Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1926-06-17
r. L. DOUGHTON
ON THE RADIO
Farmer Bob Says Contented Family
on the Farm is Nations Most
Valuable Asset -

| Congressman Robert l.. Doughton
delivered over the radio and printed
in the Congressional Record of May
| 18th:
This being my first effort in the
way of public address over the
radio, | will first send greetings to
the people of my district and the state
of North Carolina and express to you
my gratitude and appreciation of
your oft-expressed and long-continu-
ed loyalty and confidence.
The first session of the sixty-ninth
congress is nearing a close and the
record will soon be submitted to the
electorate of the nation for its ap-
proval.
1t is well known to you that the
Republican party is in control of each
branch of the national government; !;
Therefore party responsibility rests
upon the Republican party, while on
the Democratic party there is only
that responsibility which always goes
with the minority.
During my 5 years as a represen-
tative in congress | have never known
party lines so indistinct and the alb
sence of party strife so manifest.
The Democratic party, being al
ways patriotic and preferring the
country's welfare above party well
fare, has in no manner attempted to
play politics or seek partisan advant-
age, but has co-operated in an ear
nest and faithful endeavor to enact
wise, wholesome, and salutory legis-
lation, and to assist by every honor
able means in reducing taxes and
bringing them to the lowest level
consistent with efficient government
al service.
Under the constitution of the
United States all measures for the
raising of revenue and all appropria-
ton bills must originate in the house
of representatives.
The committee on ways and means.
of which | have the honor to be a
member, presented on the opening
day of this congress, in a unanimous
report, bill for the reduction of
federal taxes. The bill speedily be-
came law and gave substantial re-
lief. The amount of reduction in this
bill was about 1887, 100000. This
was something new in legislation. as
never before in peace time was tax
bill considered, perhaps, and reported
free from partisanship. This, in my
judgment, records distinct step for
ward in legislative procedure, and if
continued, will work to the great ad-
vantage of the American people. #* =
Wisdom suggests that in all the af-
fairs of life things should be consid-
cred in the order of their Importance.
The most important matter now be-
fore the congress is that of enacting
some legislation for the relief and
! benefit of agriculture.
For more than five years the Re
publican party has been in full con-
troll Of every branch of our govern
ment, and it's policies touching every
industry of the nation have been
written into law.
However, agriculture, which is con-
cedod by everyone to be the most
| fundamental, basic, and necessary in
| dustry, has never been so thorough
ly demoralized and so completely
paralyzed. The protective tariff laws
now on the statute books, placed there
by the Republican party and guaran-
teed TO produce agricultural prosperi-
ty, have signally and completely fail
ed
In the last five years the farms
of America have declined in value at
least $50, 100000. The indebted
ness of the farmer today is more than
$12, 100000 1000, an increase of about
eight billions in the last five years,
making the farmers of America at
least $33,000,00O,000 poorer than
they were on the 4th of March, 1921,
when Mr.. Harding was inaugurated
president.
Farm failure during the last five
years have increased 1000 per cent
in contrast with commercial failures.
The direct losses on the crops pro-
duced have been many billions more.
A larger number of American farms
and homes are under mortgage today
than ever before in the history of the
country. More bank failures have oc-
Cured in agricultural sections of the
country in the last five years than
had occurred in 25 years preceding
that date.
From 1916 to 1920, inclusive, un-
der a Democratic administration, the
number of state bank failures was
1T and the number of national bank
failures for that period was %; total
for the five-year period 145. While
for the last five years, 1921 to 1925,
the number of state bank failures was
about 1900 and the national bark
failures for the same period was 33S.
, making total of 2,13S under Re-
publican administration against 157
under Democratic administration fol
the same length of time. Il = =
L4 loc five th6