The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-25
REPUBLICANS ARE AFTER
THE SOUTHERN FARMER

Washington, May 24.-(Special,)-
Chairman Fordney of the ways and
means committee, who shares with
Senator Smoot the "honor" of being
the most conspicuous high priest of
protection in Congress. has again
spread his web for the capture of the
unwary southern farmer.
He has invited southern congress-
men to appear before him May % and
petition that southern products be put
on the dutiable list He suggests that
these members, when asking for pro-
lection for their own products, win
not object to protection for. the pro-
ducts of other people. In other words,
he wants to commit the south to the
republican policy of protection, and
then reward the south.
The Southern Tariff association is
actively aiding and abetting Mr.. Ford
ney in his scheming. The members
of the association, who testified before
the ways and means committee, adj
mitted that they voted the republican
ticket in the last election. 1t is nat
urally supposed, as result, that they
are hopeful that the south will wean
itself of democracy, and embrace re-
publicanism from alpha to omega, or
rather, asphalt to zinc
AS previously reported in this cor
respondence, the permanent tariff bill
is being prepared by the Republican
members of the ways and means com
mittee, the democratic members, who
might protest against provisions tax
ing the southern farmer for the priv
iltge of wearing shoes, being barred,
When the bill is completed the demo-
Gratis will be invited to it's reading
They will then exercise their sole re-
naming right and prepare a minority
report.
ISSUES STATEMENT
In view of this ex parte perform
ance the following statement attrib-
uted by the Southern Tariff associa-
tons press agents to Chairman Ford
ney may be taken cum grano salum:
"The ways and means committee is
now engaged in writing the perma-
nent tariff measure, and we want the
cooperation of the south We are
anxious to deal fairly with all sec
tions. We would be glad to have
southern congressman enumerate
southern products they desire placed
on the dutiable list, and we would
| like for them to say whether they
want a tariff for their products for
the purpose of protecting the producer
or for raising revenue for the gov
| 1--WE take 1t for granted that every
congressman who asks for duty on
the products of his district is willing
| to grant the same relative duty TO
the products of all other sections. We
recognize the distress in the south
brought about by destructive compe-
tition with foreign countries, and we
want to write a tariff bill that will
throw a life line to those who toll
upon the farms, as well as the fac
tories of the nation.
1t is said that there has been COM
petition on the part of Japan against
the peanuts of Alabama and Georgia.
But the distress of the south is due
to the slump in cotton. against which
there is no competition Southern con-
gressmen think 3-cent protection on
peanuts will prove costly when shoes
| increase 81 and clothes $40 in price
Respecting the emergency tariff bill
few southern congressman were
swept off their feet. But they are
again on terra firma, and Mr.. Ford
ney's permanent bill will receive an
opposition practically unanimous.