The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-27

value Of cotton. I may safely say,
through all coming time, against all
possible competition as a source of sup
ply for the commerce of the world, and
for consumption in countries where cot
ton cannot be produced.
Now the general result of the situa-
ton I have attempted to describe. with
very imperfect success. is the vital OBJ
ject to which | wish to draw your at
tention. l can only present outline sug-
gestions for your examination and deeper
reflection as instructors and leaders of
public thought and action.
All Closely independent.
'Such a people in such a country can
not fail in their highest duties, nor will
they fail to enjoy their best reward
Labor and the production of cotton are
more closely inter-dependent than in any
other agricultural pursuit
yet, we have seen the constant In
crease of cotton production, despite DO
litical conditions that drove or enticed
labor to abandon the cotton fields, and To
destroy all organized effort In agrcul-
tural pursuits.
Cotton has commanded labor. in its
steady increase in the successive crops,
and it has virtually paralyzed the most
powerful efforts of government in the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments of
the constitution, to transfer the virtual
ownership of the cotton belt into the
hands of political despoilers. That move
ment has failed and we are left to the
adjustment of the labor question with
out that method of interference The
steady increase of crops and the content
ment of labor, under fair treatment. is
the natural result. This result. so help
full to the cotton grower. can be relied
upon for their Increased success, while
drastic methods of control. or coerelve
legislation, are dangerous to our best in
terests.
Mortgage Era Seems Past.
1.-THE mortgage era that puts cotton
under the control of capital seems to
be passing out, This symptom of re-
covery Is most encouraging, as 1t Is the
result OF prudent dom nestle economy and
self-denial for the sake OF freedom from
debt A happy recovery from <slavish
condition. Such co-ordinated remedies
seem 10 encourage the hope that the
cotton grower is approaching his rlghtful
attitude of financial independence as the
owner of land In the cotton belt
'In the general aggregate, the owners
of cotton lands have already asserted
their rights of dominion over capital and
their power to obtain labor. for reasons
and causes that are logically and prac-
tically sound and will continue In force I'm
the cotton belt.
Cash is Prime Inducement.
IAN illustration that includes a parallel
sitsStion will demonstrate what / sug-
gest. A rich quartz gold mine that has
yielded great sums of money for series
of years. Is never closed down for want
of labor, whether 1t Is located in South
Africa or in the burning deserts of Aus
tralia, or under the ice of Alaska. The
wages of miners are not exorbitant and
their toll is severe and perilous They
labor for cash in hand and get it, and
this is the prime inducement that con-
trolls them. Cotton, grown on shares, is
a cash crop whenever 1t Is gathered and
has a chance for a rising market. This
sort of inducement added to the COM
fort Of a country home, will not fail to
attract labor to our cotton farms. La
Dor will seek such homes for better rea-
sons than II seeks the gold mines, I'M
til there will be competition for good
places like the competition for good jobs
in large cities, among mechanics. and the
employer can select his laborers.
but other and more important reasons
will place the cotton belt in a position
that will. ultimately, give 1t a power that
is little suspected.
when the COTTON IaTinS are sell sup
porting, and the income from cotton Is
thereby converted into wages for labor
and profit to the land owner. the three
vital points in our agriculture will be
so secured, that a great annual income
of money will result. that will enrich
the country by the owning and develop
ing our mines. quarries, cement beds and
water power We will no longer sacrifice
half their value in order to develop the
remaining half. for the profit Of capital