The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-05
SMITH URGES SHIPS.
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR NOT
LETTING UP IN FIGHT TO
HELP SOUTHERN FARM
ERS.
Senator Smith Plans to Have Nitrate
Here in Time for Next Planting
Season.

Washington, Aug. 31.-In an inter-
view today with Senator E. d. Smith,
of South Carolina, the senator stated
that since the passage, as an amend
ment to the food bill on August TO-,
1917, of his resolution providing for
ten million dollars to purchase nj
trate Of soda from Chile, he had
been working indefatigably to have the
government provide ships for the
purpose Of bringing the nitrate to this
country in time for the next plant
ing season.
Senator Smith on August 20 wrote
letters to the governors and commits
sioners of agriculture for the States
of North Carolina. South Carolina,
Georgia. Florida and Alabama urging
these States to write strong letters
to the chairman Of the Shipping
Board here in Washington stating the
urgent need Of this particular fertiliz-
er in time for the next planting sea-
son. He is today in receipt of a let
ter from Gov. Manning enclosing a
copy OF a letter which was written
at the senator's suggestion to Mr.. E
N. Hurley. chairman of the Shipping
Board, in which Gov. Manning says
If nitrate of soda can be brough,
in at the very earliest date pos. ible
to the South Atlantic ports, at cost
as proposed in the federal bill, Il
would not only supply a need that i.
most urgent for the making of foot
crops. as we'll as cotton, but the ef
feet would be to lower the price O,
nitrogen from blood. tankage, cottor
seed meal and all ammoniates. Th,
time to act is now. as manufa cturer.
are laying their plans for manufac
tured fertilizer next spring and il tn,
supply Of soda is to come into mex
springs crops 1t should be movinf
now. Even If this movement wer,
delayed until December the effec
would not be as complete. because
many Of the dealers and farmer.
would have then made their plan.
and contracts"
The governors and commissioner.
OF agriculture for the other States
written to by the senator also wrote
strong letters to Mr.. Hurley, chair.
man Of the shipping board. urgine
the necessity for early action. On the
same date. Aug. %. Senator Smith
wrote President Wilson letter ask.
ing his cooperation to this end. The
senator received a reply from the
president. in which he says.
II would welcome the suggestion
of any such plan because 1 want tc
cooperate in every way that is pos
sible."
The president suggested in his let.
ter that the chairmen Of the Ship.
ping Board and Of the Council of Nat.
ional Defense confer in this matte,
with the Secretary of the Navy and
the Secretary of Agriculture. Pre-.
vious to and subsequently also to the
correspondence referred to, Senator
Smith had conferences with Mr.
Hurley. chairman of the Shipping
Board. and with the chairman of the
Council Of National Defense. Both
Of these officials are in hearty ac.
cord with the wishes Of Senator
Smith and laid before him a plan by
which ships can be sent to Chile to
bring nitrates to the United States
and a general organized plan for the
purpose and distribution Of nitrates
which plan Senator Smith will con-
tinue to push to final completion
and which looks as If it will be in
operation 1T very early date.