Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-07-29
"BAck TO DIXIE"

MT. JOuil NJ: CtouIs VI OuAOs&O
one of the guiding spirits Of the
great Farmers National Congress,
being an ex-president Of it and al
present its Legislative Agent, has
written Congressman Ransdell COM
plimenting him highly upon his late
speech. and enclosing to him the
following article excepted from the
New York Word, and later copied
into the Washington Post, under the
caption: Nov the Call of the
South with comments of the most
favorable character thereon.
The article from the New York
World is as follows:
At last the call of the North has
evoked the call of the South. To the
invitation Of western Canada is Op-
posed the lure Of Louisiana, Geor;
gia, Virginia, the Carolinas. Ala
bama. Kentucky, Tennessee. Mary
land, Texas, Arkansas. Mississippi
Florida, and Oklahoma.
To the call of the wheat responds
the call Of the cotton, the rice, thu
sugar plantations, the corn fields
the melon patches, the blue gras.
and limestone, the peach orchards
the tobacco, the apple, the orange
the grapefruit, the fig, the grea
grazing grounds and breeding places
Of horse, hog and cattle.
1t is Representative Ransdell O
Louisiana who voices the new call
He adds up from the States Eas
and West the 800, 600 sturdy farm
ers who within five years past hav'
crossed the northern boundry Of tn,
republic looking for new homes
These were the best blood ant
Drawn Of our land" In the wealth
they took away we have contribut
ed millions to our Canadian neigh
bors. And the Southern State
would gladly have furnished home
to every one Of these emigrants
while still having room and read,
welcome for sturdy foreigners com
ing to our shores.
1t is the new South which speak
here, but with all the pride in tn,
Old South in its resources, climate
and stock"
In his letter Mr.. Stahl says:
Chicago, ILL.,, July 6, 1910.
Hon. Joseph f. Ransdell, M. c.,
Lake Providence, La.
Dear Sir:-I have thought that tn
enclosed editorial from the New Yorl
World, copied into the Washington Post
speaking 80 highly of your truly notabl
speech in Congress on "Back to Dixie, ,
might interest you.
/ am cafe in saying that it has beef
years since heard q speech in Congress
a. often and Is highly commended as you
speech just named.
1t was indeed mos profound, pains
taking and able presentation of q subiec
of the great importance in our industrial
economic and social life.
While it was truly remarkable cal
from the South to the landless and home
less to come to Dixie, it was really IA
more than that, recognizing as It did tn
deep import to our national life of tn
rapid gain of our city on our farm popu
lation.
All that you say in your very abb
speech is indeed true. The first farm
paper that ever edited was named 9TH
South and West" and took charge O
it in st. Louis in 1883. On account O
my work on that paper travelled durin,
the SOS great deal through all TIN
Southern states, and a. you doubles
know, there has scarcely q year pasee,
since that l have not taken at least ON
long trip through Dixie. I know all tn
advantages offered the land-seeker an,
hOme-maker by Dixie and / most heart
lily wish indeed that the exodus of on
farmers to Canada could be stopped an,
that they could be made to see the truth
which is that Dixie offers them far NOR
than Canada does. Instead of Canad
| taking from US hundreds of thousands O
our best farmers, they would have gon
to Dixie If Dixie had been advertised q
Canada has been. And how much h
material wealth, in economic stability
and in real safety to our institutions tina
would have meant.
Dixie can not in any way better adver
tise itself and its advantages and posi-
bilities than by circulating your grea
speech. The Southern states, the rail
roads, the Southern chambers of com
merce, etc., ought to circulate literall,
millions of copies of your speech.
Louisiana and the South ought to con
graduate themselves that such q man q
you is in Congress. A large part of on
country complains because certain states
notably some northeastern states, hay,
too much influence In Congress. w,
ought to recognize that these states hav,
so much influence because they are wis
enough to keep in Congress term afte
term q good, able, conscientious MAJ
when they have found him. II the Soutl
would have in our national councils ant
in Congress the influence and power tina
it should have, it should certainly con
Time in Congress such men as you are
suppose you will be greatly SURPRISED