The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-06-28
COOPERATION
A Plea.

(The following paper was read by
Mr.. ]. Stewart McGehee of Laurel Hill
and st. Louis at the meeting of the
State Lespedeza Growers Association
at Tallulah, Tuesday,
Whoever undertakes to advocate an
in present conditions at
once sets up before himself well es-
tablished antagonism. The very fact
of improvement being needed implies
that there is certain amount OF fault
to be found with present conditions,
and these would not be present condi.
tons did not a majority of the people
now living approve of them, in fact,
encourage them. History tells us OF
no advance that has been made over
the plane of progress except by strug-
gle against the opposition of a MAORI
ty, at least at first. | have no idea
whatever of finding any easier task
than those who have gone before me.
At the same time | wish to state dis
tinctly that hold no brief as prosecut-
.derelietions Of the South. 1t
is great grief to me to see her cling
to expedients that have been thorough
ly tried out in other we'll established
countries and cast off as worthless, and
it is far from a pleasant task, at least
to me, to put my finger in her sores
and call attention to her delinquencies
and her faults. The task is somewhat
mitigated by the fact that have long
ago cut out Of the articles of my faith
anything like personal or even general
culpability, having decided after very
careful analysis that any decision as
to where blame should properly be
placed in order to be correct, would
require a great deal more evidence
than it is possible for us to get on any
subject in our present enlightenment.
We have in our penitentiaries probably
40, 900 delinquents. Most of them are
persons whom it was easiest to detect,
and but little harder to convict. 1t is
a great fashion for US to pity the poor
fellows that are confined behind the
bars, but who of us that has studiously
investigated human conditions, and es-
pecially the state of our Jurisprudence
at the moment dares to say that the
sum of the inequity of these unfortu-
mates is greater than that of an equal
number of much more fortunate men
roaming at perfect liberty whom we
might select if we had the license!
And even if they were more culpable
than the rest of us, who of us can say
that the blame should rest on their
heads and not on those of their fore
fathers or on society in general?
| Therefore when l stand among the
people of whom was born and call at
tention to certain things that they
have done which ought not to have
been done, and the omission of things
(which certainly might reasonably have
been expected should be done, an
not acting with the mind of censor;
but as comrade. 1t is as one brother
speaking to another brother, because
in order to promote their improvement
in the future, while | hope that | ma.
be able to indicate few points il
which the people OF our region hay'
failed to take advantage of their 0p
lportunities, still | am perfectly con
scious of the fact that one knowing m,
equally well might point out equa
dereliction in myself. In all kindnes
Therefore shall to-day present befor
you few thoughts
Perhaps it may turn out song,
Perhaps turn out sermon"
You may be sure they are at least sir
Icere and based on practical experienc,
In other words, they have benefite
1.-The speaker, and it is the most nature
thing in the world that he should wis
to pass them on to others in order
lbenefit them also.
Scientists are pretty well agree
THAT it would take an annual rainfa