The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-31
TENANTS "A FACTOR
In the Reduction of the Cotton Crop
Ct the South, South
And They Must Be Brought Into Line
if the Movement Is to Be
Made Success.

Made . Success.
In seeking to wheel into line all the
cotton producers, the tenants must
not be overlooked. There are two
classes Of tenants-cash tenants and
share tenants. The distinction is, OF
course, understood by everybody.
The cash tenants are on q footing
with the land.ownlng cotton produc-
ers, that is, they plant what they
please; they cannot be dictated to by
the landlord; they must be appealed
TO just as you would appeal to the
men from whom they rent
Share tenants sustain q relation.
ship to the landlord exactly tho re-
verse of cash tenants. The landlord
can prescribe the acreage which such
tenants shall plant In cotton, corn,
etc. Usually, he makes no require.
ment, except as to cotton. He con.
tents hin9elfs with fixing the mini
mum production.
In the crisis now upon the South,
this order must be changed. A limit
must be set for share tenants. This
is absolutely necessary for the reason
that they produce considerable por-
tion of the crop.
For example: According to the
first cotton estimate sent out by the
government, the eight strictly cotton
states produced In 1904, 11,O35, 200
bales. II is matter OF interest and
importance to know the factorship Of
share tenants in the aggregate. In
order to compass this situation, we
must know the ground.
Alabama has 223,22O farms, AZ. 3
per cent. Of which is cultivated
by their owners, 1913 per cent. by
cash tcants, and 244 per cent. by
share tenants.
Arkansas has 178694 farms, 81.
per cent. Of which are cultivated by
their owners, 1873 per cent. by cash
tenants. and 30.1 per cent. by
share tenants.n
Georgia iJas 224 69l farms 40. per
cent or which axe cultivated by their
owners, 262 per cent by ASH tenants,
and 33.7 per cent. by share tenants.
LOUISIANA has lis 969 farms OF
| which AZ. per cent. arc cultivated bv
their owneIs. 249 per cent. by cash
tenants, and 33 per cent. by share
tenan's.
Mi>sisss ppl has 22O, 800 farms, 81 Q
per cent Of which are cultivated by
their owners, 80 pr cent. by cash
tenants, and 80 per cent. by share
tenants.
N"rth Carolira has 224 637 farms
50 per cent. OF which are ~ tivated
by their owueTs, 8 8 per cent. by cash
tenants, an7 32 by share tenants.
South Carolina has 155 355 farms,
80 GER cent OF which are cultivated
by their owners, SO per cant. by
cash tenants, and "a 3 by share ten
ants.
Texas has 352 100 farms, so 3 per
cent. Of whic are cultivated oy their
owners, by casa tenants, and ~. 4
oy share tenants
Than FOREGOING table, there Is
not one which relates TO the south
that has so much TO do with the dc.
gree OF prosperity which shall crown
her efforts 1t is table that should
be pasted In the bat OF every man
who goes out to speak to the masses
on the great theme which is today
at the forefront In the minds of
thinking people everywhere.
For the purpose Of showing the part
played by owners, cash tenants and
snare tenants in cotton production,
we take the crop OF 1904. The re
suits IN few states will be sufficient
for the object IN view:
Alabama: Bales proiuced by own
nf
ants, 425,000; by share tenants, 3l2.-
600.
Georgia: Bales produced by owners,
OF farms, 100000; by cash tenants,
463 900, by share tenants, 594, 900.
North Carolina: Bales produced by
owners of farms, 375, 900; by cash
tenants, 81 200; by share tenants 1885,.
900.
South Carolina: Bales produced by
owners Of farms, 357 900; by cash
tenants, $4,000; by share tenants,
27O 600.
Texas: Bales produced by owners
of farms, 1,5Q5 900; by cash tenants,
2lo, i37; BY share tenants, 1,26o 900.
The sum OF it is that share tenants
produce "a per cent OF the cotton of
the i've states just named.
these tenants must be brought in-
to line. Bat the landlord, in requir-
Ing a reduction Of cotton acreage,
should make some concessions in the
matter OF rent. To cut acreage
NEAR much to share tenants, for they
plant 10 TO 80 per cent instead OF the
Traditional and customary e21 per
cent Of their land in cotton The pro
posed reduction In the quantity Of
fertil z.rs used will not disturb them
in the least; they make the reduction
at the very outset. Cost of produc-
tiOn does not cause them loss Of
sleep.
While the landlords are getting the
share tenants into line on cotton
acreage. their intere ti demand that
they look to the matter of larger
quantity OF fertilizers per acre under
corn aud other supply crops. II this
be done, Lie result will be @ revela-
tion to share tenants
Landlords will protect their own
by saving their land from utter ex-
haustion, II they will see t. it, in cut
ting cottol acreage, that they make
it so deep as 10 authorize and require
heavier fertilization OF each acre With
a view to profit and to the betterment
OF the land. This can be done ard
yet Conform to the New Orleans sug-
gestiOn.
For the lands sake do this.
No argument is needed to prove
thc practicuincss OF the policy and
prlClice ur.,ei In The flreI ning pnra.