Newspaper Page Text
July, 1914
THE AT LAN T IAN
9
DIVISION OF MARKETS.
During his first year in Washington Senator Smith introduced a bill to
establish in the Department of Agriculture a division of markets to aid
the farmers in the marketing of their crops. The bill was introduced
at the suggestion of Hon. Charles Barrett, Hon. R. F. Duckworth and
other officers of the Farmers’ Union. An appropriation of $50,000 a year
was made and the division has been in operation now for more than a
year. Its work is to be largely increased and extended, under appro
priations already agreed upon.
ADVOCATED WILSON’S NOMINATION.
As early as February, 1912, Senator Smith announced his advocacy of
Woodrow Wilson for the presidency. He was steadfast in urging Wil
son’s nomination, and with the adjournment of Congress spent the suc
ceeding months in campaign work in the west and east. He was reward
ed by seeing the former Georgian sweep the country from ocean to ocean.
When is was known that the Republicans, who a year before, were in
haughty control of the government, had been hurled from power, the
figure of Hoke Smith loomed still larger in national affairs, and when
later it was seen that even the Senate had passed into the hands of the
Democrats, Hoke Smith was hailed as the coming leader of the Senate.
The upheaval of November was to be felt in every department of the
government—the House, the Senate and the presidency, all belonged to
the Democrats.
This political revolution meant first of all the complete reorganization
of the Senate. Under the old order of things Democrats of a reactionary
type were in line for committee chairmanships. The seniority rule would
have given them these places of power and they could stifle important
reforms, as was done under Cleveland. The great body of Democrats
turned to Hoke Smith to lead in handling the situation. He was one
of the controlling spirits on the committee that effected the reorganiza
tion, and it was accomplished without the slightest friction. Each Sen
ator was given the chairmanship to which he was entitled under the
seniority rule, but the membership of the committee was so arranged
that the Progressive Democrats were in control. It is a fact, however,
that the men who were considered Reactionary got into line quickly and
never since the war has there been such harmony as the Democrats have
experienced under Wilson’s administration.
TARIFF AND CURRENCY BILLS.
When the Democrats came into power on March 4th, 1913, Senator Smith
was urged to take the chairmanship of the new banking and currency
committee, which was to shape the currency bill. He preferred, how
ever, a place on the finance committee, which was to have charge of
the tariff, and still clung to his old places on the post-office committee
and the committee on agriculture, He took the chairmanship of the
committee on education and labor and is on other committees, including
the important judiciary committee.
As a member of the finance committee, Senator Smith spent practically
the entire summer of 1913 on the tariff bill, working usually from early
in the morning until 11 o’clock at night.
As soon as the tariff bill was disposed of he took up the currency
bill, to which he added important amendments. One of these provided
for reducing the rate of interest on the Aldrich-Vreeland emergency cur
rency to three and a half per cent per annum for the first six months.
That amendment made available at a low rate of interest $500,000,000 of
currency already printed and lying idle in the treasury. The wisdom of
this amendment was so apparent that it was adopted by the Democratic
caucus and passed by the Senate without a dissenting vote.
FARM DEMONSTRATION BILL.
One of Senator Smith’s measures which he regarded as equaling the
currency bill in importance has finally passed both House and Senate
and been signed by President Wilson. The Smith-Lever bill for prac
tical demonstration work of agricultural colleges and experiment sta
tions, which for two and a half years has attracted the attention of the
entire country, is at last a law of the land and under its terms the gov
ernment will, within a few years, be spending five million dollars an
nually in teaching farmers on their farms those facts which they would
learn if they could attend agricultural colleges.
The bill was introduced by Senator Smith soon after he entered the
Senate and the next day was introduced in the House by Congressman
Lever of South Carolina. Each State will receive ten thousand dollars
next year. The year following Georgia’s part will be thirty-five thousand
dollars. The amounts will increase each year and in the course of a few
years the total expenditure for all the States will be five million dollars
annually. Vast improvements in agriculture are sure to follow this farm
demonstration work.
REGIONAL BANK IN GEORGIA.
But Senator Smith’s crowning achievement for Georgia was in secur
ing for his State one of the twelve regional banks provided for by the
currency bill.
This bank, which will have about five million dollars capital, will be
located in Atlanta, and will make the Georgia capital the financial cen
ter for Georgia, Florida, East Tennessee, Alabama, part of Mississippi,
and part of Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Its purpose
is to make money easier by keeping bank reserves in this section that
would otherwise go to New York and by providing additional currency
for making and marketing crops. If Senator Smith had not been able
to get the bank for Georgia it would have gone to Louisville or Cin
cinnati, cities that have no interest whatever in building up this section.
The Macon News said of Senator Smith last December:
“A wonderful record is behind Hoke Smith and a greater future awaits
him. The thousands who followed him in the campaign of 1906, before
this record had been made, have reasons to be gratified over the sound
ness of their judgment and the vindication of their faith. He was a
great governor and he is a great Senator, and those who supported him
in the several campaigns, as well as those who opposed him, must, as
patriotic Georgians, find satisfaction in the commanding position which he
occupies in Washington.
“We cannot recall an instance in which any man has ever in so short
a time attained so forceful a position in that body of distinguished states
men nor more completely won public confidence by a clear, strong grasp
of great public questions.’’
That commendation, which was deserved then is doubly deserved to
day, for since the words were written Hoke Smith has won the regional
bank for his State and has passed the farm demonstration bill which
means so much for the country, and he is today fighting the battles of the
administration for the repeal of the (fee tolls clause of the P&nama canal
bill. It is not surprising that the thinking people of Georgia are prac
tically unanimous for his return to the Senate unopposed.
Second Jew (excitedly) : Und if he
had valked up und down he might
have owned the whole block.
After looking at the picture of a
spouting whale for a long time, a lit
tle boy seemed to become more and
more puzzled. At last he turned to
his uncle, and pointing to the picture,
said:
“Uncle Ned, what is that?”
On being told that it was a whale
he looked at it again and said:
“Oh, my, doesn’t he sneeze an aw
ful long way.”
The Unfortunate Pact.
“A man’s sins find him out sooner
or later,” said the philosopher senten-
tiously.
“Yes,” said the cynic; “but, unfor
tunately, most of the time they find
him in.”
Poor Man Speaketh.
They often speak of women thus:
“They can not throw a stone.” But,
then,
The looks the charmers cast at us 1
And, oh' the marks they make of
menl
Corroborative Evidence.
Unbeliever (after the spiritualist se
ance)-—Surely you don’t believe that
the spirit of your dead husband up
set all that furniture?
Widow—Well, I don’t know. George
was dreadfully clumsy!—Bulletin
(Sydney).
The Play’s Not The Thing.
First New Yorker—Was the play
poor?
Second New Yorker—Randall stole
home after the first act. Imagine
preferring home!
Memorable.
“I shall never forget tonight,” she
sighed,
As she looked at the twinkling stare.
“Nor I>” said ho, as ho took a puff
At one of her dad’s cigars.
The Baby Cult.
A contemporary recently stated that
society women are seen about much
more with their children now. The
above is what we may expect in the
park.—London Opinion.