The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-06-26

erS. It is not generally appreciated
that the characteristic difference be-
tween the farmersand other produc-,
ers IS. that the farmer has to wait for.
SIX months or so before he produces.
a commercial asset, something to sell
to meet the obligations incurred in
production The manufacturer sor ar
tific;aI producer offers a complete
commercial article every day, ano
therefore has something to sell te
meet the debts he has incurred in its
production. The ordinary 80, SO and
80 day credits granted to the manu-
facturer or artificial producer did no.
meet the requirements Of the farmer
or natural producer.
1 therefore introduced an amend
ment to this bill and secured its pas
sage giving six months for all notes
drafts and bills issued for agricultur-
al purposes. thus giving the farm
ers time to produce something tc
meet the liabilities incurred in pro-
duction.
he Federal reserve Act properly
]; ...insstered has proven itself to be
greatest piece, Of constructive legis-
lation as affecting the prosperity and
development OF this country, ever
passed in the history of Congress, and
the liberal treatment therein accord.
ed the farmers has done more per-
.haps than anything else in bringing
about the present prices for his pro-
sduce and his consequent prosperity.
the Southeastern section
OF this country including pre-emi-
snentIy my own State the production
of our land is dependent upon artif1-
al fertilization. The most essential
ingredient and the highest prices rs
nitrogen or ammonia. The ordinar.
ssoureesse supply were not ADEQUATE
TO meet the full demands of1agricul-
rnre and the prices were consequent
II. very high. There had been discoy-
cred and patented a process of ex-
Stracting nitrogen from the air. The
saaantity to. be derived from this
source was unlimited. I introduced
and had passed a bill carrying an ap-
preparation Of twenty million dollars
for the establishments of plant o.
plants BY the government for the
Manufacture Of this substance to be
sold to the farmers during times o.
peace at. cost Immediately after the
passage Of this provision we entered
the war and the Government realizs
ing its dependence upon nitrogen for
munitions purposes as wei as for
agricultural purposes, has practical
IL completed plant at Muscle Shoals,
Alabama, which will in a measure
when in full operation largely meet
the requirements of this section for
nitrogen. There is a bill now pend
ing before Congress which had the
honor to faporably report for the
Agriculture Committee creating a
Government Corporation to put into
practical effect this constructive piece
of legislation. The Government has
increased the appropriation to some
thing like eighty million dollars. Dur
ing the hearings Of this it was shown
that it is practicable to produce
acid from phosphate rock and from
SILICA potash bearing rocks of the
country to extract potash and to COM
bine these two ingredients with the
nitrogen, thus producing at the same
time a complete fertilizer.
When the problem Of a cheap and
supply Of fertilizer IS SOL
ved the prosperity and well being
OF this country is solved. Bread; and
meat has been and always will be the
of the prosperity of any
country and I am glad that l have
been able to contribute something to
the permanent solution of this ques-
ton. After the war broke out the
price of nitrateeof soda scared to such
a price in hands of manipulatcrs as
TO Law an almost prohibitive burden
on 4he farmers Of this country. Chm
was the country from which we got
our supply OF nitrate of soda. found
that the price in Chill was such thai
if it could be bought and transported
by the government that a material
saving: for the farmers could be Sc
cured enabling him at less cost to
produce for himself and for the
country. Z introduced and had passed
a bill appropriating twenty millions
of dollars and authorizing the Gov
ernment to: purchase this soda and
sell it to the farmers at cost This
was done at around seventy five dol
lars per ton delivered. The prevail
ing -price previous to the introduc-
ton and passage of this bill was from
ninety to one hundred dollars per
ton and in many localities higher
than this. No one can predict where
the price would have gone had it not
been for this piece of legislation. OF
course it was impossible to secure
supply Of potash during this time as
our sources Of supply were IN German
territory, but, Immediately upon the
signing of. the armstice I took such
steps with the War Trade Board that