Lord's Daymen

Sirs:

On the first page of the July 22 issue of TIME there is reference to a visit of a delegation of the Lord's Day Alliance of the United States to President Hoover. The following corrections are submitted.

First: There were not eleven "solemn faced churchmen" in the delegation but 17 happy and well-known ministers and laymen; all of them good churchmen and loyal citizens.

Second: Bishop James Cannon Jr. did not head the delegation but attended as President of the Board of Temperance and Social Service of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Third: There were not six speeches, but only two; the principal one by Dr. David G. Wylie, President of the Lord's Day Alliance of the United States, who was followed by Rev. Dr. W. S. Abernethy, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D. C. The General Secretary, Dr. Bowlby, in a few remarks presented to the President printed documents containing the address of former President Coolidge, and other Presidents, on the value of the Christian Sabbath and Sunday. The President thanked the delegation for calling and made a courteous response, but it is the rule of the White House for those received by him not to quote the President, and, of course, we could not violate the rule.

Fourth: Dr. Wylie and Dr. Bowlby did rot call, the following day, to see the President, but went to the White House to see the President's Secretary, Mr. Akerson, to thank him for having arranged the meeting with the President.

DAVID G. WYLIE, President HARRY L. BOWLBY, Gen'l Sec'y

New York City

Best Place To Be Poor

Sirs:

Perhaps you would like to hear the opinion of a Florida Cracker on present conditions in our deflation period.

The boom left us with tremendously increased housing facilities and expanded facilities of all kinds, including a heritage of carpetbagging politicians whom we have unfortunately not as yet assimilated or perhaps canned.

The income from properties averages about 30% of the upkeep. The 60% remainder is about evenly distributed between taxes and interest. About 10% of the whole income goes to various forms of insurance. Inevitably in about 3 years the owner has lost his equity. The reversion of real estate to the banks has made them fail and the politician senses his downfall. Thirty percent of our property is already in the hands of the State. The Mediterranean fly was an excuse to further pauperize the henchmen of the favored politician. We, unless soon relieved of their means of support, shall have an indigent population as fatal to progress as England's "Dole" receivers. If left to ourselves I really believe we can work out these problems. But every worker amongst us is soon discouraged at seeing a truckload of five husky young men drive up to a homestead, two men reach for and pick perhaps one pepper, then the crew and their transportation hunt a tree for shade and well earned rest. I sincerely hope our Senator fails in his mission to get $50,000,000 to increase our troubles. Perhaps Congress will vote him the 0's and not the 5. We who love our State are sticking all the closer. While being poor is no fun, this is the best place in the world to be poor in. We ask for nothing and hope we get what we ask for. JOHN SMITH, M. D.

Daytona Beach, Fla.

South Carolina's Smith

Sirs:

We appreciate your honoring our request for an impartial write-up of Senator Blease of South Carolina (TIME, June 17).

Please furnish your readers with an equally impartial write-up of Senator E. D. Smith, also of South Carolina; how he voted on numerous important bills; how he is regarded by unbiased observers, what, if any, constructive legislation stands to his credit, etc. . . .

R. 0. WHITAKER A. H. WOODLE E. H. BLAKE T. FRANK McCoRD W. L. DANIEL

Greenwood, S. C.

The record of Ellison ("Ipso Facto") DuRant Smith of South Carolina is as follows :

Born: In the Methodist parsonage of Lynchburg, S. C., Aug. 1, 1866.

Start in life: Lawyer turned planter and politician.

Career: He attended Stewart's School, Charleston, the University of South Carolina (one year), Wofford College, Spartanburg, from which he was graduated, and Vanderbilt College which prepared him for the law (though he took no bar examinations). He served four years (1896-1900) in the State House of Representatives. Becoming a cotton planter (today he is the South's biggest planter in Congress) he took a prime part in the organization of the Southern Cotton Association at New Orleans in January 1905. This primitive cooperative he helped promote throughout the South as general field agent. In 1908 he was nominated ("receiving at that time the largest vote ever given for this office in his State") and later elected to the U. S. Senate.

In Congress: He has served continuously in the Senate since March 4, 1909. Only five Senators are senior to him in length of service. He voted for Tax Reduction (1928), Flood Control (1928), the Jones (Five & Ten) Law (1929), the 15 cruiser-construction bill (1929), Farm Relief (1927, 1928, 1929), Radio Control (1928).

He voted against Boulder Dam (1928), Reapportionment (1929).

He votes Dry, drinks Dry, rarely talks Prohibition. Because of a deadlock he, a Democrat, was chosen chairman of the Republican- controlled Senate Interstate Commerce Committee during the 68th Congress (1923-24).

Legislative hobby: Laws against cotton speculation, the boll weevil and Federal crop reports which depress cotton prices. His friends consider him the Senate's "cotton expert." He publicly complained that President Hoover put no "real cotton man" on the Farm Board.

A "homey" man in Washington, he lives with his family in a rented furnished house in a quiet section. His young daughters are "in society," which he shuns. He plays no golf, no cards, no craps. He sings "darkey songs" accompanying himself on the piano. In South Carolina he is a potent fisherman, not with rod and reel but with a bamboo pole and a piece of old string with which, from the swamp-bordered streams of his State, he pulls out many a "red breast." Only an old Negro, son of his father's slave, accompanies him, knows his bait. He is the Senate's most active tobacco chewer. A spittoon, into which he sends two streams of juice every five minutes, sits close to his desk on the Senate floor. Another Smith habit is whittling anything he puts his hands on. In 15 years in the same Senate seat he has cut a hole about an inch square in the arm of his chair. As an orator he is given to long words, not always correctly used, and Latin legalisms (hence his nickname). He often talks With a mouthful of tobacco which gives him a "hot-potato" enunciation. On the Senate floor he is an almost indefatigable speaker, winning many a point by sheer persistence. Second only to Alabama's Heflin is he as a "darkey story" teller. He is a "regular" Southern Democrat in his votes. In the minority, no famed legislation bears his name. His manner is at times brusque and rough. He is not a keen politician. Impartial observers rate him thus: A conscientious and hard-working legislator who has specialized on one line (cotton), lacking brilliance and breadth to make him an outstanding Senate figure. His speech and thought have not kept pace with a changing South. His term expires March 4, 1933--ED.

Richards v. Labor

Sirs: Re: your issue of July 22, p. 11, col. 1. Let TIME in the interest of fair print, publish what Mr. McMahon wired Governor Richards and which fairly invoked the reply received.

Organized labor is the true solution to the problems confronting textile workers, but let them, as well as to those to whom they pay their "dues" remember that they cannot dictate to the people and its constituted officers just what policy shall be adopted in the proper management of industrial disorders and uprisings. Governor Richards has been quite fair and impartial in his dealings with each side to the controversies, and it ill behooves certain factions in trying to picture things differently.

Is it simply a coincidence that at every mill in the two Carolinas where trouble has occurred that the semblance of strikes or disorders have occurred at mills still dominated by "home" interests. L. H. RUFFIN

Greenwood, S. C.

President Thomas F. McMahon of the United Textile Workers of America wired Governor Richards: _ "National executive board United Textile Workers of America in session here today instructs me to say to you that this organization will hold Governor of State as chief police officer personally responsible for safety of our representatives John Peel and Vernon Allen while in your state. According to telegrams reaching us from Representative Peel today his life was threatened by thugs in the employ of textile corporations in Ware Shoals and the local police authorities in that place instead of affording Peel proper protection in the fulfillment of his duties deported him to another part of the State. We insist that the organizers and members of the United Textile Workers of America be adequately protected in the legitimate pursuit of organization activities and demand that South Carolina see to it that the constitutional rights of textile workers are as completely and effectively safeguarded as are the privileges and rights of the manufacturers of the state." Governor Richards wired back: ". . . Impertinent."--ED.

Japan's Plan

Sirs: I beg leave to call your attention to a statement in the July 8 issue of TIME, page 13, column 2 near the bottom of the page: "Japan once planned to annex Hawaii by intensive colonization." I challenge anyone to produce a bit of documentary evidence to prove this statement--or any evidence that would be accepted by the courts of any civilized nation This statement savors of international slander; it is bad etiquette and miserable ethics. To say the least, it is totally unworthy of a magazine that professes the accuracy and other qualities of TIME. EARL W. ROOP

Seattle, Wash.

Reader Roop is unduly alarmed. Japan entertained the plan prior to Hawaii's annexation by the U. S. -- ED.

Mystery Solved

Sirs:

Will you not arrange to cover San Francisco news by means of a correspondent on horseback? This would simplify local news greatly for those of us who haven't a great deal of time to devote to wading through the local press, especially the Call, the staff of which evidently depends upon TIME for Golden Gate Highlights as proved by the enclosed article clipped bodily from TIME. This would give San Franciscans six free evenings a week, daylight savings time. Thanks for solving, partially, at least, the hair-snipping mystery of 1915. Congratulations also upon your Mill Valley fire story. TIME doesn't miss anything. TIME saves time.

G. W. B. WATSON

San Francisco, Calif

San Francisco's Call reprinted the letter of Jack-the-Snipper "A. Y. Cooke" (TIME, June 24).--ED.