Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-02-05
THE NEGRO VS.
 THE ITALIAN Writer in the American Re- view of Reivews Con- trasts the Work of the Two Glasses as
COTTON PRODUCERS
Through Immigration the South Will Realize the Ultimate Development of Her Almost Untouched Re- sources.

Alfred Holt Stone contributes to the American Monthly Review of Re- views for February an article on "Ita'- ian Cotton Growers in Arkansas" in which he makes the following com parison between the Italian and the negro as a cotton producer:
 "The figures for the first year were not obtainable when I made my in vestigation, and the year 1905 had not then been closed Hence the period covered was for six years. 1899 to 1904, inclusive. During these years the Italians made an annual aver age of 2,5S4 pounds of lint cotton per working hand, and the negroes an average of 1,174 pounds. The aver age lint production per acre was for the Italians 403 pounds, and 2333 pounds for the negro. The average cash product vaule (cotton and seed) was $277.36 per hand for the Italians and $12S.47 for the negro. These values per acre were for the Italians $4477; for the negro $2636 The Ital- ian produced 1,410 pounds more lint per hand than the negro, equal to 120.1 per cent, while he raised TO pounds, or 729 per cent, more lint per acre. This represents differ ence in money value, including cot ton seed, of $14SS9 per hand, or 115.S per cent, in favor of the Ital- ian, and of $1S.41, Or 69.S per cent, in value per acre. The Italian cul- tivated 6.2 acres per working hand, and the negro 5.1 acres. ;sstnt-'A---' sA For years it has been the mental habit of the American people to asso- ciate cotton production with the idea of negro labor as it's sole dependence. This is true to such an extent that most people are under the impress sion that practically the entire Amer ican crop is the product of negro toll. AS matter of fact, more than half is raised by the white man. The inability of the negro, thus far, to hold his own in competition with the Northern white man, has been dem onstrated so often, and in so many ways, that it is no longer debatable question. The fault is divided be- tween the labor union, Northern eco- homie race prejudice, and negro in- efficiency-in what proportions I shall not attempt to say. AS cot ton grower, however, his supremacy remains unquestioned in the public mind. In Investigating this popular fallacy some 13 years ago 1 reached the conclusion that, although the na- tive Southern white man had always, even during the slavery regime, pro duced much larger proportion of the cotton than was commonly be- lieved, it was not he who was destin- ed seriously to threaten the negro s hold on this branch of industry. be- lieved then, as 1 believe now, that it is through immigration that the, South is to realize the ultimate development of her almost untouched resources I believe that it is merely a question of time when the story of the West is to find it's counterpart in the Southern States. The action may be artificially retarded Or accelerated according to the sentiment of the na- tive white man in different parts ol the South; but it can no more be prevented than the final working out of any other economic law"