The Tupelo journal., 1908-06-12
BY H. e. BLAKESLEE, JACKSON.


The following excellent letter on
present conditions in Mississippi and
the hope for the future, was written by
Hon. J. H. Simpson, a practical farmer
and a member of the present house OF
representatives. Mr.. Simpsons letter
Is well worthy of publication:
According to trustworthy statistics,
the average or per capita production OF
farm labor in many other States, Is
two to three times as great as in Mis-
sissippi, and as a consequence the a
ket value Of their farming land is from
three to five times as great as ours.
Why is this? Well, there is an old
adage that says: There is in the
man than there is in the land AS there
is something radically wrong with one
or the other, or both, it behooves US to
locate the evil and apply the remedy.
1t has been proven a thousand times
and in a thousand ways that few spots
on earth have a finer soil or climate
than dear old Mississippi. 1t is not in
the land. Then the question, what is
the matter with our man?
I'm the first place he is a negro, and
in a large majority Of cases very igno-
rant and very indolent. Ignorance and
Incidence are an eternal handicap to
every business, and more s to farming
than any other. Not only brain but
broad culture is absolutely essential to
anything like the best results in agri-
culture. In some lines it is necessary
to know only a few things, know them
well and hustle. But in agricultural
pursuits a man must know a great many
things, know them perfectly and apply
them theoretically if he attains real
success. We can't 60 into details here,
but l would like to impress upon the
young white men of Mississippi that in
up-to-date, scientific agriculture there
is a broader field for the development of
your intellect, your business capacity
and greater pecuniary reward than
there is for the many in any other call
ing.
"The regular redneck, hayseed, razor
back farmer, oftentimes more ignorant,
more indolent and more vicious than
the average negro, has been justly rid
iculed and condemned. This class was
never so numerous, and by no means as
bad a citizen as his prototype in many
other vocations. But because of his
existence certain light-headed writer's
have tried to bring into contempt the
g%randest and most useful class and call
ing of this or any other age. But The
redneck with the razorback is passing
out. More and more young men with
brain and energy are making farming
their business. They breed good stock,
they improve the soil and double and
treble its productive capacity within a
very few years. They use improved
implements and double the capacity of
the laborer; they study the markets and
produce that class and kind of crops
that will net them most money. And
every young man so engaged is making
more money than half a dozen dry goods
clerks. Besides, they r mentally
morally and physically the best devel-
oped specimens of manhood in the
country, and are and will be the men OF
affairs.
"Now, young Mississippians, 1 appeal
to you. The prosperity of our whole
State depends upon agriculture. We
produce but a third or fourth as much
per capita as many other States. We
are twenty-five years behind the times.
Scratch farming on the all-cotton and
%all-negro plan will make it a hundred
AS long as the only great permanent,
resource of u State is controlled by
the most ignorant and INDECENT people
IN the world we can but go from bad tc
worse. You, and you only, can place
us in the front rank where we right
fully belong. The negro is q right
handy fellow under many conditions.
A characteristic that commends him to
many is that you can cuss him around.
In scientific agriculture he is not the
best laboror, and certainly we don't
need him at the head of the greatest in.
dustry of the State. Young men, il
our agriculture is to develop along
scientific lines we need your brain and
your energy on every farm. The situa.
ton appeals to you from every point
The management of the Mississippi
State Fair have decided to almost
double the amount offered in premiums
for agricultural, horticultural and live
stock exhibits this fall. 1t will be the
purpose of the management to increase
the premiums from year to year as
funds for that purpose become availa.
BILE. The stockholders are not to be
paid a cent in the way of dividends or
their stock, but every cent received is
put into permanent buildings and pre-.
miums from year to year. Mississippi.
must and will have the greatest agri.
cultural fair in the South. The genera.
sweepstakes premiums are as follows
For the best and greatest variety O.
farm products from a single farm, $3.50
second best, 800; third best, $50. Fol-
the best county exhibit, $3.50; SECOND
best, 800; third, $50.
The boys corn clubs will be featured
more strongly this year than last. Be
sides the special premiums that will be
offered by individuals and corporations
the following cash prizes are offered
N the fair anapement For the hes,