The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-11-15

: The dgarth of labor in Mississippi
Is, Eot all abated but seems to grow
acute day by day, Not only do the
manufacturing Interests feel this short
age sensielS, but the agricultural peo-
pie aEe also very much in need of
help. All over the state there is cry
for help to pick the cotton crop and
gather corn blown down by the storm
IL is freely predicted that great deal
of cotton will be turned under IN the
Sering on account of an insufficiency Of
labor to gather it. Then in looking for
the cause of this it is we'll to take into
consideration several causes. We need
more than twice as much labor to
operate the factories and railroads as
. few years ago, the increase along
these lines being phenomenal. The in
'creasing prevalence Of intensified
farming is calling FOR more men to
cultivate the same acreage with
corresponding increase in production
and of, course more men are needed
FOR harvesting. This is but the begin
ming Of an era that will demand in
Screased labor and it behooves our peo-
pile to study we'll the necessities and
provide Cor them. It is well known
Fact that there are thousands of able
bodied men in the state who are do
ing nothing and have no visible means
of support. They lie around the cities
ard town idling away time and do not
turn hand to work Of any character.
If the county and municipal officers
of the State would strictly enforce the
Vagrancy law on our statute books
The stringency in labor conditions
would be relieved for time at least.
Force the vagrants to go to work OF
leave the State and thousands Of them
would ge TO work while some would
seek more congenial fields. We would
be rid of an element that carries
danger with it as we'll as be Of as
sistance to those in need of men and
willing to pay handsomely for them.
The officers could in few days fur
nish great many thousand laborers
if they would enforce the law. Then
it is our duty 10 elect only good,
moral and fearless men to enforce
our lawsfa back them up with a
strong public sentiment that will in
sppe their enforcement. Our own peo-
pie are responsible for present cou-
ditions and the promise is for much
worse unless a change is made. Weak
land inefficient men, good fellows out
of a job, immoral wrecks and inc
ibriates should not be selected to fill
Spositions of trust. The perpetuity Of
our state institutions demand that
we select good men and back them
up in the enforcement of the law.
}The present conditions and impending
trouble calls for a careful study of
these matters by our people and in
telligent action.
The tale Of q watermelon coming
from Jones county is worthy Of no.
tice. On August 14th, j. NJ Lindsey,
of Laurel, picked an so pound melon
from his vines. 1t was shipped to
SPoughkeepsie, N. Y, by young gen
7tleman connected with the M. J. & X.
&c. railroad and arrived there on the
I20th. The melon was exhibited on the
streets of Poughkeepsie for day or
so and attracted great deal Of at
Sention on account Of its enormous
size, being the largest ever shown
there. 1t was then placed on cold
storage until Sept. 26th, when it was
placed on exhibition at the Duchess
county, N. Y, fair and was admired
by the thousands Of visitors who were
in attendance. It was again placed i'll
cold storage where it remained until
October 21st, when it was taken out
and cut The melon was in good con-
dition, barring slight damage from
having lain on one side so long, and
made several meals for a large fami-
ly. This is an evidence of the fact
that Mississippi can grow melons as
large as the largest and that they
will keep just as well as those grown
lin other states.
i Utica recently held a colt show
that was pronounced one of the best
things that ever happened to that Sec
ton. The stock exhibited was splen-
did in every respect and done great
credit to the good people Of thai
community. The show accentuated the
fact that Mississippi can grow just
as good stock as any state in the
Union and much cheaper than great
many where the winters are longer
and more feed and attention neces-
.sary. The show will be held next year
and preparations will begin early, in
suring something worth going many
miles to see. 1t will prove to be worth
many times the initial cost and the
people of Utica and surrounding coun
try are to be commended upon their
enterprise.
The Department Of Agriculture and
Commerce was represented at the
Fair last week by booth in charge
of D. G. Haley, clerk to the commits