The Kemper herald., 1908-03-12

One Of the most expensive features
Of handling American cotton is the
tare that is exacted in foreign mar
kets for damage by weather. Our
people have attached far too little
Importance to the protection of their
cotton, believing that any old treat
ment was good enough for it, and the
consequence has been, that every bale
loses from ten to thirty per cent i'll
damage of this character. These, as
well as number of other matters of
the greatest moment, are before the
bodies for final action, and it lis to be
sincerely hoped that the members will
stay until they have been intelligent
ly acted upon.
Statistics recently compiled in
Washington go to show that Missis-
sippi pays larger dividend on farm
investments than any other state in
the south, yet hundreds of thousands
of our citizens have gone to other
states within the past fifteen or twen-
ty years seeking locations for homes.
While it has been largely our own
fault, it is fact that Mississippi Of
fers more to the man seeking home
than any state in the Union. Stay IL.
Mississippi
"Diversifcation Day." That is
what President Hightower Of the I'm
ion has asked all Of the locals in
the, state to observe on Saturday,
March 31st. In personal letter to
the writer he says that he has asked
the Union Advocate and all friendly
papers to make the announcement and
urges upon all to join and make the
occasion one to be remembered. And
the idea is undoubtedly an excellent
one. Suppose that one half of the
10000 members of the Union in Mis-
sissippi and ten thousand who are
not members, meet on that day and
carefully discuss and consider the adj
vantages of diversification, would ii
not be the greatest farmers insti-
tute ever held in the United States
1t would, then let g, do it and not in
a half-hearted way either. 1t is sug-
gested that dinner be prepared and
served in picnic style, and all, be
they members, of the Union or not
be invited and urged to attend. The
discussion Of every question pertain
ing to diversifcation farming is sug-
gested, and it it expected that all who
so desire give their views and the re-
suit Of past experience. The crops
best suited to the soil of communities
where the meetings are being held,
fertilizers. rotation, live stock, roads
marketing and holding for mini
mum price as we'll as dozens of other
matters of Importance to our people
This is capital idea and President
Hightower is to be congratulated
upon his foresight Our people III
Mississippi do too little fthis kline
Of work. They get together too little
for the exchange Of experiences and
counsel with each other as has beer
said dozens Of times in this depart
ment. 1t is to be hoped that the 10
cal Union all over the state will take
to this suggestion kindly and beglr
preparations right now TO make "Di
versifcation Day" the greatest of 1T
kind ever seen in the country. 1t cal
be done if the members will make al
effort. Of course local speakers vii
be relied upon principally, there be
inc only few of the lecturers Il
divide between the 1880 local, bu
| this need not deter one whit from
the profitable carrying out OF the
plan.
| 1t is also suggested in the persona
letter referred to, that particula
stress be laid upon the evils GROWN;
out of the prevalent credit system II
our state. That the members be urg
ed to do all in their power to dicour
age the system wherever possible, AM
that if it cannot be done away wit
altogether, that no more than $50 pc
bale be pledged. Independence fror
the system of commercial slavery
/ one of the strongest features of Un
ion teachings and should appeal I
the non-Union man as well as tn
| Union.
Don't forget the date, Saturday
March 21st., and begin preparation
now to make it not only the grandes
event in the history of Unionism, bu
among the agricultural people of tn
whole south. The good ladies will Ell
ter into the matter cheerfully and WI
lingly and with the assistance OF tn
men it will be a success without
parallel.
Tn bulletin on agricultural stats
tics recently issued from the office 0
the agricultural departments prove
conclusively that the lands in souf
Mississippi will and do produce goo
crops.