The Atlanta constitution., 1903-09-14
PLANTATION SYSTEM
IS STRONGL Y FAVORED

Editor Constitution: The discussion OF
southern labor conditions In your col
urnns and elsewhere IL so fully answeria,
the hope which led me to publish my
recent article upon the economies of the
plantation. that I shall ask space in YOUR
pages to carry the discussion still further
AS a foreward, let me describe the man
ner of my own introduction to the planta-
ton problem. Since completing my work
upon Georgia and State Rights" which
was published some months ago, ! have
embarked upon study of the history of
the south as whole. A short investisa-
ton has shown me that the political his
tory of our section has baen dominated in
nearly every instance by economic condi-
tions and considerations; and it is easy to
see that when an adequate history comes
TO be written of the south, or of the
whole United States indeed it must treat
southern developments largely with an
economic Interpretation.
In American history as heretofore writ
ten. the actuating cause In every southern
development has been said to be slavery,
siavery-aiways slavery. But that view Is
wrong. The customs, the unique cviliza-
tion and the history of the south have re-
suited from several intcracting influences,
and not from any one alone. The influ-
ences have been: l. The inheritance of the
people. |. e., the English language and
Institutions. and English and Scotch-Irish
customs and habits of thought. ?. The
soil and climate of the south, which were
found to be peculiarly adapted to the
great agricultural staples. g. The presence
of negroes in large numbers in the popula-
-tk. .yt.,,,
known ii. ghe preceding nletory of the
world. 4. The institution of slavery in its
patriarchal form. s. The plantation sys
TEN, which evolved because of the condi-
tcns above enumerated. and which acted
as a conservator of all the customs and
Institutions of the south.
Slavery has received far more than its
just share of attention. The plantation
system has been largely ignored, and III
consequence the moving forces behind the
superficial developments in o. history
have been largely misinterpreted. | have
set myself the agreeable task of study
ing, and, ] trust, comprehendinS, the
plantation system in its origin, its several
forms and its various Influences. | have
given attention to the subject in my lee
lures in the University of Wisconsin ana
in the summer school of the SOUTH at
Knoxville, and [ have set several of my
advanced students to work investigating
topics in the field Of ante-bellum south IN
Industry and commerce. I am studying
these questions chiefly in their historical
form; bat their practical, twentieth cen
tuy phases are of even greater i'm
portance. There are Il multitude of think
ing men in the south whose information
and ideas will prove most valuable if put
upon record where they may be used by
other thinkers.
T'he gentleman from Houston county. In
The Constitution of September !. shows
himself a strong thinker. and strikes at
once the crucial point of the problem-the
inofticiency of the present labor supply
But must take issue with him upon his
plan Tor importing Chinese labor. Our
great need is not for more aborers. but
for more efficient laborers or for some
system Of management which will neutra!
ze their ineficency in some degree.
Should We treble the total number az
cotton field hands and treble the the total
output. the price Of cotton would at once
drop nearly to the vanishing point. and a
psn,c of uneXampled rigor would over
throw the whole scheme. The prospect of
betterment is through increasing the eff
cheney of the present corps of lahorers and
thereby decrea sing the cost Of production
and increasing the margin of profit Any
additional force Of laborers which the cot
ton belt may secure must be turned, for
the present at least, into occupations
other than cotton raising
1t is true that Georgia has millions OF
acres now lying idle, which should be
productive. But the remedy does not lie
in Inc cotton plant We raise enough cot
ton as it is, and every acre and every
laborer in the south profitably devoted to
peach orchards or hay crops or coal mines
Or cotton factories is an absolute gain for
tho south
Taking it year in and year ous raw cot
ton is sure to have enough iand and labor
devoted to its production. Industries
compete with one another. and they So
cure attention in proportion to their
Efficient demand. Raw cotton IS now per-
haps little short of lAborers because
for years the price has been so low that
labcr vas driven from it into other lines.
High prices for year or two will set the
p,ow IN the opposite direction III truth,
there is a constant tendency and a con-