The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-02
MR. SKAGGS PRESENTS BUT PART OF FAC IS T1rade Against His Native
 State Unjustified TOO MUCH BILIOUSNESS Emphasizing Decreased Cotton Produce tion He Neglects to Say Alabama
 Raised 63,00O, 900 Bushels
 of Corn This Year
TOO MUCH BILIoUsNESS
BY WALTER HARPER


 cism to stick with intelligent, well think Ing people
 His article in The Age-Herald yesterday morning is one article too many, and as loyal supporter of Alabama and Ala bama institutions this writer cannot rest or eat until he says a few words in de- fense of the state against the more than good-wishing advice and criticism of a man who seems unable to find any good in the state.
 Like the wife who resented the interfer- ence of an outsider in little family row between herself and her husband, the people of Alabama will accept criticism from home folks, but we do not relish too much interference from outsiders. If MT. Skaggs had remained in Alabama and devoted his brilliant and resourceful mind in the building up of the state and in cor recting some of its admitted evils we could accept his criticism with more grace.
 We plead guilty to some of the charges that MT. Skaggs has made against our educational progress The Age-Herald has all along contended that there should he more equal division of educational support and encouragement in Alabama II Is not a good showing that though the state has appropriated thousands of dol lars to the improvement of the school sys- tenn that there are rural schools In the state holding shorter terms now than two and three years ago for lack of funds. The difference is not measured In days, but in months. An outsider may remind us of this once, but not too often. But that Is not the reason for this reply to Mir Skaggs. His article yesterday morning makes a general and persistent charge against the people of Alabama, and he goes so far as to distort a state ment of one of the most loyal and valua- ble builders of Alabama to carry his point.
 The bilousness of MT. Skaggs' feeling Is most too evident.
 Let us take up MT. Skaggs' article of yesterday morning by paragraphs.
 He starts out by reproducing a table showing the iron production of the south ern district for the past ten years, pub lished by President George Gordon Craw- ford of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company, in an Atlanta paper of last Sunday In this table MT. Craw ford shows that pig Iron production in the south has remained almost stationery for the past ten years. Why Is it that MT. Skaggs neglects to give MT. Craw- ford s further analysis of this table and good reasons for a lack of increase in iron production?
 Simply because it would explode MT. Skaggs' purpose to knock Alabama.
 careful reading of President Craw ford's entire article will show that he makes no criticism of Alabama or the south. but rather reflects credit on the intelligence and enterprise of her people in overcoming industrial difficulties and preparing the way for much greater pros perity than the mere making of enormous quantities of pig iron could ever secure.
 Anyway if President Crawford chose to crticise our methods or our intelligence, we could accept it with some grace. He is not only a southern man, but as cit- izen of Alabama is eagerly helping to work out Its industrial and other problems on large and enduring lines.
 MT. Skaggs quotes President Crawford further: There Is substantial growth In the south in population, wealth and agri- culture and manufactures.
 MT. Skaggs adds, .Tt is true there has been a substantial increase in population, but the increase in population is only the natural increase, evidencing a decid- cd absence of race suicide; yet as l have before stated in The Age-Herald, there has been no increase from immigration. It is true that some people have moved away from Alabama to Chicago and other places, but in my travels over Alabama I have become acquainted with hundreds of substantial and intelligent people who have come in to take their places. They are satisfied as rule and are making good citizens. Alabama has lost but lit- tie in the migration of dissatisfied citi- zens.
 MT Skaggs' charge of Hack of thrift | and intelligence in cultivation" as indi- | cated in the increased cotton acreage and deficiency in production increase, is easily | explained to the credit of the Alabama | farmer. and if MT. Skaggs were less of | knocker he would recognize the fact | The intelligent white farmer who pro- duced the largest amount of cotton to the acre has followed the demands of in- | telligence and is diversifying his crops while the cotton production has been left practically in the hands of negro terants, who will not or cannot diversity MT Skaggs artfully neglects to say that Alabama has produced 63OOO,00O bushels of corn this year as against 35,0OO,OO0 bushels last year. He also neglects to say that there are more good cattle | hogs and horses In Alabama than even year ago. But this is what the knock CT always does. He tells nothing of the | good things.
 | MT. Skaggs quotes Dr. S. A. Knapp | on comparative production of individual | fer ermers in Vermont and the south This writer has overlooked Dr. Knapp's report referred to- It may be garbled like Pres | ident Crawfords article, but we will accept MT. Skaggs' quotations as true. The presence of the negro tenant between whom and bankruptcy but one year stands will explain most of the condi- tion as shown by this knocker from Chi | cago. I can show MT. Skaggs' individual | farmers in Alabama who are producing more to the acre than any farmer in Vermont Does MT. Skaggs want names and addresses?
 bama Is carrying some large and un- pleasant burdens. We are suffering from | these disadvantages when 1t comes to totaling up averages and percentages, but Alabama Is on the eve of a great in- dustrial and educational revolution The people of Alabama are working out their problems with masterful ability and courage. Greater will be the honor for the disadvantages they are having to overcome.
 MT. skaggs quotes President Crawford ouate transportation facilities. You must read all of President Crawfords article to understand Mir Crawford and also l to understand the critics position | The transportation difficulties spoken l la,,f otxffnr of fnrf 1, at,