Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
FARMERS BELIEVE
COTTON SHOULD be
THE SURPLUS CROP.
Second Days Sessions of the
State Organization Devoted
to Hearing Reports of Many
Committees
SUPPORT THE UNION
Is THEIR SLOGAN

The attention of the second days ses-
sion of the Georgia Farmers union. now
meeting at the state capitol. was devoted
the various committees. OF these there
were quite a number. and all were equal
ly vital and interesting
The morning session on Wednesday
opened at O'Clock when President J. l.
Lee, of Union City. called the gathering
together and requested all not members
of the state organization to leave the
representative hall. where the meetings
are held.
As soon as the meeting was opened
the committee on cotton acreage submit
ted it's report, which was, without doubt.
the strongest, and most vigorous docu-
ment of it's kind ever returned upon this
subject. The report called forth enthu-
siastic supporting speeches from Fred ID.
Wimberiy, OF Pulaski, and r. F. Duck
worth, of Union City, editor of the Far
mers' Union News, both of whom were
heartily applauded.
The report, as adopted, is as follows:
Your committee on acreage begs leave
to report. The statement so often and
blatantly proclaimed. that the south has
a monopoly of cotton, is not true: for
other countries produce about one-third
of what is consumed. Therefore, we
should at once and forever dispossess
ourselves of this mania which has been
the most powerful factor in curtailing
our prosperity. and holding thousands in
poverty, and helpless to defend them
selves against the Vaccinations of spec
ulators, gamblers and spinners.
God gave us these cotton lands un-
der the southern sun, a goodly heritage,
with the wise injunction in the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread: not
make cotton to buy bread.
Consider the present status: corn 81
per bushel, meat Is cents per pound,
oats 20 cents, peas $50. potatoes Is cents.
syrup so cents. chickens, eggs. butter.
etc., at tempting prices. And cotton
struggling toward our minimum OF II
cents, which is a most reasonable de-
mand.
How can we compel il when anxious
and unrelenting creditors are compelling
settlement for food supplies which we
like silly geese. bought on time, when We
If working in conformity with the primsA
law of the all-wise God. would have then
in abundance and to spare?
Take an acre In good heart: give g.
proper preparation. and planting, and cub
tvation, apply GOO pounds of commercial
fertilizer. and 1t will yield one bale of cot
ton. Deducting all cost. and the net re.
suit at present prices Will be about $50.
''The same acre, under like conditions.
in corn, groundpeas and cowpeas, wilt
yield a net income of s45, and leave the
land richer, although corn is voracious
feeder; because the peas and groundpeas
have collected from the air and stored a
large supply of nitrogen, the most in
dispensable and costly of all fertilizing
material.
This acre in oats, followed by peas,
viii yield net SO and be enriched: in po-
tatoes $50; in sugar cane 500; besides
under this system the land is enriched.
and the home blessed with plenty, the
table loaded with wholesome and appe-
tizing food; no strangers turn from this
door, and Astounding hospitality prevails.
Every man can be free of debt inde-
pendent and enjoying the blessed freedom
of a son of God.
"Your committee recommends that s5
acres be the limit of a one-horse crop;
IL acres in food crops, and eight only In
cotton.
THE members sof the union should
thoughtfully and unremittingIy press
these views privately and in assembly,
urging each other to farm along sane
lines, so conducive to prosperity and hap
piness. And in few years we will be-
raising our own mules and horses at a
cost Of SIS, for which we now pay $3.50.
NO MAN LIVETH ALONE.
No man liveth to himself alone No
organization of men operates Independents
iy of others. And we should make our
selves felt in influence upon large land
lords and time merchants.
Let every man of us lay at their door
the just charge that the distressed cot
ton, which runs down and holds down
the price, is their negro cotton mainly,
and that they are in this epdangering
their own financial safety and compro-
missing the success of the true farmer
Their course is unpatriotic. unwise, mar
row and selfish.
Furnishing negroes with mules at SOC.
corn at $50, meat at IS to 20 cents, guano
at SIS, and other things in scant quantity
keeps the negroes thriftless because
hopeless. rascally because needy, spite
full to the white because of oppression,
and altogether shiftless and undesirable
as laborers-a veritable eating cancer up
on the body polite.
"And this style of farming and business
minimizes the chances OF the white mar
and makes tens of thousands poor indeed
Respectfully submitted,
"F. D. WIMBERLY,
ssChafSuaau.