Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-02
BARRETT DEPLORES
FOREIGN CONTROL
Of COTTON LANDS
President of National Union
Issues Statement Warning
Members and Bankers
Against Syndicate

the members, warning farmers and bank 4
ers against the entering wedge of for
eign ownership of cotton lands. He also (
points out urgent need of action. His +
statement follows:
To the Ofcers and Members of the +
Farmers Union:
From the first moment that I was an
trusted with the presidency of this great
organization, it has always been my eff
fort to avoid the note of the alarmist or K
the sensationalist.
But the time is come to speak plaialy
regarding a matter that is of the first i'm
portance not only to the farmers of the
south, but as well to the business snd \
the people of the south generally.
1t has not escaped the attention of the
more thoughtful that an English syndi- (
cate recently acquired a large acreage
of fine cotton lands in one of the central
southern states.
The tacit purpose is to produce cot (
ton on these lands for English spinners.
thus avoiding dependence upon the south
ern cotton farmer.
If this were just one instance. it need (
not occasion concern.
WIDESPREAD MOVEMENT.
But it has come to my attention that (
similar negotiations are on foot lin other
portions of the cotton belt.
What is more significant, I am also 7
informed that foreign spinners generally +
are contemplating the advisability of
buying large tracts in the southern states,
and produce their own staple.
OF course, in each one of these cases I
the most scientific methods will be en-
r-iT he 49,
the acre as the specialist can extort, ro-
tation and fertilization will be used TO
retain the richness of the soil, and the
latest improved machinery viii be on the 1
program.
We cannot censure foreign spinners for
projecting this movement. 1t is simply a
business proposition with them.
1t should also be a business proposition +
with the south to take cognizance of q
movement that may throw the balance
of power in our so-called monopoly OF
cotton into the hands OF foreigners.
And such is the inevitable conclusion
of the policy under debate by English and
continental spinners.
The meaning of such development Is
plain.
Hundreds upon thousands of southern
| farmers would be compelled TO com pete
upon the open market with a product
raised by the buyers upon our own coil
and by the most improved methods.
The demand for natlve-grown cotton
would dwindle as these foreign-ovned
farms came into their full productive-
ness.
The demand for native-grown cotton
would dwindle as these foreign-owned
farms came into their full productiveress.
Prices might. probably would. be con-
trolled by mill interests as absolutely as
they used to be controlled by cotton ex-
10 ~
Farmers union.
The penalty would not be confine1 TO
the farmer.
1t would be visited in a greater or
less degree upon every business In fhei
southern states. since southern business
and cotton are as yet inseparable finafl-
cial factors
The stream of gold now coming into,
the south each year from Europe would
be lessened. Cotton which is now one
of the country greatest reliances for
preserving the International balance on
the right side, would lose much Of it's
vitality In that direction.
CAN BE AVERTED.
am speaking temperately. because this
menace is yet no larger than a rnan's
hand We can avert it. and We must
go about the task without delay.
Conditions under a general invasion OF
foreign land-buyers would be disastrous.
The absentee Iandlordism that is max
ing life such a struggle in England, and
more of a struggle in Ireland. might be
reproduced on a proportionate scale in
this country.
The only way is for southern farmers
to acquire their own acres. and what is
Of equal Importance, to use upon them
the most scientific of cultural methods
1t is a case of fighting the devil with
fire.
we may as well face the truth now as
later And the truth is that cotton grow
ing in the south will not reach a genuine
business basis~untii every farmer makes
every acre return its maximum. until he
reduces the cost of production to a min
imum and raises his own food products,
You may ask how this is to be done,
when hundreds of thousands of farmers
do not own their own farms, or arc UNI
der obligations to landlords
We can, first. help ourselves. We can
do that by sacrificing, pinching and scrap
ing, until all of US get out of debt and
accumulate enough to make a first pay
ment upon farms.
We can, next. reinforce this policy by
utilizing scientific methods. and all the
help we can get from the Farmers Union
lecturers and government agents and
state and federal agriculturaf> DEPART
nents and experiment stations Hand In
hand with this Snould go SclenIlIlc mar
keting and distribution under co-opera-
tive auspices.
In this battle with a nroblen that IS
going to grow in a geometrical ratio. the
aid of the southern business man is need
ed. The banker, the merchant and the
capitalist will find II to his ultimate In
terest to cooperate TO the end Of ena bling
the farmer to own his own acres. and
further. TO take scientific agriculture 20
him in the most practical form. He
should likewise encourage the farmer TO
cooperate with his fellows.
In this matter. as in every other that
goes to bedrock. we are all in the same
boat.
Providence has given to US what
amounts to world monopoly, or con-
troll OF cotton Production.
To hold the control. we must meet
worldwide conditions in the proper way-
SHOULD AID FARMER.
It is equally 10 the interest of the rich
est and the poorest man in the south to
see that the farmer owns his acres ana
that he uses upon them the most modern
and intensive methods
We shall take this issue up at the next
national convention. In the mealltime.
every class OF business men in the south
rfo,sr1 ho 1zrzfr,cr the =ff44o tfor.