The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-09-07
Motto: NE that ploweth shou Id plow in hope

the farmers now encountered by debt
of much magnitude ever pay their in
debtedness, and certainly not under
existing conditions, that is with the
luxurious taste, extravagant habits and
want of attention to business and
neglect of the use of brains il their
business. As things are ruled down
by stringent times and lowered prices,
the more brain work man must do,
as brute force will not win bat wear
its possesser out in vain efforts. There
is in the main as much profit now in
cotton as formerly, the only difference
being that the farmer has now to make
it on less or lose his own money in
stead of the other fellows, which gen.
orally he has only procured Oh his own
responsibility, Numbering himself for
it, to let out to irresponsible labor who
get the benefit and owe him for it and
will never pay it. Deduct the present
Indebtedness from the gross incomes of
tile cotton crops for the last ten years
and we doubt if any man has made a
dollar out of cotton. We are but meet
ing the conditions Of all countries as
they grow old, and affairs settle by tn :
stern logic of events and facts to the
same business results of the rest Of the
world, involving survival of the fit
test by economy and business methods
upon strict business principles The
area now in cotton reduced by being
put into other crops that will insure
abundance of food stuff for man and
beast whereby the farmer will not
only live entirely at home free and in
dependent of all credit but have also
enough of these things to sell, will in
sure his cotton surplus crop, and he
will be able to to purchase more cotton
goods, as will also his laborers, all of
whom need and will buy when BILE.
This will increase consumption and
prices will rule higher and the farming
element start off on an enduring basis.
1he progress will necessarily be slow
but none the less sure, and debts can
be gradually paid off. We, in the
meantime will live better and leave
our children in better circumstances.
One amongst the greatest impede
ments to the welfare of the farmer in
this section is the want of absolute
cuntrol of labor. Necessity only is
law of compulsion, remove this and
most of mankind are not sufficiently
influenced by the desire of acquisition
to labor. Necessity for labor in re-
numerative sense to the farmer and as
q fair reward TO the negro has been re-
moved by both the farmer and the
merchant. The farmer rents his land
and the merchant furnishes the sup
plies, or the farmer works on shares
and let's the labor consume more than
it pays for or deserves according to the
service. In either event the negro
labors only about one third of the time
and the farmer pays for it in rundown
land, fences, premises and stock, and l
country can prosper under such condi- {
lions. The only wonder is we have '
not touched bottom sooner. The only {
remedy for all this is for the farmer to G
rent no lands If possible, but hire all c
his labor by the year at proper figures, c
say SO many dollars per month, as cot t
ton is worth in cents per pound, and 7
agree to pay at the end of the year d
when the crop is gathered, giving +
during the year only such an amount n
as is convenient, and if the labor for p
feits its contract, except for just cause, p
let it forfeit its pay. 1t car be had on f
these terms for everv one NOW has as b
many as they can handle on the re- o
ouced area they can afford to CROP il
The negro is the best labor we have b
ever or will ever have for our long hot "
summers and peculiar habits and crops. n
1t is not his fault that things are what d
they are he has simply availed himself y
of his opportunity, but he has had a
his golden time, and the finger of des- a
tiny paints to hfs reduction to ranks as N
a Iaborer, who does days labor is
for a days pay. Able-bodied, labor d
working one, hired of its time, fed, e,
and promeDading the pbblic it
in fine shoef and the fat O
of the land is thing of the past. a,
must do more work, and if e,
the the white man don't make the ri