Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-03
CRISP LEAVES
SICK BED FOR
FARMERS FIGHT
Battles Against Potash
Tariff Vainly = Ex-
poses G.. O. r. Stand
BY WALLACE BASSFORD,
Formerly Private Secretary to
Sneaker 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 $S5 per
ton. And whether you get their
point of view depends on whether
you are farmer or potash mag
nate.
Before the war, imported potash,
scooped out of the ground in Ger
many and Alsace-Lorraine, now be-
longing to France, was laid in New
York at $75 per ton of pure potash.
When the war cut off importations
few Americans began producing il
by 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 nevef pro-
duced above 10000 tons in 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 wears of OPP
Grafton government statistics show
that they harvested 48 millions from
potash alone, to say nothing OF the
other chemical products sold. Now
they come to congress asking and re-
ceiving tariff tax Oh imported pot
ash, so that they may further rob
the American user of fertilizers.
Crisn "Shows Up" Situation
Col. Myron NJ 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
abIcst Democratic members of the
sways and means comnlitlee, showed
ment, sugar and molasses plant5
which happened to produce a very
small amount of potash as by-pro-
duct. Judge Crisp came to the house
of representatives from a sick bed to
make fight against this iniquity
perpctrated under the guise of fur
nishing pan for another infant in
dustry already bloated up with the
farmers dollars He showed how, if
this tax were not added, the farmers
would be in position to get potash
cheaper 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 their
rivals, the French, who are already
shipping potash to New York and
selling it at $85 despite that war
time prices are not yet reduced to
normal. The competition thus aris-
ing would naturally rebound to the
benefit of the consumer were it 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
by contributions to the eight-mllion-
dollar campaign fund used by the Re
publicans in the last election.
Offers the Figures
In the course of his argument
Judge Crisp gave the following fig
ures:
"The normal consumption of pot
ash in the United States is about
100000 tons Counsel for the ad-
vocates of this duty assert that the
domestic producers can only produce
$4,000 tons. leaving 100000 tons toI
be imported. A tax of SO cents a.
unit on 100000 tons would raise
$40, 900, 900 in revenue to be paid by
the farmers; but this is not all they
would pay, as thew would likewise
make a donation to the domestic pro
ducers of potash of so cents a unit
on $4,000 tons amounting to two
and half millions of dollars. There
is one thing about Mr.. Laree, VINO
testified before the committee to be
comemnded-his frankness. He Of
fers an excuse for levying this duty
that rs per cent of it will be paid by
the cotton producers of the South
Atlantic states. | hope TINS comm,
tee will rise above sectionalism and
will not pass this unjust tax making
the people of my section bear rs per
cent of it. which amounts to $3.50
900 per year. Georgia last year used
990.0 and odd tons of fertilizer,
and if this bill is enacted into law,
assuming that a low-grade fertilizer
is used 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
asb practically $1,000,000 annually
If This hill is enacted into law, the
farmers of the United States will be
required TO contribute S12,50o,oOO
IN normit stock spectators and few
tO