Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-12

democratic congressman, who were
defeated, blame it on that "republi-
can document issued from the White
House" Here and there a defeated
candidate, now seeking federal
appointment, say the letter did not
do all of it" Those who survived
the storm usually refuse to attribute
the tragedy to the White House
typewriter.
They look over the field and find
Of the % republican seats gained, ~
came from Nebraska, Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Colorado and Indiana, the
only wheat states where the demo-
Gratis had a look-in in the present
congress. Now, in population, these
states combined have only one
twelfth of the national population,
vet they furnished three-ffths of the
republican gain.
Therefore, il was the wheat-hxing
that turned the trick. OF course this
really goes back to the president
also. But the blame is not attached
to him, largely because of the
southerners, who resisted every sug-
gestion of either taxing or pricing
cotton. Now these same southern
ers are exasperated beyond measure
as they see the wheat price of the
north fixed over the raisers' protest
and a good price guaranteed. while
their cotton, which they thought
they had successfully defended. is
facing an unguaranteed and falling
market.
Interesting Story.
There is an interesting story told
about the cotton and wheat contro-
versy that will bear repetition. Rep
resentatives Sloan Of Nebraska and
Hampton Moore Of Pennsylvania
led the move to tax cotton so much
a bale in the event its price was
not controlled like wheat, corn,
meats, etc. They were defeated. Of
course, in the ways and means COM
mittee, and then they carried it to
the floor of the house.
Moore made an argument in favor
of the tax. Crisp, Of Georgia (son
of ex-Speaker Crisp and the demo-
cratic parliamentarian of the ways
and means committee, reserved the
point of order until Moore had fn-
ished and then made it. Sloan
asked him to further reserve it until
he could submit his views on the
merits. But Crisp, who is a warm
personal friend of Sloan's and knows
his practical grasp Of agricultural
matters, did not want further dis
cussion, and so pressed his point of
order, which, under the rules, had
to be sustained.
Reproaches Crisp.
Sloan mildly reproached Crisp for
his arbitrary course. Crisp said the
point Of order was good, but on
later paragraph Of the bill he would
ask unanimous consent that Sloan
be heard. Sloan said that would be
merely academic. He wanted to
talk to the matter when in contro-
versy and added, "I'll talk on this
subject when it will be strictly in
order and I'll have an audience
larger than you think"
Not many days after that the agri-
cultural appropriation bill, which
had been vetoed by the president, in
order to knock out the price fixed
by congress for wheat, was under
consideration. In that bill there was
a provision for nearly 100000 to
help eradicate the cotton boil weevil.
Sloan moved to strike it out and
on that motion made a lS-nlinute
speech which attracted the attention
Of both the national and congress
sional republican committee chair
men. Several hundred thousand Of
these were sent throughout the
north. That speech dealt with cot
ton, wheat, corn, meats and southern
control OF congress.
President Raised Price.
In this connection when we are
talking so much about wheat prices
it might be proper to recall that the
minimum price for the 1918 crop was
fixed by the senate and approved by
the house at $500. The president by
decree fixed it at $40 at the primary
market. Nothing had definitely been
done with reference to the 1919 crop. |
II was talked that the decree would
be extended, keeping it at $3.50 for
.9lo. The house tried to fix it, but
the south and east were too strong.
The senate fixed it at $3.50 at the
local market. This did not appeal
tc the country generally. When it
came back to the house, Mclaughlin
Of Michigan and Anderson of Min
nesota, both on the agricultural
committee comforting with Sloan of
drafted a compromise
measure at $40 at the primary mar
kets. This went through the house,
republicans generally voting for it
and democrats generally against.
The senate adopted this price. This
the president vetoed, but the coun-
try's attention was called to it and
the president to still the storm
the price to be fixed at $2.26
en- a basis of No. ! northern at basic
markets for the 1919 crop.
In this whole matter both in price
and politically northwest
scored.