The Washington times., 1920-07-24
PEANUTSGU|DE
.HARD|NG'S AIM
Lowb Goober May Have Impor-
tant Bearing on G. 0. P.
Leaders Tariff Policy.
BY ). BART CAMPBELL.
International News Service.

International News Service.
The plebian but poP"lar peanut Was
held largely responsible by both r."
publican and Democratic leaders here
today for Senator Hardinss declarG-
tion for a protective tarir in his
Marion speech, and for the threatened
Republican invasion OF the solid
South"
Southern planters engaged in pea
nut growing are demanding a protec-
tive tariff TO save them from the mem
ace OF rapidly increasing importa-
tions OF cheaper peanut products from
China and India. rendered possible by
the "freetrade" the Democratic solid
South" has always stood for, IL was
pointed out.
The Republicans are preparing TO
take political advantage OF situa-
tion which promises to send TO Com
gress Southern Senators and Repre-
esntatives pledged TO forsake free
trade" to the extent of voting for
protective tariff for the American
peanut industry.
ASK QUICK LEGISLATION.
At the recent convention OF the
Peanut Growers Association at Nor
folk. Va, resolutions were adopted
unanimously calling upon Congress
TO lose no time in enactng such q
protective tariff law as soon as il
reconvenes in December.
Notice was also served that the
association, with which many South
ern planters are Identified, would op-
pose for election TO Congress any one
who did not offer dennite assurance
that he would support the erection Of
q tariff wall to shut out peanut i'm
portations from the American mar
ket.
The Republicans contend II South
ern planters who are Democrats
place themselves on record as favor
ing a protective tariff for one Ameri-
can industry, they and the Southern
members of Congress cannot consist
emily oppose similar protection for
other American industries in which
their Northern and Western neigh
bors are interested.
PEANUT POSSIBILITIES.
The situation created by the hum
BILE peanut is one fraught with inter-
esting political possibilities. 1t Is be-
ginning to attract nationwide atten-
ton. Senator Harding and his ad-
visors are known to have already
given II careful consideration.
Republican leaders are planning to
name Republican candidates for Con-
gress in States like North Carolina
and Tennessee. where they declare
the Republican party has a good
chance of breaking the Solid South
this year. who will stand for a pro-
tective tariff for peanuts.
Because of the devastation wrought
by the boll-weevil. an immense acre
age of the South once devoted to cot
ton has been turned over to peanut
rtrr nj
to reap large profits from their pea
nut crops this year. The total farm
value of the peanut crop in the United
States for last year was estimated at
$50 900 900.
RUINED BY CHEAP LABOR.
But the Southern planters find
themselves unable to compete with
the cheap coolie labor Of China and
India which renders possible the i'm
portations of peanut products INTO
this country at less than the mark ct
value of American peanut products.
The peanut products of the Far East
have already caused a drop in the
wholesale prices of peanuts in this
country of from 3 TO 5 cents pound.
The value of importations of peanut
products for the last fiscal year waS
more than $40, 600, 900. the value for
April last alone being in excess of
81 900 900.
The seriousness Of the situation
has stirred the South, where it is esti-
mated fully half Of the acreage once
given over to cotton is now devoted
to peanut raising. Peanuts naTe
therefore become as important =
staple of the Southern States IS cot
ton.
No longer are protectionist Demo-
,te,a xv-h
Senators and Congressman have al
ways stood for protective tariff
for sugar, the production Of which is
that States chief asset.
MANY PROTECTIONISTs.
Prutectionist Democrats are today
to be found in every Southern State
where peanut growing affords thou
sands a livelihood and where "rro-
tection-for- penuts" platform is re-
| earded as certain to figure largely
/ in the campaign below the Mason and
| Dixon line.
1t is said here Governor Cox has
been informed by leaders of tho
Southern Democracy of the gravity of
the situation. and he is seriously
considering making a reference TO
il in his speech of acceptance that
will show that he is prepared to In
dorse a protective tariff intended to
safeguard American industries threat
ened by the cheap products OF cheap
foreign labor.
Altogether the Southern peanut ap-
pears to have created a situation that
has turned the Southern agricultur-
lists into strong protcctonists-ann
both Republican ard DemocrIti;
| leaders declare the situation is one
that is bound TO have considerable lH
effect on whatever tariff issue is