The Tupelo journal., 1906-11-16

NOT at all abated, but seems 10 grow
more acute day by day. Not only do
the manufacturing interests feel this
shortage sensibly, but the agricultural
people are also very much in need of
help. All over the State there is a cry
for help to pick the cotton crop and
gather corn blown down by the storm.
1t is freely predicted that a great deal
of cotton will be turned under in the
spring on account of an insufticiency OF
labor to gather it. Then, in looking for
the cause of this, it is well to take into
consideration several causes. We need
more than twice as much labor to OPP
crate the factories and railroads as a few
years ago, the increase along these lines
being phenomenal. The increasing prev
alence of intensified farming is calling
for more men to cultivate the same acre
age with a corresponding increase in pro-
duction and of course more men are
needed for harvesting. This is but the
beginning of an era that will demand In
creased labor and it behooves our people
TO study well the necessities and pro
vide for them. 1t is a well known fact
that there are thousands of able bodied
men in the State who are doing nothing
and have no visible means of support.
They lie around the cities and towns
idling away time and do not turn a 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 a time,
ut least. Force the Migrants to 90 to
work or leave the State and thousands
of them would go 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 assist
ance to those in need of men and willing
to pay handsomely for them. The of
ficers could in a few days furnish a great
many thousand laborcrs If they would
but enforce the law. Then 1t Is our
duty to elect only good, moral and fear
less men to enforce our laws and back
them up with Il strong public sentiment
that will insure their enforcement. Our
own people are responsible for present
conditions and the promise is for much
worse, unless a change is made. Weak
and inefficient men, good fellows out of
a job, immoral wrecks and inebriates,
should not be selected to fill positions of
trust. The perpetuity of our State in
stitutions demand that we select good
men and back them up in the enforce
ment of the law. The present conditions
and impending trouble call for Il careful
study of these matters by our people and
intelligent action.
If you can't say a good word for your
community, don't say anything. just
before knocking slip off somewhere and
go to sleep, or better still. slip off to
some place where You can boost instead
of knock.
Speak well of the community in which
YOU live, or hunt one that is more con-
genial. If your town or neighborhood is
not what it should be, you are just as
much to blame as any other man. IL is
lust what the citizens make it. One of
our bright exchanges has the following
to say along this line, and there is Il
great deal of gospel truth in it, too:
1--WE still nave one or two men in this
community who stand around on the
street corners and from morning until
night complain about the town, their
%neighbors, their taxes and the weather.
Such men are mighty common clay, and
it is fortunate, indeed, that we have so
few of them. They are of no use to
the community, their families or their
God. They seem to live, but no one can
tell how or why. Like mosquitoes and
flies, they are not fatal, but disagreeable
to nave about. 1t is not necessary to
publish their names, for they are too
well known Already
The tale of a watermelon coming from
Jones county is worthy of notice. On
August IA J.. NJ. Lindsey, of Laurel,
picked an SO-pound melon from his vines.
1t was shipped to P~oughkeepsie, N. Y,
by a young gentleman connected with
the NJ, j. & X. c.. railroad, and arrived
there on the goth. The melon was ex-
hiibted on the streets of Poughkeepsie
for a day or so and attracted Il great
deal of attention on account of its enor-
nous size, being the largest ever shown
there. 1t was then placed on cold stort
age until September 26, when it was
placed on exhibition|at the Duchess
tv New York; fair and was admired by
the thousands of visitors who were in at
tendance. 1t was again placed in cold
storage, where it remained until October
.21. when it was taken out and cut. The
melon was in good condition. barring
slight damage from having lain on one
side SO long, and made several meals for
n large family. This is an evidence of
the fact that Mississippi can grow mel
ons as large as the largest, and that they
will keep just as well as those grown in
other States.
Utica recently held a colt show that
was pronounced one of the best things
that ever happened to that section. The
stock exhibited was splendid in every re-
spect and did great credit to the good
people of that community. The show ac-
centuated the fact that Mississippi can
grow Just as good stock as any State in
the Union. and much cheaper than a
great many where the winters are longer
and more feed and attention necessary.
The show will be held next year and
preparations will begin early, insuring
something worth going many miles to
ace. 1t will prove to be worth many
times the initial cost and the people OF
Utica and surrounding country are to
he commended upon their enterprise.