The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-03-08


IN view Of my conviction, that !
am now better able than ever before
to serve the nation and my State, il
retire because Of the statement
made in 1914 it would be an act OF
cow&rdice, a disregard Of the best in
terest of South Carolina, and an in
Justice to our boys who have offered
their Ives in defense Of their COM
try. l have everything to lose AM
nothing to gain by offering for re-
election. l would be safely out of the
trc1hled waters Of politics in whic!i
I have been swimming since 1885,,
but ! would feel somewhat like a
Go5ec1+2r = the face OF the enemy.
Two Rocks for One.
hen |, first came to Washington
sectionalism was violence and I wef
forced to listen to false and insulting
accusaticns against the South and its
pooDle. TIE Democrats had decided
it was wisest to say nothing. I thank
God I never followed this course, bnt
from the beginning protested vigor-
ously with my brother Democrats
against such craveness. When any
one threw rock at the South. was
always ready to throw two back. In
deed I have been told by competent
judges, and I believe it to be true.
that my speeches in the senate and
my lecture. through the North have
done more to enliehten the Northern
people on the race question than all
other instrumentalities combined. 81
have labored consistently for the
greater development and use of the
Charleston navy yard and am ind;-
vidually responsible for its establish
ment. The clothing factory at that
yard is concrete example of one Of
its benefits.
at was largely due to my efforts
that congress enacted the railroad
rates bill which gave 10 the country
fair railway rates and to the farmers
much relief from the burdens they
were then bearing.
''The exposure of frauds and rob-
bers of the government perpetrated
by the armor plate manufacturers
was among my first important acts
as senator 4
Time after time I offered amend
ments to the naval appropriation bills
authorizing the government to build
its own> >armor plate factory. Each oe
these was defeated, but I have lived
long enough to see the enactment Of
my original proposition authorizing
the erection of plant by the govern
ment, and that plant is now actually
rnder construction at Charleston, W.
Va.
81 have lived to, see most. of the
financial legislation which Il always
advocated enacted into law. The ma
tional reserve bank act and the farm
ers lean act, enabling the farmers to
get money at low rates of interest, are
amone TIE things helped to secure.
Both \of these were long cherished
dreams of the farmers alliance and
t'o'r earms NAV be found in the
tOcala demands
zone Of the thirss of which I an
most proud was that I compelled
recognition Of South Carolina's CLAIM,
AGAINST the federal government for
r"onev loaned by the State in the war
Of 1912. BY this. s3S6,eoo, the States
bonds, held by the federal govern
ment as debt against the State, were
cancelled and sS9,137.36 was paid into
the State treasury in cash
Want to Win War.
90 not oe'leVe the people of the
State are in the Humor for unneces-
sarv political a2itation this year.
They want to win tae war ami they
know the only way to win it is to hold
ND President Wilson's hands. ANY
man sent to the senate now frt /
South Carolina who would not sus-
tain the president whole-hearted7y
would be traitor to the best inte:
est Of orr country and utterly use.
less to his South Carolina constitu-
ents
Although my health is better nc
than it has been for many years. it
is not my purpose to make any cam
pa;gn speeches. In my opinion, it is
more important for me to remain in
Washington attending to my duties in
the senate and in tho naval affairs