The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-02
SOUTH RESENTS
FAMINE REPORT
BYRNES CALLS FOR SOURCE OF
INFORMATION
President's Appeal for Red Gross
Funds for Southern Relief
Misrepresents
Hugh W. Roberts in The State.

MlSfepfeSchSS
Hugh W. Roberts in The State.
Washington, July 28.-The South
ouivers under the declaration Of the
president that it is an impoverished
country.
The South, in other words, rebels.
Representative James F. Byrnes
of South Carolina demands this at
ternoon Of the president that author
ity for his statement "that great
section of our country that we are
wont to think of as immune from such
experiences, is actually menaced with
famine and plague
Why does President Harding thus
hold up to the gaze of the world a
section which has proved itself to be
able to take care of itself?
The president has been imposed on,
is the unanimous conclusion. The
public health service which first
sounded the warning is the ''goat."
Says Mr.. Byrnes in his resolution
presented this afternoon:
"Whereas, the press on July 26,
1921, published an alleged communi-
cation widespread by the president to
Mr.. Livingstan Farrand, president of
the American Red Cross, containing
among othe4 things the following
statements:
(" Recent reports of a distressing
condition among the rural popula-
ton in large section of the cotton
belt are confirmed by public state
ment from the public health service.
They indicate that due to the depress-
ed cotton market many thousands of
people are unable to sell their prod
ucts for money wherewith to obtain
necessary variety of wholesome
food, and that there is grave threat Of
an epidemic of peflagra.
"sIt must bring shock to the AM
erican people to realize that great
section of their own country which
they are wont to think Of as immune
from such experiences, us actually
menaced with famine and plague. For
that is what it would he called if it
should befall any other country and
we may as we'll give it it's right name
''Therefore, be it resolved that the
president be hereby requested to re-
port to the house of representatives
for it's information, if not incompati-
BILE with the public interest, all the
facts within his knowledge, upon
which he based the statements herein
above set forth"
Southerners in congress declare
that while pellagra might be on the
increase, there is no famine in the
South, and much less is there starva.
ton.
In the senate today, the declaration,
of the president was heartlessly scor-
ed. It was admitted there is pellagra.
It was admitted there is ''hard times"
but it was denied that there is starva-
ton. It was declared, on the other
hand, that the president spoke with
out authority when he pictured the
South as section which could not, in
a monetary sense, care for itself.
At the same time, there is no ques-
ton but that pellagra increase its
hold. The increase in the number of
cases in Alabama is 600 per cent. The
increase in Mississippi is almost as
great, and in all other Southern states
with the exception of Florida it is
pronounced. But Southerners keen
ly resent the declaration OF
the president that the South
is PROSTATE and requires the assis-
tance of the Red Cross or other
agents engaged in charitable dispen-
sation.
The resolution of Representative
Byrnes will not prevail. The Repub-
lican majority know that the presl-
dent, out of the bigness of his heart,
spoke too soon, and too unadvisedly,
but they do not intend for any reso-
luton to put the president in the
"hole."
The State.
Washington, July 28.-Regarding
South Carolina as a unit, the presi-