The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-14

d week In every instance. the
greatest diligence to get them on Our mail
ing list.
Business Methods in Cotton Growing
A second interesting communica
lion from the pen of Professor Ulrich
b. Phillips, treating with the subject
Oh the application of business meth
OBS to cotton production in the south
erh states, appears in another col
umn. The discussion which has grown
out of Professor Phillips first paper
In which he pointed to the desrabilty
OF a return to something approximate
Ing the old plantation system, has at
tracted mucn attention not only in the
south but throughout the country. for
the Importance Of the cotton crop as
factor III national trade and national
prosperity is becoming much more
clearly understood at the north than
II ever has been before
Coming at time when the attention
OF the world is drawn to the subject of
the cotton supply by the present high
prices. this present discussion Of the
possible Improvement Of cotton grow
ing methods is most timely Profes-
sor Phillips brings to it not only
knowledge acquired through actual ex-
perience, but the faculty OF the student
and thinker for looking deeply into the
meaning of things He is a Georgian.
a graduate of the State university and
afterwards an instructor there. and is
now member Of the faculty OF the
University of Wisconsin
AS ne explains in his second com
municatiOn. study OF the history Of
this section has shown that economic
conditions and considerations have
played the most important part in
shaping political history. and a real-
.ation Of the importance OF the planta-
ion system as factor in this has led
aim to a study OF the principles under
lying that system and 10 the convic-
ten that iii their adoption. changed to
suit the changed conditions, lies the
hope OF securing the best practical
results III cotton farming
The suggestion OF The CONSTITUTIONS
Houston county correspondent relative
to the lneffcieDcy OF the present labor
supply IS approved by Professor Phil
lips, but he does not consider it de-
sirabie to increase the present labor
supply As We understood hin, the
gentleman from HouIton advanced
the Chinese labor idea rather as Illus
ration Of the efficiency mat such labor
represented rather than as q serious
proposition to bring the Cclestials into
Georgia, for that is not practical: so
there cannot he mucn Of 4 controversy
between him and Professor Phillips
unless 1t is upon the one point OF desir-
ability OF increased acreage. Profess
sor Phillips does not think this a thing
10 be desired. HIS contention Is that
what the southern cotton planter must
consider is not an increase in the guam
tity Of the supply but an increase in
the efficiency of the present corps OF
laborers. thereby decreasing tho cost
OF production and increasing the mar
gin of profits. Ii cotton raising IS or
gained III an efficient system" he
says. cit will stand in no danger OF
having too few laborers. It is the
present haphazard arrangement and
the lack Of individual enterprise that
are responsible for the bachwardness
of the south.
The fact that in every state men Of
enterprise and with the capacity Of
organization have made individual sue
cesses. while others have been able
10 only exc out an existence, serves
as illustration of the truth OF Profes-
sor Phillips contention. The success
full men are operating their properties
in many Instances on the general lines
which he so strongly advocates. But
what he sees is the necessity for the
aDpIicaion OF these methods to
the industry taken as whole,
with view 10 cutting Off the
immense wastefulness Of the methods
which prevail so generally, to decreas-
ing the cost of production. and IN con
sequence increasing the opportunity Of
highly favorable returns without run
ming the risk of building up competi-
tion in other parts of the world.
For that IS clearly possibility, one
that may prove dangerous in the not
Cor future It will not do for the south
ern farmer to assume that monopoly
of this industry is to be his for all
time. The activity OF European gov
ernments IN furthering cotton expert
mants IN their colonies is bound to
bring substantial results somewhere.
Within the past few days we have
heen told OF the success attained in
this line in certain portions Of German
East Africa and Of British West AZ
frca. New lands are daily being
opened up ard brought within the
scene of scientific cultivation. Some
where. some time, Will be found ell
matte conditions favorable to the ex-
tensive cultivation of this staple.
When that time comes, the southern
farmer will be able to meet his new
competitors only by having his indus
trv conducted on the strict business
basis under which the cost of produc-
ton is reduced to the absolute mini
mum In justice to himself he should
lose no time in getting uDon such a