small coterie of Senators OPP
posing it conspired to encompass its de-
feat by a filibuster. For days and weeks
those patriotic senators, who believed in
the wisdom Of the measure tried to bring
1t to a vote. but this little handful of
men stood unmoved by the crying needs
Of the country, and the almost unani-
the bill, and by their well-pianned fill
clustering tactics defeated the legislation.
MIssissirpians Humiiated.
= It was a sad day for the farmers and
manufacturer Of Mississippi. who hal
their cotton and lumber ready for ship
ment. when that little bunch Of senators
denied them relief by killing that bill.
the part of Mississippians were changed
to humiliation when it became known
that one of the most conspicuous actors
in this tras sdy was the junior senator
from Mississ ppi. At first it was hard for
them to believe that this pretended friend
Of the people had thrown his influence
against the passage of this measure.
Many a bottle of champagne was broken
and paid for by the agents of the shipping
the night the fil'buster ended.
I shall nor soon forget that spectacle
o. those Democrats who stood with "A few
Republicans ON that memorable
and fought, whether consciously or
lnconsciously, in behalf of the shipping
and against the interests Of the
willy s~tandpat Republican MS coming over
On the Democratic side of the Senate and
'ffectionately. placing, their sympathetic
,ra tic aids and whispering honeyed words
II appreciation in their ears. as they
knowingly winked their eyes and returned
o fhffr RenlDllrHn seats
Up until the time the ship purchase
ill WAS put to death by the Junior SEN
tor from Mississippi. and his half dozen
ssociates. the junior senator from Mis-
ny personal hatred of Woodrow wilson.
nd Notwithstanding their humiliation
Yer his action in assisting in the de-
of The ship purchase bill; he Yet re-
ends-friends who felt that he would
ct stand by his party and the Presi-
INT in an emergency. Few men ever
ad SO strong a hold on the people If
is state, and few men ever had so great
n opportunity to win his enemies by
andering patriotic service to his state
nd nation.
His friends had state offices in their
IN; they had expended their energy n
,eir means in his behalf. All wished
I'm well and hoped that no act Of his
ould cause them to feel that their con-
dence had been, misplaced. Therefore.
was with. feelings of genuine regret
I'd disappointment that the news was
by Mississippians that this honored
ARMED the old democratic ship Of state
nd Joined hands with the friends Of
-edatory wealth.
Men False to Party.
1t was not long before the war was en-
le rights of other neutral countries. In
law was being challenged. and
II ia the test. new question: that had
.ver before risen: came up to tax the
neutrality-suspicious. of the most delicate
laracter and far-reaching import. Our
'sition as a neutral was being made
ore difficult with eacn passing month,
I'd the President again peering into the
.ture, saw how unprepared and unpro-
We would be in case of war. to
the sentinel on the watch tower. with .
'arks flying everywhere" he sounded
le warning to prepare. He came to
ongress and asked for an enlargement Of
II army and increased apprOpria lions
r the navy and our coast fortifications.
} strongly did he feel on this question
such Importance to the country, that
left his office in Washington and went
rough the country. informing the peo-
e OF the situation and. like Revere,
the warning of approaching
niger.
But in Congress again opposition lifted
; head against the manifest needs Of
e nation. One Of the most determined
tacks was organized and fostered in
Ie Senate of the United States, and no
worked harder, more bitterly and
ore persistently against the programme
preparedness than did the Junior Sem
or from Mississippi. Not satisfied with
the programme with his voice !
I'D vote in the Senate, he gave to the
-ess a statement that challenged the
residents patriotism. Among other
residents motives. the effect of the POI
ton taken by him yesterday is an I'M
surrender to predatory inter-
sts."
Then the question arose whether our
tizeus might travel the high seas, carry
4 their legitimate business and go forth
\ their legitimate errands. international
W had always guaranteed that right:
had never been denied or questioneu by
country at any time in the history
the world. The President gave adj
erence TO that policy as did every pa
lotto statesman and the American peo-
the junior Senator from Missis-
ppi, who said, that everyone from Presi-
ent to page who stood for such a doc
Inc should be impeached.
Dissenters Denounced.
Germany had no more right to stOp
citizens from ira yelling on seas.
ding about their peaceful missions. than
nave to stop you from travelling on the
ubitc road in going from your country
lace to trade In town. Both are high
and open TO the public.
While Germany was killing American
itizens on the high seas, and the Presi-
ent was making an earnest effort to set
e our differences with England. so eager
as the junior Senator to hamper and
rnbarrass him that lie repeatedly issued
criticizing the Presidents ef-
-