Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-03
CRISP LEAVES
SICK BED FOR
FARMERS FIGHT
Battles Against Potash
Tariff Vainlv = Ex-
poses G.. O. P. Stand
BY WALLACE BASSFORD,
Formerly Private Secretary to
Speaker Clark.

WASHINGTON, August 3.-This
Republican congress has decided that
it is better that the farmers of the
South should pay $500 per ton for
potash produced in Nebraska and
California, than to get French or
German potash at $75 to $85 per
ton. And whether you get their
point of view depends on whether
yo uare farmer or a potash mag
nate
Before the war, imported potash,
scooped out of the ground in Ger
many and Alsace-L Lorraine, now be-
longing to France, was laid in New
York at $75 per ton of pure potash.
When the war cut of importations a
few Americans began producing it
by a chemical process from alkali
lakes in the West, and with compe-
tition safely cut off they help the
truck, cotton and fruit growers for
$500 per ton. AS they never pro-
duced above 10000 tons in a year
this shortage aided them in the hold
up. From that thew fell to 10000
tons. Testimony before the ways
and means committee showed that
the Americans invested 25 million,
while in the first three years of op-
Grafton government statistics sho%
that they harvested AZ millions from
potash alone, to say nothing OF the
other chemical products sold. Now
thew come to congress asking ana E&~
ceiving tariff tax on imported poi
ash. so that they may further rob
the American user of fertilizers.
Crisp "Shows Up" Situation.
Col. Myron M. Parker, of Wash
! ington, their attorney, testified that
SO millions were invested in the
American works, but Judge Charles
R. Crisp, of Georgia, one OF the
ablest Democratic members OF the
wavs and means committee, showed
that half of this capital was in ce-
ment, sugar and--~- molases plants
which happened to produce a very
small amount of potash as a by-pro-
duct. Judge Crisp came to the house
of representatives fro ma slvk bed TO
make a fight against this iniqulty
nerpetrated under the guise of fur
nishing pap for another infant IN
dustrv already bloated up with the
farmers dollars. He showed how, II
this tax were not added, the farmers
would be in position to get potash
cbeaper than ever before, as the war
had taken about half of the potash
deposits from the Germans and had
placed them in the hands OF thelr
rivals, the French, who are aifeaoy
shipping potash to New York ana
selling it at $35 despite that war
time prices are not yet reduced 10
normal. The competition thus arls-
ing would naturally rebound to the
benefit of the consumer were 1t not
artificially choked by this action OF
the Republican congress. Judge
Crisp's eloquent appeal for free pot,
ash fell on deaf ears-perhaps dulled
hv contributions to the eight-milllon-
|dollar campaign fund used by the Re-
publicans in the last election.
Offers the Figures
Tn the course of his argument
Judee Crisp gave the following fig
ures:
'"rhe normal consumption of pot
ash in the United States IS about
25O. 600 tons. Counsel for the ad-
vocates of this duty assert that the
domestic producers can only produce
80 900 tons, leaving 100000 tons TO
| he in1ported. A tax of so cents
nnit on 100000 tons would raise
$40. 600 900 in revenue to be paid by
| the farmers; but this is not all they
would nav. as thew would likewise
n,aka donation to the domestic pro-
dncers of potash of so cents unit
Eo 600 tons amounting to two
and half millions of dollars. lhere
;e | one thing about Mr.. Laree, VINO
testified before the committee to be
con,manded,h frankness. he OF
fers an excuse for levying this duty
that 75 per cent of it will be paid by
| the cotton producers of the South
| Atlantic states. | hope this comm
| tee will rise above sectlonallsm ana
will not pass this uni Just tax making
the neople of my section bear 70 per
i cont Of it. which amounts to $9,JIo',
600 ner wear. Georgia last year used
oo0 600 and odd tons Of fertllizef'
on1 if this bill is enacted into law,
| asenn,inq that a lowgrade tertlllzef
= nsed with only two units OF pot
ash to the ton, the people OF Georgia
alone will contribute as a SUBSIDY
to these domestic producers of pot
och practically 100000 annually,
If +bis hin is enacted into law, tne
farmers of the United States VIII De pc
naam;reS a. ,-lI TO contribute $12,5O0,0Oo
te teq qpar,,,; alr tstock spectators and few
W psi, ~ ,,,anufacturers to continue to
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