The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-02-18
SOUTH DEMANDS PROTECTION

The world must be turning topsy-
urvey indeed when they begin to hold
tariff conventions in the South, The
South has always leaned toward free
trade, for the reason that cotton, it's
great staple, needed no protection.
But now the South is diversifying its
crops and its industries and we hear
many voices there calling for PRO
lection"
Just recently the men who are en-
gagged in raising mushrooms have put
In plea of this sort. Formerly mush-
room spawn was imported but dur
ing the war period II has been pro-
duced in this country, and now the
spawners want a duty put on their
product, to protect 1t from the inva-
sion of cheap European spawn. There
were many mushroom" industries
that sprang up during the war, but
this real mushroom industry can be
made permanent with a little encour-
agement, 1t is declared.
Now the cattle raisers of the South
are asking for protection against the
hides of Argentina and the meat prod
ucts of Australia. The peanut rails
ers are up in arms because the cheap
peanut oil of China and other coun-
tries is being imported at price
which is ruinous to them. The cot
ton planters have the same plant,
| for cottonseed oil has been a valua-
BILE asset to them but 1t is now worth
very little.
No other country can compete with
our South in producing cheap short
staple cotton, but there is increasing
competition in producing the higher
grades of long staple fiber, such as
used for fine hosiery, high-class cot
ton textiles. autotires etc. The 9TH
er nations are planning to work ev-
cry acre of soil they have that will
produce cotton.
A recent congress was held at At
lanta. Action was taken demanding
protection on long list of products,
including cattle, sheep, goats, sugar,
eottonssed, citrus fruits. tobacco, pea
nuts, long-staple cotton, cotton tex
tiles, lumber. and many other pro-
ducts of the field factory and mine.
The passage of the Fordney emergen-
cy tariff bill by congress was urged
as an urgent relief measure.
The policy of America first" as ex-
pressed by President-elect Harding,
was given emphatic approval. SO al
so were his various declarations call
ing for cooperation between the North
South and West in adopting policies
in the best interest of the whole ma
ton.
ce-President-elect Coolidge made
an address before the convention. He
said that geographical div isions and
sectional lines in this country have
been swept away" and that ii is now
time for the nation TO fulfill It's des-
tiny. He added that while this coun-
try had not been given ANY mandate
of omnipotence" and that it did not
coyet any would sponsorship yet we
subscribe to the creed of the brother
hood of man" and we expect to do our
part. But still we can serve the
world best by serving America first,
he believed.
He urged that the products OF the
South should receive protection. so
that they will be fostered and 80 that
that section may flourish. 1T is no
criticism of protection that II bene-
fits private business and private in |
dividuals. that must be the result as
that is the object sought" he said. |
But this benefit of individuals result |
ed in general benefit to all the peo-
pie. 1.-the real concern of the nation |
Is not merely IN erecting great facto-
ries; 1t is in the building of, man
heod and womanhood. The welfare
of the people depends upon opportu-
mites for employment and our ability |
TO pay good wages" ne declared.
A large portion OF the Southern
people will still adhere TO the basic
policy of free trade, in spite of the
new movement for protection. They
believe in the principle of "buying
where you can buy cheapest and they
think things would be cheaper in this
country II there was no tariff.