The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-01-25

sented some very good points, and
much that he says about cotton, and
debt in the Southern States can we'll
be said about tobacco, and debt in
Kentucky.
Debt, poverty, and illiteracy are
closely related, and as the bulk of
1lllteracy OF our State is among the
renting, and tenant class, from
parent to children. l can see no way
to better this so long as there are
renters, and tenants who depend
upon the terms which they must
accept from the land owner, as they
demand maximum amount of the
crop to be cultivated that will bring
them the best, quickest, and surest
income, and when we take in the
poor class of every home, or part
nome owners that every year go in
debt to the merchants, and these
debts are made at big percent over
the cash price for the same articles
and are due at the getting out of the
cotton, and must be delivered to pay
the debts first, (for the laws in
many states gives prior lein on the
crop as we call a landlord or supply
llen), and at this time the price is
the lowest, so it is plain that these
farmers are driven down by high
cost of supplies, and low price of his
cotton, (and nearly as bad with
tobacco). Now l would like to
know how this class can cut off Is
per cent, Or any per cent. I have
Travelled through the country, and
have seen the small girls, boys, and
women toiling in the tobacco fields,
and cotton fields on rented farms,
and farms that were not paid for; of
course, they do it from necessity,
and not of choice. How can this
condition be changed as long as our
land system, tax system, our extrava-
giant administration of public affairs,
our financial system, transportation
system remains as it is?
What the production of farm
wealth last year was nine billion Of
dollars, (this from government
reports) and as about 1-3 of the 90
million are engaged directly in farm
work, Cor 81 million) and that S
constitute the average family making
million families to 9 billion dol
lars or 5 800 to each family, as just
their share. We know they do not
get the third of this. The impor-
tant question is who does get it, and
how do they get it? 1t is very GER
tain that the active farmer is
"hewer of wood and a drawer of
water F." The burden bearer of all
other classes.
A record kept by the Minnesota
University of very large number of
farmers shows that during the three
years, 1905-6-7 Ca period of good
prices) that after the labor on the
farm was allowed, and incidental
expenses paid, that only 4 per cent.
went to the profit on the investment
and for other years only enough was
made to meet 5 per cent. interest.
And there you see that land invest
ments are poor income producers and
only the rise in price (not value as
the productive value decreases)
owing to incr ase demand makes any
profit in land.
To go back to Cotton, Debt, and
Compulsory Education" 1 can see no
possible way to get away from the
present condition under the present
system as stated.
1t is very, very true that half
crop of cotton, or tobacco will bring
more actual cash, (''if properly man
aged by cooperative selling') and
to get down to this half crop, e. L.
T. suggest compulsory school laws
"Place the children in school etc. "