The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-10-05
WANTS EMBARGO On COTTON,
But HIGHER PRICES
Frem an Address of Hon. Jno. Nc
Laurin at ST. Paul, Mimi, Sept.
I9, in Which He Refutes Sem
ator Smiths Export Statis-
ties
Mr. President and Gentlemen:

MI lSS4uC0t anu ~
consider it an honor and a priv
ilege to address a body OF men so
representative of the bone and sine"
of America. l come from the cotton
fields of the south to the wheat fields
OF the west, and it is borne in upon
me by the discussion which 1 have
heard upon this floor that all OF US
are patriotic American citizens, ready
to spend and be spent in the cause OF
democracy.
Economic War
We realize that the present war is
an economic contest and that it IS 10
be lost or won on the farms OF Amer
lea. 1t is question Of the conserva-
tion of natural resources, and tnere
can be no such thing as defeat II
square dear' is given to all. rich and
poor, high and low.
w. P. s. Autocraey Admitted
Nve heard and read in the public
much about our country becoming an
autocracy. The word does not frighten
me because l know that the democ-
racy of abraham Lincoln, Woodro"
Wilson. Thomas Jefferson and Theo-
dore Roosevelt is fully able (for lts
own salvation) to convert itself into
an autoeracy, and then when the time
of need is past, resume its natural
shape
Then Democracy Will Perish
If this country is so dominated oy
selishness as to be unable to moolllze
it's men, money and products into an
economic as well as militaristic war
machine, and then after the war IS
over not to be able to again maintain
democratic liberty for the individual
our armies at the front are OF no
avail, and democracy is doomed 10
rerish from the face of the earth.
Republics have come, lived for a
while and then died, because they
were unable to do less.
May Become Democratic Again
The United States is entering upon
the boldest experiment ever attempted
and / for on believe that she has the
a., 1>o.o,,a on a,,tocracy to save
the life OF democracy.
We can pot conduct this war WITH
out consolidating power. because pow
or is only effective when it is concen-
trsssd We are giving our representa-
nses unprecedented power OF doubt
eul constitutionality. but have con-
adeace in this government. and be-
liere that those in authority vii! not
knowingly abuse the powers confer"
red upon them by placing unequal
Burdens upon the various classes who
90 oo s:ake up the body polite. 1t .
Sor great oedies like this to speak
out and make their waniss known.
The Task We Are At
This war has brought civilization 10
its climax. Tremendous transitions
are upon rs. Fruitful fields are given
over to graves, and entire nations are
vanishing like unset shadows IN an IN
6nite oceAn of sorrow. However, out
of all of this terror, blood and death,
not a nation engaged in the war but
will come out of it with new visions
OF service to be performed by the gov
ernment for the individual.
War-Made Millionaires
All of the nations have been forced
to take charge of food supply aud
regulate prices. They have not, how
ever, cocdiued their efforts. to raw
material, at the expense of the pro-
ducer thereof. The foreign govern
renes are purchasing the raw mater
sal and other necessities and turning
IT over to private corporations to be
manufaotured-the government fixing
IKE prices at which the finished ar
tacae is to be sold to the public. az
we'll as the rate of wages. This sunc-
ton of government Is firmly estab-
>iished in Europe, but here ia Amer
ica the war has greatly increased a
very numerous class of wealthy per
sous, who were already the greatest
danger contributing this country.
Roosevelt calls them "malefactors Of
great wealth" .
Never Touches Them
do not believe that the income and
inheritance taxes will reach these
war-made multimillionaires. Some
thing must be done to leave more