Evening star., 1934-03-27
SENATE IN: BATTLE
OVER COTTON. BILL
Control Measure Is De.
nounced as "SIavery."
Close Vote Seen.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Denounced as a slavery bill' by
a son of the Southland. Senator
Bailey. Democrat, of North Carolina
the Bankhead compulsory cotton
control bill moved forward yester-
day to a vote that administration
leaders conceded would be close
Speaking in the Senate. the NORTH
Carolinian declared the measure Of.
fered a choice between "a free re-
public and a regimented socialism
or communism"
Senator Borah, Republican, oi
Idaho, also attacked the meas
ure, challenging its constitutionality
Chairman Smith Of the Agriculture
Committee insisted that the measure
is necessary to catch "slackers." lik-
ening it to the World War draft act
Sees End of All Things.
IF it should pass and be upheld
by the Supreme Court" Bailey said
II would know the end of all things
had come in America. and I shall
prepare for the socialistic regime and
the dictator.
America needs more education ir
human liberty now than all the
prosperity that God might pour out
The Fourth of July long ago lost
its significance. You have got tc
preserve liberty to save the Union.
Borah carried his flngerworn Law
books into the Senate to challenge
the bills constitutionality, but Smith
asked the Senate to strain the Con-
stitution" If necessary to provide the
relief that "85 per cent of the cotton
farmers believe is essential to theiI
salvation"
The Senate's two senior members
tangled over the measure after Sen.
ator Lewis, Democratic whip, speak
ing for the bill. urged the Senate tc
support President Roosevelt, right ol
wrong.
THE President has the right to be
wrong" Lewis said, demanding sup.
port of the Chief Executive as a dem.
onstration to the world that Congress
was for him.
Borah warned the Senate that tc
merce from moving in interstate trade
by taxes would take away the very
foundation Of the Government itself.
We are using the taxing power to
preclude citizen Of the United States
from enjoying the right to sell his
property in the ordinary course OF
trade he added. rs that tax or Is
it a fine?'
Declared Strait Jacket"
Borah contended the ma iority Of
the Southern farmers did not want
such restrictions, and said. Il doubt
very much that you'll ever be able tc
get them to accept a strait jacket
like this"
The Idaho Senator said he was con-
cerned because if the bill passed II
would be extended to wheat, cattle
and all other farm products.
I'm interested for the reason that
it has been indicated in high quar-
tiers this is the beginning of a ma
tional plan and the starting of move
for planning and controlling the pro-
ductive enterprises Of the country in
their entirety"
He contended the purpose of the
bill was to punish the small minority
Of farmers who were not willing to
sign the voluntary acreage reduction
agreements and to coerce them.
II admit frankly that's what I'm
driving at" Smith retorted. Il am
anxious to bring the Stacker in. Let's
get him in. say let's coerce him in. N
Smith said the bill was aimed al
the 10 per cent of greedy and ava.
ricious men"
Borah interjected that the Consti.
tuition was designed to protect the
minority.
Il thought We were governed by the
majority" Smith replied. THE right
of the minority is to be protected il
it doesn't jeopardize the majority"
Refers to Testimony.
Senator McNary, Republican leader
called attention to testimony before
the committee by Oscar johnson, head
of the cotton division Of the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Administration, that
cotton was bringing a profit under
existing prices.
Yes" Smith responded, we've got
men in the cotton division from
Sweden, where they make excellent
cotton at a 10,000-foot altitude and
with snow on the ground"
Smith said he wouldn't even believe
Secretary wallace on the cotton sit
uation, because Wallace frankly ad.
mitted he knew nothing about it,"
Bailey said the bill would mean q
Government tyranny"
IF a farmer produces one bale more
than the Secretary of Agriculture say.
he can, he pays penalty of SO pei
cent of the market value" he said.
If the Federal Government car
do that, we can do anything and we
do not have a Government; We have
a tyranny.
If we can do that We haven't q
vestige of States rights left. It's thu
first legislation I've seen that takes
away from the people the rights ths
Constitution said were inalienable.
IT think we have come to a breach
IN Congress. It's going to be fret
Republic or its going to be regi.
mented socialism or communism"