The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-06-29
LAZARO, AS USUAL,
SHOWS HE'S FRIEND
OF THE FARMERS
Seventh District Represen-
tative Fires Some AS
founding Facts
AGRICULTURE BASIS
OF ALL PROSPERITY
Full Text of Speech Deliv-
cred in Congress Last
Wednesday

Congressman Lazaro again took up
the battle he is waging for the farm
ers Of the country, in a speech he de-
livered in the house of representatives
last Thursday. The text of the speech
follows:
Mr.. Chairman, | want to speak TO-
day on what 1 consider the most vital
problem confronting not only the
American people but the world-agri-
culture.
The American farmer produced his
last crops under the most expensive
conditions and at the greatest cost,
but has been obliged to dispose of
them at deflated prices and has sus-
tanned to date a loss Of about $1,000
100000.
1t was the sudden drop in the price
Of agricultural products below the
cost of production that started the
paralysis in business, and until we
again place agriculture on normal
foundation employment and prosper
ity will not come back / propose to
discuss during my time some Of the
factors that we must consider in con-
nection with this important problem
Mr.. Chairman, it is indeed strange
that in a country like ours, which is
fundamentally agricultural, that there
should be so much misund derstanding
between representatives on this floor.
For instance, a few weeks ago, dur
ing the debate on the farmers emer-
gency tariff bill, when members rep
resenting agricultural sections were
asking for protection for agricultural
products in proportio to the protection
accorded Is manufactured products,
we were charged by Mr.. Walsh, of
Massachusetts, with being sectional
and with advocating class legislation
He said that he for one did not pro
pose to stand for it, when 40 factor
les we're idle in the district which he
represents.
Mr.. Reavis Of Nebraska reminded
him of the fact that his factories were
idle and his people unemployed
because the agricultural products of
the farmers were selling below the
cost of production and their purchas-
ing power was destroyed.
II was very evident during that de-
bate that party lines were not as
rigid as they used to be. Fer instance,
we saw able democratic leaders stand
ing upon this floor asking for the
same protection in proportion for agri
cultural products as that given to
manufactured products, We saw old
republican protectionists, like Mr..
Luce of Massachusetts, oppose protec.
tion for agricultural products. That
was not strange, because for years
those belonging to his school were
taught that protection was for manu-
factured products only. And we of the
south permitted our products to go
on the free list, with the result that
we sold what we produced on free
market and bought what We needed on
a protected market. This is noc
sartnge, either, when we take. into con-
sideration the fact that the manufactu-
rers have been organized in the past.
while farmers were not organized
During the hearings on the tariff
bin we had a remarkable exhibition.
A soap manufacturer appeared before
the committee to oppose a tariff on oil
and advocat a tariff On soap. When
pressed by the committee he admitt-
ed that he wanted to buy foreign oil
cheap to make soap to sell in America.
Some one remarked, jokingly, that If
he got just dues his soap would be
placed on the free list and oil on the
protected list.
/ mention these cases merely 70
show how unfair it is to consider such
big questions in a sectional way, and
how necessary It is to understand one
another If we are to solve such ques-
tions in the right way.
The last war has demonstrated 10
all the necessity of our country hay-
ing its own vital industries at home
and of not depending on foreign coun-
tries in time of emergency. For in
stance, our cotton producers of the
south lost millions of dollars in the
beginning Of the war because we had
no merchant marine Of our own to car
~ our surplus cotton to the markets
of the world.
The last year has also demonstrated
another fact, and that is that the tariff
can no longer be considered a part
isan question. It is an economic ques-
ion.
Continued on page q