The Kemper herald., 1908-02-27
y 4. Z BLAKIsLEs. JaeIsea. Miss.

There is need for great deal OF
work III the State of Mississippi to
encourage the development of her
natural resources, to insure to our
people the greatest measure of re.
suits for their labors, to instruct then
In the methods of obtaining such re-
suits, to install and perpetuate a pc
riod Of prosperity which the natura
environment and advantages warrant
The proper time to begin such WORK
| is right now. There are laborers ready
to go into the field and assist in
bringing about realization Of thi;
dream if it may be so-called, but car
they get the cooperation and encour-
agement necessary to make it sue
cessY Possibly not just at this time
but in the near future it may be done
and that easily.
Our good people are gradually
awakening to the necessity of con-
certed action on their part for the
betterment of conditions. AS evidence
of this statement the Cotton Associa-
citation and Farmers Union can be
cited. Both are the direct result Of a
determination upon the part Of the
masses to stand together Tor COM
mon cause in the interest of all. The
excellent results that have been so
far attained lend encouragement to
renewed efforts for the future. Edu-
cation, and this does not mean book
learning altogether, is the slogan
that has been taken up and is being
urged upon all. The faculty Of being
able to act intelligently upon matters
Of moment is worth great deal and
it is being acquired. The future looks
bright indeed.
The leaders in such a work have
rough roads ahead Of them, but the
man or woman who is not prepared
to overcome obstacles had better
steer clear of the proposition. The
Indifference of those to be most bene-
fitted is the most discouraging fea-
ture. The common prejudice that
must be overcome and the suspicion
to be encountered may be disheart-
sning, but such has ever been the ex-
perience of those who would better
! 1.-The condition of their fellow men.
When a person takes hold of a re-
form movement and strives to make
its accomplishment reality, the pub
lie wonders what there is in it TO
him. The institute lecturers that have
for the past few years been telling
of improved methods in farming and
stock raising have been made the
subject of uikind remarks and jests.
But the audiences are increasing in
numbers and interest and the results
are beginning to assume satisfactor."
proportions. The boys corn club idea
was smiled at to begin with, but a
single year s results has made stauncs
concerts to Its importance and pros.
pective benefits. Cultural methods
was considered a heresy few years
back, but today is adopted by the best
farmers of the land Diversiication
was looked upon as dream Of the
"book- farmer" within the decade,
but has been largely adopted by the
progressive planters of the present
time.
The men who first preached these
reforms may have received little or
no encouragement at the beginning,
but the seed sown upon good ground
is now bringing forth hundred fold.
The prospects for the future are most
encouraging and there is every reason
to believe that Mississippi is to soon
take her place in the advance guard
of the most progressive states of the
union. Our citizenship is such that,
with the proper encouragement, not
one could attain to a higher degree
Of perfection.
Judge Norrell of Rankin county,
last week introduced bill asking au-
thority for boards of supervisors to
lend substantial encouragement to
the competitive crop growing contests
being inaugurated by offering a small
amount of money for prizes. The bill
was referred and it is to be hoped
that that will not be the last of it.
It ought to pass and become law.
President McRae of the Rankin coun-
ty board suggested the plan and found
an enthusiastic supporter in the per.
son of Judge Norrell While it may
be that the legislative bodies will
look upon the proposed measure fa-
vorably, it is safe to assume that
many will oppose its passage. This
work has been tried in few counties
FOR one year with splendid results
and the original number will be more
than trebled for the coming year. If
each board in the seventy-eight coun-
ties Of Mississippi contributed the
sum of fifty dollars the aggregate
would be $4,000. If by this means the
average production of corn was i'm
creased only one-third of bushel
The man who has nothing god to
q A H. L L.