The new South-news., 1908-02-15

+ lhe Farmers Union have been before
committees ~ the legislative bodies
recently IN the Interest OF iexilstion
for the benefit of the agricultural poo-
pie OF Mississippi. urging actioa that
help The farmers Of the State. Thuse
officials are very active aud cncr-
ge,ic IN their work. and the rcsuh
cannot help be of the best kind. The
good people should back them np ia
every move they make. for it goes
without saying. tha, il Is for the lrt-
terment Of conditions among the far.
mers and the allied interests.
The proposition 60 bring about
uniform system of gin compression
that IS being urged by both of these
gentlemen as well as the wrapping of
our cotton in cotton bagging. l. an
important matter There are SO many
points 30 be given in support Of this
change that It would be hard 10 emu
meraSe them, but suffice IL to say
THAI II would be worth millions OF
dollars TO the people of the South each
year. Both reforms will bring about
leng and hotly contested fights with
the Interests that have controlled the
crop for so many years. II is fool
ish TO think that these people who
have multiplied millions invested viii
give up without a desperate struggle.
The compress interests will of coursc
star IN every nerve TO prevent the gen.
eral adoption of gin compression. and
in this they will find powerful allies
IN che railroads that are interested
also IN the congresses. The adoption
Of cotton baggng would seriously af-
feet the jute people and they would
Of course put up the ablest fight possi-
Bile to prevent its use in general. There
is community of interest feeling be-
tween all Of the trusts and it is like
ly ihai they would combine to hghs
the proposed reforms.
And for this reason, If for no other.
the people of Mississippi should stand
shoulder TO shoulder, backing up the
efforts Of their offiiers to bring about
changes that would materially adj
vance their interests. That the con-
test will be long and strenuous there
can be no doubt, but it must be won
aud in the battle every man. woman
and child has part. Give this matter
careful consideration and act as your
conscience dictates.
The suggestion that the state install
the gin compression plants on the con
Wet farms is n good one. In the ef-
fort to bring about a general adopt
ion OF tins system of handling cotton.
the state could and should aid the
movement by putting up its five thou
sand bales in that manner This would
stimulate the change and encourage
individuals to fall into line in n way
that might not be accomplished 9th.
wise. Walter Clarke aud g. II. High
tower, both practical farmers, are en-
thuslasiic in favor of the plan and
will appear before the Board of Pris-
on Trustees 20 urge its adoption. The
Union and Cotton Association haye
both memorializcd the board 10 put
the plan into operation, and no doubt
the next crop will be aano'ed ~ that
manner. 1t means endorsement BY the |
state Of a plan that would be worth /
many thousands Of dollars TO the far |
mers every year The state comes in
competition with the farmer in the
production Of cotton and can be
great help to them in aiding this
great movement.
Cheering news comes from every
part of the state with reference to the /
fifteen cent holding movement. The |
farmers are standing by their agree
ment admirably as one brother says,
"wc are out Of biscuits just now, but
will eat bacon and corn bread until /
we get the price that we feel we are
entitled to-" Another thing that
looks good is the fact that there is a
general deermination among those
who have heretofore bought largely
on credit to cut it out for the pres.
ent year The great movement in
auguraed three years ago is bearing
fruit of a substantial nature. Even
il cotton does not go to fifteen cents
this year, il l,as been lowering around
the twelve cent mark for some time
with the the prospect Of going higher
1t Is safe to sap that the Union aud
Cotton Association are responsible for
it not being down 70 the eight cent
mark Keep up the fight. Great good
has already been accomplished and
prospects for the future are bright
indeed.
1t Is not the legislator who proposes
and passes the greatest number Of
laws That IL always doing the best
service for his Constituent.