The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-18


want is fair and just and full compensa-
ton for our labor. We know what our
labor is worth and we want enough for
cotton to remunerate us for 1t. Abova
all, we want enough for our cotton that
Will enable us to give our families some
of the comforts of life; to give our chill
dren the advantages of some education
to the end that they may grow up not
to hate the life of the farm and celebrate
their coming of age by leaving the farm
for the cities and towns
Crop In 1899.
In 1899, according to the United States
census report. there were 1. 41s 900 farms,
on which cotton was produced The crop
Of that year was $4,000 bales, an average
per farm of less than per cent What
was the cost of raising that cotton?
do not know; those who raised 1t do not
know; no one knows In dollars and cents.
But we all know that 1t cost months OF
toll and hard work by the male members
OF the family during the growing season
and the help of all during the picking
season; we all know that II cost that
, boy the best part of the session frcm
school, and perhaps the girl, too; we all
know that II cost that mother days OF
hard work keeping up alone with all he
household duties; We all know they all
aided In some way In the work. What
did 1t cost? No one knowsl How did II
femunerale Inelnf Inat the question lC
be answered. That's the question that
can be answered. Let us put the price OF
cotton at 1Oc-S5000 per bale-7 bales,
S350-one-half to cover the labor, $40
$1B per farm cash for n years work. In
1899, according to the United States CEN
sus there were engaged in agricultural
pursuits In the cotton growing states, A.
sol, 600 males over ten years of age. 1t is
too much to assume that two-thirds OF
these or 100000 were engaged In thu
production of cotton ?-or an average OF
two males over ten years of age to each
farm? We have seen that the average
production per farm for that year allow
ed for the tenants labor one-half, or N75,
or $3.50 each 10 the two males, leaving
nothing for tho thousands OF females who
gave their assistance at least in the gath
ering
Last Eight Crops.
Tut let us take a broader view. Let
us take the last eight crops, the largest
in the history OF the industry--and aver
aging II 900 600 bales per year. Should We
not increase the number OF farms or
the number of workers. We find that the
! average production per farm IS less than
eight bales. Figuring this at 10c per
pound. and we have annual money
production per farm of $500, 500 of which
may be allotted to pay the producer for
his labor. AS we have seen that there
were two males over ten years of age
on each farm, we have tho wages per male
per year $1O0, and nothing whatever for
the thousands of females who gave their
assistance at some part of the work Bear
in mind now that this magnificent show
ing Of 800 per male per year Is based
on the eight largest crops ever raised
based on the number of producers eight
years ago. and on that maximum price of
iOc-beyond which some of us dare not
set our hopes. lest the producer run mad
In this new found wealth, and deplete the
farm by moving to town TO spend his
surplus
Here Is the cotton producer through
eight years OF full crops, at a price much
higher than his cotton has sold for, earn
ing 800 per year in money. and supposed
to be making his board and lodgings on
the side. Suppose these maximum figures
are correct, has he produced this cotton
at a profit? He has been fairly remuner-
ated for the time devoted to it? 500 per
year and board of $50 per month and
board is really more than the remunera-
tion given for tho past eight years to
the producer Of cotton. that great crop
which Is our pride, and In the production
of which we Boast a practical monopoly
Eight dollars and thirty cents month
and board for the males, and only board
for the females. and yet great many are
trembling I'm fear that this agnifcently
paid labor VIII become too rich and in
Poorly Paid.
as there any other labor so poorly
paid? Can you hire a porter, a hack
driver, a hostler, a yardboy-to say
nothing of the scores of other higher
priced laborers-for any such wages7 is
the labor of the cotton producer worth
intrlnsically less than any other? Is the
labor OF the same man worthless in the
cotton field than 1t Is at some other occu-
patton? Can you hire that cotton pro-
Queer, who works his own crop at max
imum wage of $3.50 per month to put In
his spare ,ime at other work for the
same wsgesf Then, IL his labor in pro-
ducing cotton brings less than IL would
at any other work. II he will not give IL
as cheaply to any one else as he will to
himself Is not demonstrated that he IL
underpaid? And as these figures are based
on the maximum crops and 10c per pound
is 1t not equally true that the cost Of
the cotton has exceeded 10c per pound.
The idea which | would impress upon the
cotton producer is that his labor Is worth
as much when working for himself as
when working for some one else: that his
labor Is worth as much on the cotton
farm as II is in any other work I woulr
have him value his labor correctly, fairy.