The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-07
La Dor and the Cotton Crop.


Labor and the Cotton Crop.
The labor problem in its relation
snip to the production of cotton is
interestingly discussed in various
phases in three articles which are
brought to the attention of The Con
stltutlon'S readers today.
In the forthcoming issue of The
American Monthly Review of Reviews
MI. Richard H. Edmonds, editor of
The Manufacturers Record, than
whom there is no better informed stu
dent of southern business conditions,
discusses THE Cotton Crop of To
DAY, some extracts from which. TAX
en- from the advance sheets, are pre-
scented in another column. Mr.. Ed
monds shows among other things that
the negro has become with each sue
ceedlng year less important factor
In the production of cotton, the amount
raised by negro labor in proportion to
the whole crop being steadily on the
decline.
Mr.. D. A Tompkins OF North Caro-
lima. is quoted in a recent publication
as arguing that the greatest decrease
in the amount of available farm labor
In North Carolina and other southern
states is the result of the whites going
from the fields TO work in the cotton
mills which have, in late years. so in
creased in number and capacity.
A prominent and successful farmer
of Houston county. man known 10
us and for whose business capacity
and good sense We take pleasure in
vOuching, sends a communication
bearing upon this general subject OF
farm labor. brought out by his APP
prevail OF an article previously pub
lished and which has attracted much
attention, in which the writer took the
position that the hope of agricultural
development in the south depends
upon a return TO something like the
old plantation system prevailing be-
fore the war-thc application OF real
business methods to cotton farming
on large scale.
The trend of the argument Of each
of these writer's is toward the conclu-
sion that a betterment of labor con
ditions in the agricultural regions OF
he southern states must be the first
step toward the development OF the
cotton growing industry, and the grow
ing of other southern staple crops, TO
anything like its highest capacity. Mr..
Tompkins, who is a close student OF
the cotton situation. makes the rather
startling announcement that III North
Carolina alone nearly $4,000 people
have left farms TO go into cotton mills
and other new manufacturing plants.
Fifty thousand more have LETT farms
10 go into other factories such as cot
ton seed oil mills, saw mills, furniture
factories" and others. Most OF the
other cotton states have ne thinks,
experienced similar change This
retirement OF labor from the cotton
farms TO go into manufacturing pur-
suits is. he thinks one of the TWO in
fuences which cooperate TO make the
present high price OF cotton, he other
being the extended trade in cotton
goods which was made when cotton
was low. In this new situation"
writes Mr.. T0mphins. the production
of cotton in the southern states of the
American union has become a very at
tractive proposition. The new condi-
ton makes the south fine held Tor
the European emigrant. The further
development of cotton production
would seem 10 be contingent on find
ing a new element TO take the place
of those who have left the farm for
The factory. With cotton at 10 cents
a pound and above Che thinks the
present high price is bound TO prevail
for several years, at least) and with
increasing factory populations making
cash markets for perishable farm
pr0ducts. the south is by far the most
attractive part of the United States
for TIA: class of European immigra
tion. which is made up of farmers.
who are coming 10 this country TO ben
eft their condition.
The Constitutions Houston county
correspondent gives an interesting
example of the possibilities OF greater
cotton production gathered from his
own experience He says that but for
the labor conditions surrounding him
he could easily produce this year q
! 0OO-bale crop from the plantations on
which he now gets 800 bales. and he
believes that the same relative in
crease might be brought about
throughout the greater part of the
couth. In this connection he pictures
The possibilities were the southern
nJanters able to secure the services
If a class Of laborers like the Chinese,
for whose thrift and industry and ca
nacitv as agricultural IaDorers he evil
IDENTIFY has the highest admiration.
He does not treat of the Chinaman as
he;ng possible of requirement under
,ba existing immigration laws; but he
rses him as an illustration Of the sort
NJ labor we ought to have, and to
oronhasize by comparison the incapac-
itv of the present labor as now han
died.
These varying opinions upon a sub
;ect of so great interest to all south
orners serve to draw attention pri-
marjIv to the great possibilities of the
dovelopment of the cotton industry
and of the south as a whole One way
~ another. the business of the produc-
zion of raw cotton will be placed upon
the game substantial basis that char