The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-06-19
DEMOCRATS BALK
At WAR LEGISLATION
A FORMIDABLE REVOLT is UN.
DER WAY WITH SENATOR
SMITH AS ONE OF LEADERS
FOOD CONTROL MEASURE
BEING STUBBORNLY FOUGHT
Georgian Says Proposed Legislation
Is Despotic, and Not in Interest of
Farmers. Many Other Senators in
Accord With Him.

FARMERS. Many Other Senators in
Accord With Him.
WASHINGTON, D. CA formid-
able revolt is under way in the SEN
ate involving many democrats. and
led by Hoke Smith, of Georgia,
against the adoption of bills consid-
cred by the administration to be es-
sential to meet war emergencies,
which would lodge in the hands of
the president well-nigh autocratic
control over various activities of pro-
duction, transportation and sale of
commodities.
Aligned with Senator Smith in this
fight are Senators Reed, Gore, Varda
man and other democrats. Just how
far they will carry their opposition
is not known. Their revolt has al.
ready delayed the passage of the bill
comforting upon the president power
to give priority to certain shipments
which is his judgment are necessary
to the public security and defense.
Another measure to which they are
relentlessly opposed is the Lever food
control bill. Senator Smith antici-
pates one of the effects of its opera
ton might be to fix a low maximum
price for cotton.
Not Willing to Yield All Rights.
Il am not willing, in the name of
democracy, to give up every right
the individual has," said Senator
Smith. 1--WE are proposing to lodge
autocratic and unlimited power in
the hands of individuals without ref
erence to anything except their arbi-
trary and despotic judgments"
He said it was a dangerous inno-
walton, and showed that in carrying
out the program proposed the power
lodged in the president would have
to be delegated to other individuals
of his choice.
In opposing the Adamson bill,
which has already passed the house,
comforting broad powers upon the
president to give preference or prior
lty in transportation to certain kinds
of traffic, Senator Smith said:
why, senator's, can we not deter
mine what kind of tribunal we wish
to pass on these questions, and can
we not prescribe the. rules and regu-
ltions, and can we not set a STAN
dard?
II would say without hesitation
that they might give preference to
the prompt movement of the military
and naval forces of the United States
and all supplies therefore, and all
materials necessary to be used in the
manufacture of arms, munitions and
equipment, and all foodstuffs neces-
sary for the army of the United
States or necessary to be shipped
abroad for the armies of our allies.
| would be perfectly willing to Gre
ate some kind of tribunal to regulate
and control all those matters, but
should like to have congress prescribe
some rules of selection and name
the organization and pass upon the
occupants of the office when they
come. l would not vote to confirm
in a position like this a gentleman
like Mr. Bernard Baruch."
Food Control Measure Attacked.
Senator Smith, in discussing the
administration food control bill said
that it might work in Prussia and
the people might prosper under it,
but that "our people are not accus-
toned to benevolent despotism."
He said the measure would not be in
the interest of the farmers.
eff the food controller thought
that cotton was selling too high"
continued Senator Smith, he could
fix any arbitrary price as a fair one
say six cents. The south endured
period of siX-cent cotton, and I
think now the country should stand
period of even twenty-five-cent
cotton if the operation of the natur-