Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-08-29
Close Attention Is Given To Legisla-
tive Report

Though only short notice had
been given, fair sized audience Of
farmers and business men, including
few prominent women, assembled
at the Court House Saturday after
noon to hear Senator VIM. J. Harris
give an account of his stewardship in
the Senate of the United States.
For one and half hours the Sena-
tor held the attention of his audience
Promptly at 400 P. M. Mr.. J. E.
Turner introduced Senator Harris
The Senator appreciated the oppor-
tunity to speak in fitzgerald and was
prepared to make full report of the
legislative program of the Senate and
the part played by the Senators from
Georgia and the South.
He said that when he was in Fitz-
gerald few years ago he told the
people what he stood for, but didn't
promise what he would do. Now he
came to tell them what he had done
but to make no promises for the fu-
ture except faithful, conscientious
service.
Two months ago, said Senator Harris
an effort was made to adjourn Con-
gress. At that time Congress had
done nothing for the farmers. Had
Congress adjourned then, nothing
would have been done, but adjourn
ment was defeated by vote of "a to
81. Had the two Georgia Senators
voted for adjournment there would
have been no legislation for farmers
at this session.
The West and South
Formerly, Western Senators were
opposed to measures favored by the
South; now they are with us because
of common interest. The agricul-
tural Bloc, formed of combination
of Senators and Representatives from
the South and West, is now running
Congress in the interest of the far
mers.
The difference between the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties is that
one believes in favoring the manufac-
turing interests. called the trusts, and
the other favors the agricultural in
terests. l am not one of those who
believe in arraying class against class.
said Senator Harris. But l am the
son of a country doctor and learned
early in life that practically all other
interests depend on the success of the
farmer. The Republicans favor a
protective tariff which taxes $40 out
of the Southern farmers pocket where
it gives him 81. l voted for a tariff
on peanuts and favor a tariff on any
other product that will help the farm
ers and the people of the South.
Money to Move Crops
One cause of the present low prices
is that all our products are thrown
on the market at once. Loaded up
with last years unsold crops, the
bankers and merchants would not be
able to finance the handling of this
falls crops had not Congress three
weeks ago passed legislation which
provided the means. believe the re-
cent marked advance in the price Of
cotton is due to some extent to this
measure. The War Finance Corpora
ton had been revived and one bill
lion five hundred million dollars ap-
propriated. We increased this to five
billion dollars. The banker or mer-
chant can now get all the money he
wants to handle this falls crop on
any reasonable basis. He must charge
the farmer only per cent. If the
bankers do not care to handle it at
this rate, the farmers can organize
and borrow the money themselves.
This is the first time in the history
of the country that this could be done.
l want to say here that the bank
ers and merchants if the country did
their duty during the period just pas.
sed. If all of us had not stood to-
gether, all would have gone to the
wall.
Farm Loan Banks
Not only did Congress appropriate
the money, Blu the Senate added an