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

price for their cotton in order that the
profit on their staple and the success of
the avocation in which they are engaged
may be placed on a parity with other
business during so prosperous an era In
the nations progress.
The Subject of immigration.
The labor problem of the south is at
tracing the serious attention, at the
present time, of our state legislatures Or
ganized commercial and Industrial bodies
and railroad corporations The question of
immigration to the south, if attempted on
a large scale, should command the most
serious and thoughtful attention of every
man who loves the south and wishes to
safeguard our country to the future own
ership and protection of our present
Anglo-Saxon race If southern cotton
mills, Industrial enterprises and railway
interests require additional expert labor,
let them import this labor from those
sections of Europe that will fill the de-
mand and at the same time give an addi-
ton to our population that will not jeop-
ardize the future rights and privileges of
American labor, and which will at all
times respect the religions, laws and ira
ditions of the south. The demand from
some quarters Especially emanating from
foreign spinning centers) for the whole
sale importation of foreign immigrants on
southern farms for the supreme purpose
of largely increasing the present supply
of American cotton, is a matter which
cannot longer be lolkoed uponfwith in
difference by southern farmers. If adj
ditional labor is required upon south
ern farms let the landlords of those farms
say from what countries and what classes
and numbers shall provide the demands
to meet the situation. | am unalterably
opposed to the passage of any immigra-
tion law which Is not bound by every
restriction that will protect the people of
the south from the importation of pauper
labor, and which does not restrict the
right of immigrant entry to the best and
highest type of people from the countries
of northern Europe. If we must begin the
assimilation of the pure blooded Anglo
Saxon of the south with foreigners. let
those foreigners come from those coun-
tries which first made the Anglo-Saxon
the type of the present day. II the time
ever comes when the southern farmers
must begin to divide up those lands which
descended to them from the blood and
sacrifice of their forefathers. let the dii
vision be made with q people who will
reflect credit upon their citizenship and
become desirable additions to the pres
ent population of the south.
Let us strive to market the products of
our farms at their full intrinsic value,
beautify and make attractive our rural
homes, build better school houses and
roadways. and thereby attract our boys
and girls to the Independence and freedom
of rural life. thus turning back the
tide which has for years swept the best
Young manhood from our farms to the
towns and cities, and this great hue and
cry for immigration to our farms from
foreign countries will cease to be so in
tense Let us solve much of the present
vexed labor troubles on southern farms
by a higher type of educated husbandry--
4a.t aftRer Mr. anna q
and the speedy introduction OF diversined
agriculture under an intensive system of
culture.
With reference to the purchase of large
areas of cotton lands in the south 10
be operated by British Landlords WISH
to say. that I am unalterably opposed
to any form of alien ownership OF SOUTH
ern lands | believe that it Is the duty
of every state in the south to secure the
enactment of such laws as will forever
debar the foreign ownership OF southern
lands. If our friends who are engased
in the manufacture of American cotton
in Manchester and Lancashire want 10
get nearer to the cotton fields OF the
south, let them nove>their mills to the
cotton belt of the United States and
settle down here as good American cit
liens, and personally aid us in the de-
velepment of our marvellous resources in
cotton production and Manufacture.
The Evil Of Speculation.
The greatest evil with which southern
cotton growers and the manufacturers of
American cotton have had to contend
has been the speculation in cotton fu
lures The unbridled manner In which this
business has been carried on Tor many
years In the cotton exchanges. private
wire houses and bucket shops of the
country has at last aroused the whole
people of the country to the enormity of
the evil and is causing them to make an
emphatic demand for its suppression by
state and national legislation The South
ern Cotton association is the only organ
ization in the south which has forcibly
presented the evils of speculation to the
people. and begun an active campaign for
its suppression.
After a long and bitter struggle. during
the past summer, while the general as
sen1bly of Georgia was In session. the Of
ficers of your association, backed by the
commercial bodies. mill owners and large