The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-24
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John C. Edgar Duval, to whom all
communications should be addressed.
THAT CoLoRED STRIKE.

Edited by John C. Edgar, Duval, to whom al
communications should be addressed
! THAT COLORED STRIKE.
, This is an age of invention and imi
, tation. Man is an initiative ANNA
and the colored specimen of the genus
homo, heads the procession. There is
nothing performed by the white man
: TOO bold for his colored brother to at
tempt. This trait in the Ethiopian
character is now being Illustrated by
the attempt to regulate the price of
cotton picking-a la Knights of Labor
Sambo cannot see any reason why
he should not enjoy the luxury Of a
strike, and there isn't any. Provi-
dence and other operating influences,
have made him free citizen of free
country, and it is his privilege to
work or let it alone, just as he pleases.
Whether his present action is con-
ducive to his welfare or the contrary,
is strictly his business, and he should
be allowed to attend to it. If he thinks
his services as a cotton picker are
worth 81 per hundred, he has right
to demand that sum and refuse DO
work for less. But on the other hand
the cotton planter, who is an impor-
tant factor in the case, has an equal
right to accept or reject Sambo's
terms. If the latter cannot get his
cotton picked for less that 81 he must
pay it or allow it to go ungathered.
The old fashioned, and always on
time, law of supply and demand will
quickly settle the matter.
To blind man in dark cellar, it
looks like a piece of blamed foolish
ness for black or any other men to
strike for increased pay at such time
in such season.
In this section so cents hundred
has been paid since the season open
ed, and fully twO-thirds of the crop
has been harvested, and / have for
the first time in several years had
pickers coming aud asking for work
at that figure. AS the crop is admit
teddy short over the whole cotton
belt, and the laborers more than equal
to the harvest, the promoters of this
strike fake should be handed over to
the foolkiller or prevented from work.
ing further mischief on their ignorant
followers by long term in the peni-
Tertiary.
No doubt it would be very pleas
ant thing for the colored cotton pick
Ell to make enough dollars in three
months to keep him in affiuence and |
ease for the following nine, but there
are many obstacles in the way of that |
being realized, and he had better, as
soon as "the striken is ended, look |
around for some other means of liv-
ing without work.
REsTLEssNESS ON THE FARM.
One potent reason for many failures
On the farm is the spirit of unrest in
Jhe bosom of the farmer. He has
bought the farm not so much with the
dea of making it a permanent home
II which to live and die, as for specu-
alton. 1t is not an eXtravagent state
nent to say that so per cent of the
armers of Texas would be quite will
ng to sell their farms and everything
hereon and clear out on twenty-four
hours notice for consideration. They
10 not possess the home instinct and
lave no attachment to one piece of
iOd's earth more than another. This
wandering, restless spirit has the
anne effect on the farmer as on the +
Sedouin of the Sahara, whose home i
) wherever he happens to be. i
'either have any ambition to build !
ONE, and consequently put forth no |
fort to improve the Surroundings. !
he farms of such men tell more n
lainly than language the weakness of a
leir owners. The dwelling house is &
Weeds and rubbish usurp the place r
shrubs and flowers in the front
ard, the fences are down, the barns q
nd stable are conspicuous by their q
bsence or fast approaching the last o.
age of decay. +.
Cookie burrs have waged successes g
Il war with the corn and the few n
uit trees that have survived the O.
orns of fence breaking cattle, stretch
1t their scraggy limbs in
lent but eloquent protest against
lch infamous treatment. The reverse s,
these conditions will be found to
'evail on the farm of the man who 81
ent there to stay. He wanted ~
,me and set to work to build up L.
worthy of the name. tt
| do not mean to imply that a man ie
ould never move from the spot he ~
opens to live on. That would be
but what 1 do protest g
ainst is this changing about from W
ace to place from no other cause M
an love of change and fancied u
oft. L say "fancied profit" for any %
ght increase in price over first cost OF
farm may mean many things III
her than profit. re
\ very little reflection will confirm Gh
3 truth of this assertion. 1t is ll'
possible to get the best results from
soil when it is mauled and butch
ID about, without regard to the
aracter of it's constituents or crops
1T have been raised thereon. The no
gratory farmer never applies man f.,
or in any way seeks to increase the Il,
tility of the soil. He never plants WI