Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-05-22

1.-THE passive factor OF production, has
compelled one man to work the land
from which two men lived; and hen ce
the land must suffer; but in the south
where the dregs of manlordism COM
plicate the problem OF landlordism,
the more woefully vase is the soil.
Your correspondent was guest of
his own State, and went to assist the
Illinois commission Il locating the
position OF Illinois regiments during
the siege, and marking them in the
National Park, now laid out there.
Among the members OF the national
commission was Gen. Stephen d. Lee,
who had a command in Vicksburg
while we were besieging it. found
him pleasant gentleman and a typi-
cal southerner, who freely expressed
himself and hoped for the best, but
whom, | fear, did not fully apprehend
the seriousness of the situation there.
For that matter few do here, and party
politics seem to be getting into a
rather chaotic state. The acknow-
lodged barbarity OF our soldiers in the
Philippines and the antics at home, OF
what is called the beef trust, has
caused many to stop and think; and
many are thinking clear out OF politi-
cal trace chains. Large farms here
about have been concentrated into one
holding, or into one mans name, dur
ing the past year, and still the process
goes on. Morgan is considered agri-
culturally one of the richest counties
in the State, but a majority of its
| farmers are rack-rented tenants and
the proportion of renters constantly
increasing. Very largely the Lords
live in town, and full account of their
exactions last year would hardly make
good Sunday reading. If we miss the
drouth this year, some of the more ex-
acting will have chance to recoup.
1t seemed novel to come back from
the bright flowers and sunshine of the
south to the clouds and chilly winds
here. At Vicksburg we were pre-.
sented with bouquets of roses and other
sweet scented reminders of that sunny
cline, but the morning we got to
Chicago there was frost on the ground.
At the entertainment given by the
Board of Trade there was a gay table
of punch aud weetmaats, and it struck
me what contrast between this and
my entertainment in Vicksburg nearly
80 years before, when bruised and
wounded, | was "guest" of the G. S.
A. The pretty vlands did not taste sc
good now, as did the mule steak and
cup of confederate coffee, that ar
officer sent up to me, did then; MOI
even so good as the bit of corn mea
and pea bread with scrap of mag
gotty bacon, that made our breakfast
or the three quarts of rice one day and
niger beans the next, with one spoor
tor seven men. Now | was satiatet
with the best hotel fare; then oul
coarse, scant fare was seasoned like the
Spartain's black broth-with hunger
now I was only one in crowd receiv
ing formal compliments with them
thenI was visited by the Confederate
officers every day, and the recipient o
such compliments as a young soldier
would most highly prize, not only il
words, but in deeds. | asked to bt
sent to jail with five OF my men, foul
OF whom were wounded, but Genera
Pemberton said, if agreeable TO myself
he would send the men up to my room
in the courthouse; and he not only die
that, but sent the only other Illinois
soldier he had in jail up with them
Even my sword and pistol we're sen
to my room, and our guards were al
kindly and attentive as though the.
were my own soldiers. When thu
General asked me questions that
thought improper for me to answer,
reminded him that | was soldier
and he promptly and courteousl.
apologized for asking them.
Then looked at the punch and com
forts, and thought of what the Cover
nor of North Carolina said the Cover
nor OF South Carolina: "What a long
time between drinks"
VIM. CANlM.
Alexander, Ills, May 5, 1902.
No Loss of Time.