Speech #610060210

In 1905 the legislature of Florida again memorialized Congress. as follows: Memorial 2. Memorial to the Congress of the United States asking that a duty of at least 10 cents per pound be levied on all importations of Egyptian and other longstaple cotton brought into the United States as raw material. Whereas the present price of longstaple or seaisland cotton is below the standard of profitable production and has so been for some years past. causing a large area of our State to be uncultivated and our farming interests to languish. and Whereas the policy of protection to American interests. if to be continned. should embrace within its fostering care the tillers of the soil. who are now and must ever be the mainstay of our republican form of government . and -3887 Whereas tile longstaple or seaisland cotton grown In this country Is used elusively in the manufacture of the finer fabrics. such as laces. etc.. and a duty upon the Egyptian cotton and other foren longstaple cottons would therefore be no burden upon the poor. but would only affect those well able to bear it. and at the same time would greatly encourage a large po.rtion of our farming population. and Whereas we believe that the levy of such a duty would materially aid In building up our factories engaged In the manufacture of the finer cotton fabrics. while at the same time protecting our farmers from the pauper labor of Egypt: Therefore be It ecsolved. That it is the sense of this legislature that a duty of 10 cents per pound on all Egyptian and other longstaple cottons imported into the United States should be levied by Congress. Resolved further.