The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-27
rnE rnnss AND THE rAnnnns.

THE PREss AND THE FAnzxnnx
 The weekly press of Alabama is showing eommendable enterprise in its efforts to help the farmers of Ala bama solve the agricultural problems under conditions which now exist and to improve our farming methoas It would appear now that the State nas walked up to the full appreciation of the value of it's agricultural industry. which In importance. overshadows every other industrial interest in Ala bama-
 The farmer has been given all the attention and interest he needed in election years. In off years he might have few visitors and few newspaper articles would be written at and for him. But in campaign years he has been accustomed to an embara ssment of attention He probably understood as well as anybody else that his vote was aimed at more than the better ment of his material condition. But for the past several months the disposition of the Alabama press to do all it could for the Alabama farmer has been noticeable and 1t is simple justice to say that this new interest is directed towards better farming and more returns from the farm and not to suing for the farmer vote. A lively and intelligent interest in the material welfare of the farming in- dnstry, any campaign of education and encouragement are promise for better days in Alabama.
 The one central interest of Ala bama. the one great industry is farm ing. The mineral district of Alabama has been well advertised. its riches have been heraIded to the world, it's value has been placed at almost fabu- lous figures. And yet the mineral output of Alabama. as large as 1t is. seems cheap and unimpressive when compared with the value of the an- nual crop from the farms of Alabama. The welfare and prosperity of some towns and few cities depend upon the strength and vitality of the min ing industry The entire State Is de- pendent upon the farms of Alabama. If all the mines. all the furnaces and all the mills in Alabama were shut down for one year it would mean financial disaster and suffering in a number of towns ana some cities of the State. If every crop of every kind on the farms of the State were killed off for one year 1t would mean star vation and desofation in all Alabama.
 The people of the towns and cities have perhaps been too indifferent to the material welfare of the farms in the surrounding country. They have been prone to forget that the life of the cities and towns. that their pros perity and growth are absolutely de- pendent upon the farms which sur round them.
 According to the most reliable sta tistics at least 80 per cent. of the peo- pie of Alabama live on farms outside of the incorporated towns and cities. Then at least 80 per cent of the States resources and wealth are es- tabiished upon the farms and are de- pendent upon the farms prosperity.
 Whatever is for the betterment and improvement of the farms, whatever increases their yield. whatever makes the producers on the farms happy and contented. makes for the development and prosperity of Alabama.
 The Alabama newspapers which are organizing corn clubs. offering prizes for big yields. or encouraging farmers to better and more fruitful methods, are at better business than filling their columns with politics and the gossip of politicians.