The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-11
LEADING EDITORIALS,
From the Savannah News.
WHAT THE The Tradesmsn Of
SOUTH NEEDS. Chattanooga invited

| Aicui tAc savannah sNtNH
WHAT THE The Tradesmsn Of
| SOUTH NEEDS Chattanooga invited q
| number of the nroIni-
nent and successful men Of the South, In
all lines OF endeavor. 10 express themselves
| in short papers with regard to the progress
| the section has made In material develop
nent, and as to what is needed 20 st,mu-
late such development. The papers appear
In the Trademarks annual, Just out.
The unanimity with which the writers
agree that the South must work out her
own destiny IL striking. II Is pointed out.
and argued from numerous incidents, that
1t is best for the country and the people
that Southerners should develop their own
country. 1t may be urged that the South
has not the Necessary capital. Mr.. Thomas
q. watkins, OF the Louisville Courier
Journal. declares that is only partly true.
There is enough capital usually to create
the credit. which Will answer the purpose.
MI. X. ii. Johnston. editor OF The Houston
'ieaasl Post. draws attention TO the fact
that there are capitalists in the South. as
well as elsewhere and observes that thew
have been very slow to take advantage OF
the opportunities a. their very doors It
seems hard for some Southern psople--
inoneyed men--to get out of the idea that
the South is not good for anything but to
raise cotton. IL the South would use her
available capital and credit for her own de-
Veiopment. instead OF dabbling In futures
on the exchanges of the North or buying
Doom town lots in the West. she would not
need TO 20 begging to secure money for
southern enterprises.
diversified farming Is strongly urged by
nearly ell OF the writer's. Whether farm
ing In the South can be made profitable is
answered by Mr.. Watkins OF Kentucky.
He tells OF "a farmer in a not particularly
fertile section who supported his family
IN good style last wear. improved his Mace
OF goo acres and laid mp $ll6O cash in the
bank He employed but one hand. and
says he did not DO any particularly hard
work himself nor did he raise any fancy
crops. Another farmer began on nothing
ten years ago, and has paid for his farm
and laid up bank account Of 5000 since
mat time and he says be has done nothing
more than any other man could do 1t
Is probable that neither of the farmers
whose successes are here recorded bothers
himself much about politics.
The postiferous political agiiator gets
shot from nearly every writer In the
TraGesman's annual MFR Matthews of
the Macon Telegraph draws attention to
the fact that enc effect of tho recen, po-
lltical agitation has been 10 ALLEVIATE the
country from the town and create hos
elections there is too much law making |
and too little law enforcing. Campaigns |
aud legislating keep businesses of all
kinds in state Of suspense and doubt |
There should be a period nj rest from at
tending 70 every hody's business which |
should be devoted 10 attending to ones |
own business.
The building OF good roads is urged as
bong Of greatest importance. Along this |
lines the South has done very little. though !
1t has been shown that elsewhere values |
OF farming lands and profits from farming |
increases greatly when the highways are
made good
To sum UP. the cDnrensus Of opinion |
seems to be that the first needs Of the |
South are self confidence and self help. |
diversified crops. less Of politics. stringent |
Of law. and good roads. lIav-
ing these. the other things To be desired |
would come along almost Of their own ac-
cord.