The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-24
BOIL WEEV|L MAY
PROVE BLESSING
Farmers viii Have to Raise
Less Cotton and Mere Grain
MISSISSIPPI IS WISER
John Sharp Williams Is Keeping Mum
About the Election, But Says He
Is Ready to Fight Again
for Democracy.


The impression is growing stronger every
day that the coming of the boil weevil is
going to prove sure enough blessing in
disguise. One of the greatest sources of
poverty on the farms of Mississippi has
always been found in the failure of the
farmers to raise their corn and other food
crops, depending on cotton enough to
| buy corn, hay, etc, from the west. These
same farmers are now thoroughly
alarmed; they appreciate the fact that di-
versification of crops is being forced on
them whether they want it or not It
| has come to pass that they simply have
to produce food crops, and they are sit
ting up and taking notice
In the Natchez district, where the boil
weevil first made his appearance in Mis-
sissippi, and where he had made his pres
ence felt this year in an unmistakable
way, reducing the yield of cotton from
one-third to one-half, arrangements are
being made to raise rice on quite an ex-
tensive plan. The farmers have suddenly
discovered that their lands are just exact
ly suited to rice culture. and no doubt
they are right about that. Rice grows to
perfection most anywhere south of the
middle tier of counties of the state, even
on the hills 1t is a profitable crop, and
some few farmers have always made rice,
cleaning it at old-fashioned water-power
mills. A few years ago there was quite
a boom in rice culture in the vicinity of
jackson, and a Jackson miller put in rice
cleaning machinery, but the fad died out,
and the mill stopped operations. The ma
chinery is not expensive, and can be had
in any neighborhood, just as gins and
compressors are gotten.
Farmers in the southwestern portion of
the state are thoroughly aroused, and are
making all kinds of arrangements toward
diversiflcation. More corn, potatoes, rice,
cane, hay, peas, alfalfa and such crops
will be produced another year than ever
before in the history of the state, and
thousands of acres will be devoted to
fruits and vegetables, while hundreds of
cotton plantations will be converted into
stock farms where good cattle, horses
mules, sheep, hogs and other domestic
animals will be raised. and where, once
established. more money will be made
than ever dreamed of off cotton crops.
Hon. John Sharp Williams came over
from his home in Yazoo City last night en-
route to Memphis to take part In the SER
vices held Sunday afternoon in honor of
the memory of Editor E. W. Carmack.
Mr. Williams had been invited to say
something about his dead friend, and
readily consented, he and Mr.. Carmack
having been on intimate terms for several
years, and there being many ties that
bound them together.
'I first thought 1 would prepare an ex-
tended sketch of the life of Mr.. Carmack,
reviewing his career in Congress and the
Senate" said Mr. williams, but finally
decided that l would just pay a short
tribute to his memory, saying something
that would take up so small space in the
newspapers that the busiest men could
and would perhaps read it. / also put on
paper what l had to say. for the reason
that l propose to read my remarks, fear
ing to trust myself to make an impromptu
speech on an occasion that touches me
so deeply"
Mr.. williams was reminded that he is
being quoted and criticized in some quar-
tiers for an alleged interview he gave out
before the election and another after the
ballnting for fhe presidency was over,
and wnen he was yet tarrying in the state
of New York. and asked If he would not
say something for publication along those
lines that is as to Mr. Bryan, the cause
of defeat Of the democracy, and his es-
innate at Mt. Cannon.
The distinguished leader of the de-
mocray said he did not want to be
quoted one way or the other, that he
had rot given out any interview before.
or since the election, and that he would
not The democracy had been defeated,
and in spite of his best efforts to the
contrary He was going to keep right
on lighting for his party as he always
had-in fact he would fight for the de-
mocracy If ne knew ne was going to get
licked. just as our fathers had fought
the Yankees.
Mr. Williams had never given out any
interview about Uncle joe Cannon.
Ho s-cver, he did not care who knew he
thought him honest in business way,
nor that he would do anything to fur
Their the interests of the republican
! party in a political way. Personally he
likes Mr.. Cannon very well-politicaly
he has no use for him. But he had never
said even that much about him for pub
lcatson.
A few days since Governor Noel wrote
to Hoe. w. ] Bryan, complimenting him
on the gallant fight he had made, and
expressing the belief that the vote for
him was greater than could have been
obtained by airy other nominee the dem
ocratic party could have chosen. The