The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-18

The farmer and every otner DOT
rover needs money at a low rate Oh
interest, but this proposal to turn Ihe
United States treasury into loan
and mortgage association is JUST one
of those wildcat schemes OF when the
woods are so full at present and Is
companion picture to the sub-treas-
ury and export duty fads. II farmers
organizations keep ON seriously pro
posing such outrageous remedies for
the improvement of their condition,
much of the sympathy now felt with
the farmers movement will be alien
ated and even their just and reason
able demands may be treated as
chimerical.
ALLIANCE DEMANDS.
While l am opposed to the sub
treasury proposal and some other
schemes promulgated by certain Sec
ton OF the Alliance, l heartily agree
with most of the resolutions and de-
mands made by the District Alliance at
their last meeting in Austin, and par
ticularly with that relating to the en-
ployment of convict labor in the man
ufacture of cotton bagging and the
construction of public works. The
employment of convict labor, 80 as to
avoid competition with honest paid
labor, is difficult problem and may
be incapable of solution; but that
should not be owned till further test
has proved it. There is no doubt that
it it is easier for the State to hire out
it's convicts for railroad or other pur-
poses, but it is not without its draw
BAT ks.
In the older countries all con-
victs are kept within the walls"
or employed on government works,
The question there is not how cheaply
can they be kept but how securely.
A term in penal establishment, say
in England, is not pic mic. The OBJ
ject is to punish and deter. The
former is certainty if the latter Is
problematical. Now if the question OF
cost does not enter into the calcula-'
ton it should not be difficult to find
employment for all our convicts with
in the walls without injuring any ex-
listing industry in the state. True we
have bagsing factory in Texas, but
if all available convicts at Rusk were
employed making bagging there wou d
till be market for the Texas free
labor article. No doubt it would cut
swath in the bagging trust trade,
and that is an additional reason for
the new departure. This is the time
to push the matter before the legisla-
ture, as Superintendent Goree in his
report just issued suggests the:
purchase of another state farm for the
employment of convicts.
AS long as convicts only compete
with farmers there is no complaint
about competition with honest
labor" the farmer is supposed to be
able to hold his own against all oppo-
sitiou, his occupation being 80 easy
and remunelative.
1t is time we had fair deal all
round, and that other industries
should share in the competition which
is said to be the "soul of business"
A big profit is shown on the labor
of our state farm, but an equally big
return might be had from the manu-
facture of goods not now made
in the state. In England con-
vict labor is largely employed
in the manufacture of cocoa
nut fibre mats and mating. These
goods are in daily demand throughout.
the state, but none are manufactured
Here then is one industry that would
not compete with free labor. 1t is to-
be hoped that the committee having
the matter in hand will press it to a
successful issue.
COTTON PLANTING.
This may seem an untimely topic,
but il is one that will bear considera-
ton at any time, and particularly now,
when plans and calculations are being
made for next years crop.
l would like to draw out the expe-
rience of cotton planters in the matter
OF distance at which the rows should
be "laid off" and the intervals between
plants in the row.
l find a great diversity of practice
In this matter some planting ex-
tremely close and Others widely apart.
Which is best to produce the best
result3 Let some practical farmer
give his experience.