The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-08-23

been my privilege 10 NlSiI ulhel e"
parts of Georgia where Mr.. 9. ii. Jor-
dan mas undertaken to establish farm
ers' institutes, and / have made use Of
the opportunity to learn more OF the
condition and disposition of the farm
ers and their relations with the towns
people.
From reading numerous letters l
had learned that they were facing a
complex and difficult problem, which
the average townsman does not under~
stand or appreciate, In going about
among them find a grim determines
rion to light to the last ditch with
hard conditions and to meet unfavora-
HE seasons and shrunken prices with
more strenuous efforts and seVerer
economy.
Among the humber portion of the
farm population you can see heroes IN
ragged clothes strAining every muscle,
not in the hope of making money but
with the desperate determination to
nav the debt which has accumulated
In three disas trous years. They, with
their wives and children. are undergo
inc self.denial which Is most cruel.
/ believe that in the making of this
crOp there is more heroism than there
was in the war with Spain. There Is
no blare of trumpets, there are no VS.
ions of glory, no blazing newspaper
headlines beralding their valor, but 1t
is DIG and pillow and sweat from pure
devotion to duty.
This Is the kind Of stuff the farmers
are made Of. Theirs is the same spirit
that rebuilt Atlanta after its baptism
OF fire. 1t is the spirit with which the
war>Worn veterans of the lost cause
came home to rebuild their desolate
homes and reconstruct a country Iald
waste by fire and sword.
There was a time when these people
were at loggerheads with the towns,
but nauseated by the demagogues'
spleen and having tasted the bitter
fruit of class antagonism, they Wel>
come friendly interest and intelligent,
sympathetic counsel FROM any reputa-
BILE source.
still, like Job. they have no patience
with phari saicaI cOmfOrters, whose
sympathy offers nothing but condem-
nation.
The time is ripe and the opportunity
Is golden for cooperation between
town and country. The great need Of
the farmers Is more money crops.
They have tried many things, but talI
back to cotton because 1t brings the
cash.
1t is IN the power OF the townspeople
10 make corn cash crop, as 1T is IN the
west. a system of elevators or ware.
houses to gather it in detail, classify
1t, and handle it in bulk, Is Imperative
~ needed.
Georgia corn is now refused by the
merchant who buys it from the west.
There are other articles which can
be made marketable by better un-
Outstanding aud mutual help between
merchant and farmer.
With this should come the cn>opera-
tion of the towns in making better
roads and better schools, and there
should be more social intercourse be-
tween town and country. 1t Will I'M
prove the minds and brighten the
lives of both, and Will be a wonderful
help in their business relations.
The restoration of good feeling be-
tween north and south Is happy con
summation for the whole country. but
the happiest thing that can happen Tor
the people of the south will be the re
moyal of prejudice and the restoration
of good feeling and friendly co-opera
tiCn between town and country. 1t
will bring prosperity more substantial
xhan any We have dreamed OF. Agrl-
culture will be established on strong
er and better basis, and manufactures
will find home market of largely IN
creased purchasing power. rms In
turn will improve the demand Tor farm
products.
Social relations and opportunities
will be enlarged, the sympathles OF our
Deople will be broader, associations
will be more stimulating and life Will
be upon higher and more generous
plane for both urban and rural ele-
ments The>toWnS, which must al
WAYS recruit themselves with new
blood from tie country, will tind the
supply improved, and the country VILE
be inyigorated by coming into closer
contact with the electric snap OF the
town.
General Toombs said, "Ninety per
cent. of war Is business" That is true,
and ninety per cent. of farming Is
business.
But it is not all of life to vegerate.
Bread and meat are small part OF
happy life. Farming Is the support,
but not the whole existence of the
farmer. He and his wife and children
are as much social beings as their city
cousins, and it is a misfortune that
they do not associate together more.
1t is because they knew each other less
that they have in the past liked each