Mission of ?
the
State Warehouse Systc
Inter-State Board
Price
Address of Hon. John L. H<
Association. Ch
Gentlemen of the Press Associ
I appreciate the invitatio:
Soutfc Carolina. I feel that
Honors tnat nag ever come i
the custom of the Press Asa
occasion, and I feel that the i
kion that tfce newspaper men
In some measure at least, pa
politician.
I have been more than on
of lightning, but I have neve
that tfce press is to the countr
or destroying graft and corr
light into the dark places a
to know.
I have learned the truth
the great Napoleon, that "fou
dreaded than one hundred tl
the freedom of tfce press bee;
personal glory. He realized t
liberties of the people must stJ
ening, always confirming trutl
overthrow the mighty fabric 1
said to one of his ministers, "
to give the liberty of the press
How different the sentinu
the world a constitution based
said, "I would rather live in ;
government, than in a conn
newspapers,"
Gentlemen of the Press power
for "weal or woe. You
civilizations; thought destroy:
you drop the silent, invisible
at the tame moment, creating
My paper comes to me eac
rial, keeping me in touch with
and forming my opinions and
dell Phillips said: "The mil
pulpit, but the press. Sot on
one of us, except the helpless
a newspaper. It Is parent, sc
In one. Let me moke the ne
the religion or the laws."
I It is my purpose to try to
in such a way as to command
port of the newspapers of Soi
of marketing and handling <
Industry and Inaugurate a p
Sonth which will be stable and
business principles.
rr +>ia rinft IhnnrtrP
v ?v,
the material life of this natio
hanre multiplied beyond calcu!
mercial and scientific era infi]
economic status of our grand
If you please, "witih the realn
in political scence the impro
respond in importance with tl
Edison and Marconi. You fi]
more progress in applied ec<
would now be using flint an
mold board plows, hand loom*
ana binders, automobiles and
To deny the need of impro
ods is to affirm that the gov
declare that political corrupl
wealth, and the deep complJ
exist only as phantoms in th<
-?*/vAAO-ri 4 r?/\ -f V? nc,
iV 1 J-LUilU xavi Ui IXTWD'
and neglect of duty on the |
It is either this, or to adopt
certain quarters that the toi
erect a righteous and efficient
power because the stream can
We have made locomotive!
submarines, air ships and wii
up to their planning, because
erfuJ intellects and abundant i
by the certainty of large pecu
of us who have been in pub
hollow mockery, that true ser
no wage of golden millions av
might discover the most bene
cbanics* The steel beam plo
demonstration of their su
politic, and each citizen
therein, while the profit from
ever remain vague and unsub
when considered only from tl
New Ma
"When the several colonie
United states stood rortn as
tfhe architects of this Republ:
sublime finality (in government
characteristic of all true build
lug foundation because of the
upon which it is based. These
any more than new qualities
justice and charity. But the
so frequently occurs witfo sj
symbols become identified in
Invisible soul to which they
should be changed as are th
and rendered useless by tfoe
body of statesmen who made <
trious would promptly have
new needs which have arisen
development which mark the
The fact is that the best 1
have not been in political lift
have been devoting themselves
literary work. I think that, as
has more intellect, and more
have in all the politicians of 1
Many of the men?the sohave
not been after the acquis
honestly believed that t!he gr
the lines ot concentrated capil
this line of endeavor?to such
the sentiment that "to die 1
tb'? UT: . ;-.::fcC?v u i
iouth to Clothe
World
?ms in Each State and An
T. r^i.Li* L u* :
1 U i-McJ.UiI?Il 1Y11I11IJ1UI11
For Cotton.
&anrin to tbe Sonth Carolina Press
lick Springs, S. C* 1915.
m
iation:
q to address the newspaper men of
it is one of the most distinguished
o me, because I know that it is not
iociation to invite politicians on this
avitation extended to me is an indica
of South Carolina agree that I have,
ssed in my career the stage of mere j
ce stung to the quick by your shafts
r underestimated the real protection
y, in exposing sham and humbuggery,
uption. It is your mission to throw
nd tell the people what they ought
by experience of tfre observation of
r hostile newspapers are more to be
lousand bayonets." Napoleon fought
luse he had no higher ambition than
;hat the freedom of the press and the
md or fall together, that ever enlight1
and right, tfce press could ultimately
lis gigantic brain had created, for fee
I must dazzle and astonish; if I were
, my power could not last three days."
mts of Thomas Jefferson, who gave
upon freedom and equality. Jefferson
& country with newspapers without a
try with a government, but without
Ajsociation, you hanre a tremendous
rs is a high calling. Thought builds
s civilizations. Through your papers
thought into thousands of minds
tboug&t and molding sentiment,
h day, an adviser spiritual and matel
world history as it is made, coloring
subtly controlling my actions. Wenllons
hare no school, and almost no
ie man in ten reads books, bnt every
poor, poisons himself every day with
ihool, theater, example, counsellor, all
wspapers, and I care not who makes
present the State Warehouse System
your confidence, and secure the supath
Carolina in establishing a system
jotton which will revolutionize that
rosperity among the farmers of the
[ lasting becanse founded upon correct
sd years the inventor has transformed
n. Time and labor saving appliances
lation. We are living in a new comaitely
advanced beyond the social and
fathers. Contrast this for a moment,
is of government. Find, if you can,
ved devices in government that corhe
inventions of Fulton and Whitney,
Qd them not. If there had been no
gnomics tfcan in applied politics, we
d steel instead of matches; wooden
i and pony express, instead of reapers
aeroplanes.
7ed appliances in governmental methernment
is already perfect It is to
tion, the evil power of concentrated
tints- of millions of wealth creators,
i minds of visionary reformers, while
e wrongs is to prove incompetence
>art of law-makers and people alike,
the pessimistic belief now so rife in
ling masses are so ignorant that to
; system of government is beyond our
not rise higher than its source.
3, reapers and binders, and perfected
eiess telegraphy, that work perfectly
great inventors have thrown their powmergies
into the task, impelled thereto
niary reward. But, my friends, tfcose
lie life know that reward there is a
vice is met with ingratitude, and that
raits the successful experimenter who
ficlent principle in governmental mew,
reaper and telephone made swift
bstantial advantage to the body
could specifically note his gbare
Iwmr/vtrA/? CATornmflntJil mAthftrtfl mnRt
stantial to legislator and (voter alike,
lie material standpoint.
chinery deeded.
s ratified the Constitution, and the
a nation, it was not unnatural that
lc thougfht that they had perfected a
It was only the pardonable egotism
lers. This Constitution has an endurt
grand principles of universal equity
i principles can not be improved upon,
; of virtue can be added to abstract
same thing lhas happened to us that
stems of religion; visible forms and
-the minds of men witfc the sacred,
are but passing conveniences, which
e priestly jreetments when worn out
rack and fray of time. That gifted
>ur Revolutionary epoch forever illusde
vised new methods to meet those
out of the rapid growth and scientific
present.
Drain and talent in the United States
>. The strongest minds Mid intellects
j to material development, science and
5 a whole, the profession cf journalism
character, in its ranks today, than we
"H a nmin+rr T\li+ fi-lcret'hAT'
WUUVi J |/UV WVQVV**W? |
called great "captains of industry"?
>tion of the mere dollar, but they have
eatest good to tihis country lay along
balism, and they hare simply overdone
an extent tibat one of them has uttered
-ich is to die disgraced." This con;
. if ul-t u V*i* tifiCK'fi I
r
dition has left for the foarmonioi
science a mediocre statesmanship
6tructive genius, and with no visic
an evolutionary development that 1
as the nation is lifted into loftier ?
TIMs ic what primary elections
and recall. These can not be sne
machinery must be derised to pen
opinion on public questions as oft
ttae trouble, expense and demoralize
bave, depressing business, and th:
fusion. Our elections nave become
is no reason why the postoffice dep;
not do all of tfnis work with no mc
than is required to write a short
been attempted along this line, an
recently hace acquiesced in the un
aud the political barnacles will n
would interfere with the methods
in power.
r\ 1 1 j _
*jur pimucai meccanism is bo <
in red tape that the average busin(
citizen without a degree of sacrifi
Here is where the professional p<
pirate code of etibics, governs the
legions sold Rome's imperial seep
the machine politicians in tJ:e gre
away the rights and prosperity of
gold in this Republic.
Is Farmer to
There has been a great complai
That is all very well; bat what aboi
The only way to cheapen the cost
live on the farms, and they will n<
made more attractive. iWHat is t
ambitious boy on the farm? The
mockery. The city calls, and the
blind his eyes to the beauties of cc
He hastens to find fortune in tbe n
gold by its very touch. The farm
and fixed fate of the dullard and inc
History teaches us that natior
selfish patriotism and untainted t;
contented agriculture; from tfrose
places of the land, wfno have the
temperately, and commune with C
nished skies. These are nation bi
can we maintain this mighty fortre
destroy, or permit to be destroyed
bo dependent upon a fair reward f
We have no standards set by n
"based on the individual. Our gove
thifl respect, and we foave reached
and political life, where we must ed1
ward. With the problems confronl
still. The purely selfish appropri*
ings of material life for the use
upon which otfoer nations have fou
education wfill not save us. Mari
possibly, than the most fasMonabl
did not save her from the axe. Tt
should be, ftow to use our land an
fruits to develop good living and
as a whole.
TTno fl?nrp? r?f thp pptiriic c'nn
increasing 23 per cent, faster thai
cities have already advanced in
not only out-wSt and out-talk th
them.
A great work is being done I
both State and national, to encoun
but the most that can ever be acc
6elf-sustaining. For a money crop
our dependence.
The Federal Government is to s
State teaching our people to grow
There is more money spent tea
I have to organize the machinery to
worth of cotton.
Are the fiscal and economic pc
to undertake to compel productive
feed an ever Increasing urban pop
We are constantly reminded and
ical farmer who made two blades
before. The government is sen din
agriculture. "We are urged to gro
grew one before, but it -seems tc
extra blade of grass or bale of c
instead of to the man who made it
The South's
We harve seen cotton, since las
ten cente a pound, in the face of '
Our cotton crop for the last thirt;
- * * jc* m r*
or international nnance. iu? cxh
the production of cotton, and the r
for more cotton. There has never
a monopoly of a vital product as
in vain Great Britain and Russh
monopoly. Our percentage show;
decade. 'Egypt produces a beautifu
is not more than one-fourth the si:
be increased. England has experii
so coarse that it has little commi
some cotton in Central Asia, but
that dry climate irrigation must t
No one crop has ever had so i
power In making hnmbn history ea
fall a great tide of gold is brought
financiers of this country to dicta
And yet the people who produce
which it is produced, are the po
States. .Under present financial <
to market a twelve-months supply
spring, after the crop has passed o
speculators and middle-men have t<
five per cent, on their investment.
Tffce people of the South should
'cotton upon a safe, stable basis,
know just what to do. No busir
flnotiifltirvnR in nricft runnine froi
great crop.
Is it to be Paternalism
One of the objections urged to
paternalism. I say no, it is only jn
ing arms of this government haT
producer, but the manufacturer ol
by a monopoly in the home marke
fifty years -when you could not buy
than you could in South Carolir
What a condition we have every 3
over-production is raised, as it wa
country in the world where famin
hear every few years of faj
cause of crop failures. In t
: bankruptcy and are threatened
is development of governmental
> utterly destitute of true con>n
that enables it to comprehend
becomes more and more complex
md larger spheres of being.
mean?the Initiative, referendum
ered out of existence, and some
mit a full expression of national
?n as it may be needed, without
ition of such elections as we now
rowing our citizenship into con!
almost a national curse. There
artment of this government could
>re trouble to the average citizen
note. No real reform has ever
a tee maasec 01 ine people unui
changing status of the Republic,
ever suggest any change which
of franchise whicfn keeps them
cumbersome and so wrapped up
iss man can not do his duty as a
ce that ne refuses to submit to.
:>litician comes in, and with his
country. Just as the Pretorian
tre to the highest bidder, so do
'at centers of population barter
productive labor for trust-made
be Forced ?
nt about the high cost of living,
it the profits of prodnctire labor?
, of living is for more people to
sver do so unless the profits are
here to keep the energetic and
i cry, "back to the farm," is a
lights of tf. e "great white way"
mntry lanes and blooming fields.
Qarket place, where traffic makes
is abandoned as the last resort
jompetent.
is draw their true wisdom, unirtues
from the deep wells of a
who live in the quiet country
time to think soberly, who live
xod in the temple of his untarjilaers
and nation savers. How
*s in the soul of & people, if we
, the comfort and poise of mind
or toil?
-i ^ A TV^ T 4- i O /ill
VU1C until ILL AU1C1 iva. XL 10 Oil
irnment Is absolutely original In
a point of complex commercial
?er take a step forward or backting
us, it is impossible to stand
ttion of the comforts and blessof
favored classes is the rock
ndered. Culture, refinement and
e Antoinette was more elegant,
e woman of today, and yet this
le best thought of America today
d its products, our labor and its
sweet prosperity for our people
w that the urban population is
a the country population. The political
power to where they
; rural population, but out-vote
>y our agricultural departments,
ige the production of food stuffs,
omplished is to make our farms
i cotton is and must ever remain
pend about $275,000 a year in this
food and stock.
,ching girls to can tomatoes tban
handle a hundred million dollars
>licies of tin is government going
s labor, at lees and less cost, to
ulation?
taught to emulate that mytihologof
grass grow where one grew
g out experts to teach scientific
w two bales of cotton where we
> be taken for granted tfoat the
otton must go to the consumer,
grow.
Monopoly.
it August, go from five cents to
the largest crop ever made.
y years has been the corner-stone
ith has a practical monopoly in
teeds of the world each year call
been a nation on earth with such
-HVia C/-vii+Vi "hoc rm r>fktt An. All
i [have attempted to break this
s a steady increase with each
1 staple, but the area fit for cotton
:e of South Carolina, and can not
nented in Africa, but the fibre te
srcial value. Russia is growing
the area is very limited, and in
>e reeorted to.
ride an influence, and its fatnre
m hardly be exaggerated. Each,
in from abroad, that enables the
tte to the balance of the world,
fhat rnttnn. and the section in
oreat, per capita, in tfoe United
londitions we hare been forced
in three months, and then in the
ut of the hands of the producers,
japed a profit, as now, of serenty3
all unite in an effort to place
Then the manufacturer would
less can be profitable with tbe
n six to sixteen cents for this
i or Impoverishment?
the State Warehouse System is
stice. For 100 years the protect
'6 been thrown around, not the
! cotton. He has been protected
t. There has not been a time in
cotton goods cheaper in Europe
la, where the cotton Is grown.
ear in the fall when the cry of
s last August! This is the only
Le comes because of plenty. We
nine in other countries beh-e
Souti. every fall we face
with ruin, because of . crop..
failures, but because we do m
country last October, and look
great war in progress and the
the prices nearly 100 per cent.
Camden to Cowpens and King's
ground that ended in ti.e sur
When the war ended, South Ca:
because ehe had furnished mo:
dependence than any other Sta
State Sys
When the South Carolina Le
the State Warehouse Bill, and
1 was appalled at the magnitu
at my command. I feel that I
cess, because, through the aid
been able to command the atte
country, who have expressed tl
State Warehouse receipt puts c
is no difficulty whatever in ob
interest on a State Warehouse
I am encouraging the farme
houses on their own farms, an<
the price of cotton does not sh(
to borrow money and pay the
tended, as now seems likely, in
inter-State board can be forme(
so t at it will not be necessan
below the cost of production. I
done anything else except redu<
it would be worth millions of d
I have had more trouble with
else connected with tf:e operati
tinction made between a wareh
class town. On the country 1
while in a fourth-class town, w
no more protection against thi
would be $1.75 per hundred doll
the insurance companies were
in the moral risk of a State v
offer us a reduction of 10 per c<
warehouse over that, stored in
house. But it was only after
duction of about 100 j>er cent, c
to 33 1-3 per cent, on all cotton
doubt that in the future the tz
fcouses will be further reduced
Cotton Must Be S<
One of the most important
Warehouse System?and it ia t
anything elee?were tfoe addit:
General Assembly authorizing 1
ATIH TriftV^ ualpfi nf rottrvn dire(
ol Mr. Harding, I have made :
negotiating loans is concerned;
the cotton planter is tf~e many ]
the farmer and the mill. The
tie French prize court whose
that they bought the vessel for
one cargo would pay for the
for deldvery in Germany at tw<
ance was about two cents a pc
the farmer for the cotton, but a
six and a fcalf cents. This wo
cente, or forty dollars a bale,
farmer who grew it received. 1
in which it was stated that a r
of cotton, with an addressed
facturer to write and tell him
mill, the kind of goods into wh
foe expected to make on it. I]
from Germany, in which it wa
teen cents a pound for the co
into which it was converted, ar
a profit of about three hundre<
cotton. The farmer received a
letter?for the cotton; 60 tha
thirty-five dollars a bale, that
or eight middle-men standing
mill in Germany. Now, there :
the proper facilities, I could n<
cotton from a State vrarehous*
direct to a cotton mill anywl
reports that come into the o
State, which are laid on my a<
number of bales of cotton, the
If there was a ship in Char
Columbia, and warehouse facil
county in the State, and bring it
in Columbia, have it compres
ship from tfce cars, and from 1
or England, and it would nevi
that I would have to do would
fully up to tfce etandard, and, :
ness system that would enable
from the party for whom the
I have made the calculation tft
least three cents a pound to tl
that would amount in one yea
about $15,000,000. Of course I
eystem as far-reaching ae that
/>?vrvAoi+!/\n Vifl/tinicfl avftrv mi r?
J/VO1X1 V/i-l, U^vaugv ? V/X J iuiuu.
rectly concerned would fight l
don't realize that in tfce long
themselves included, that we hz
and marketing our cotton crop.
Graders M
There is another thing: '
established standard grades for
exporters and buyers In every
dollars ont of the pockets of
grading cotton. I myself have
to New York to he delivered 01
the grades given me hv the Ne a
1_A_ - T iL.i ~1 4-1. - 1.
live puixiLS auuve mat ui tut? i\
iville. There must he some la-R
definite and fixed standards oi
the graders must be licensed
accurately. Why, think of the
is bought and sold in the open
lina, and the way it is practic
If you buy 100 bales through
change, and that cotton is
tenders it is not permitted to
grade it; but they have sworn, <
do not know to whom that cott
numbers, and they gTade it witl
ownership. Now, you take it
the grading is done by the p
either got to let him have your
(When he goes to tender It on c<
I doubt exceedingly if there Is
is bought in South Carolina in
i wien the buyer comes to sell- it
\
ake a bountiful crop. Look at this",
at the price of cotton today, with a
largest crop on record, and yet with
above what they were then. Am I
Mountain was the real bloody battle
render of f'ornwallis at Yorktown.
rolina was the largest creditor State,,
re actual money to the cause of inte
in the Union.
tem a Success.
gislature, in its extra session, passed
I was selected to put it in operation,
de of the task and the small means
can today say that it will be a sucrendered
me by Mr Harding, I have
intion of the great financiers of tJbis
aemselves as being satisfied that the
otton into a negotiable form. TV:ere
taining money at the lowest rate of
receipt.
rs in each community to build ware
d then during the fall months, when *
)w a fair profit, to use these receipts
ir debts. If the system can be ex~~
to ti e other States of the South, an
i and a minimum price agreed upon,.
r ever to sell another bale of cotton
f the State Warehouse "Bill had never
ce insurance rates in South Carolina .
ollars to all the people of this State,
the insurance rates than anyfcing
on of the system. There was a disouse
in the country and in a fourthwarehouse
the rate would be $3.50
here there were no water works and
e fire than in the country, the rate
lars. Without going into the details,
all quick to realize the superiority
rarehouse, and they were prompt to
ent. per hundred on cotton in a State
a private or corporate owned waregreat
difficulty that I secured a re>n
the country risk, and also from 25
in State warehouses, and I have no
Ltes on cotton stored in State ware1.
old From Farm to Mill. _ ^\
features connected with the State i
his that has attracted me more tl*an
ienal powers conferred by the last
:hte Commissioner to negotiate loan? J
;i. ruriuuatei/, wita uie MSUWUVO i
satisfactory arrangements so far as i
but the great burden that rests upon
middle-men who net a profit between.
re is a cotton ship now tied up in
owners recently stated under oath
$165,000 and that tte freight on. this
vessel. The cotton was contracted
entj-two cents a pound. The insur)und.
I do not know what was paid
s it was bought early, I guess around
uld leave a net profit of about eight
to the speculators, more than theThree
years ago I saw a Texas paper
lanter in Texas put a note in a bale
envelope, and requested the-->manuwhat
he paid for the cotton at theich
it was converted, and the profits
a a few months a reply came bacfc
s stated that the mill had paid sixtton,
and giving the class of goods
id saying that they expected to make
d dollars on tfte manufacture of the '
bout nine cents?so fce stated dn th? j
it there was seven cents a pound, Jj
went in profits and expenses to six 1
between that farmer and the cotton
is no reason in the wor'd why, witfa,
Dt, as Warehouse Commissioner, sell
i on a plantation In Sontb Carolina
here In the world. We have dally
ffice from every warehouse in the
2sk every morning, tfcat disclose the
grade of each bale and its weight.
Ipstnn and xrc had a conmress in
ities, I could 3ell cotton from every
at one rate of freight by the compress
sed and go direct on board of the
there to the cotton mill in Germany
Br be touched by any one else All
be to see to it that the grades came
in case they fell below, have a buslme
to go back and make reclamation
cotton was sold. If that were done,
:at in time of peace it would add at
ie value of every bale of cotton, and
r in the State of South Carolina to
realize the fact and expect that any
would meet with the most strenuous
le man who is either directly or indl(itterly
a change of that sort. They
run it is best for the entire public,
ive some uniform system of handling
I
ust Be Licensed.
The United States Government has
cotton, and jet every year the cotton
State in the iSonth take millions of
the people by systematically undershipped
cotton from South Carolina
1 contract there, and in one instance
w York Cotton Exchange were sixty>cal
buyers in the town of Bennettsr
passed that will not only adopt tfoe
! the United States Government, but
1 J A ? AA^AII
3.XKI iu t licit wiivm
system of grades upon which cotton
markets in the towns of South Caroed
in the exchanges of this country. ^
the New Orleans or New York Extendered
to you, tf:e man who
grade it; you are not permitted to
disinterested graders and the graders
on belongs. It is carried to them on
iont the slightest knowledge as to its
in Soutlh Carolina, and every bit of
orehager of the cotton. You have
cotton that way, or not sell it at alL.
rntract it is done disinterestedly, and
one bale of cotton out of 1,000 that
tJh e open market -from the lan^tlul*
: to the mill he doesn't make a profit
-