The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-06
SESSION OF
 THE LEGISLATURE IS
 URGED BY BANKHEAD
(oontInued from Page EIght)

cents bale on next years crop, and 9 cents an acre on all land planted in cot ton next year and this tax continued | until the states cotton is sold.
 Four Million Acres Planted II is estimated that 100000 acres were rlanted in cotton this year in Alabama | If the present situation, aided by the tax should reduce the acreage and crop rext | yaar by one-third, the state would have | to pay interest and carrying charges when the first years interest falls due, the ! following:
 Tax on cotton bought by the state ................,.......S S00000 | Tax on next years crop .... 5O0.o0O Tax on cotton acreage .......... 666, 6e6 l Iotal .$ .966 666 This money should be kept in a separate ! fund and used for no other purpose If a surplus is left after the transaction is tlosed, it should be turned over to the agricultural department to be used for promoting diversfication Of crops l In view of the fact that no cotton Will be bought by the state after the 500, 900 bales have been purchased out of the present crop, it will be neces- sary to increase the amount paid to tue state in order to furnish sufficient | funds with which to pay the interest after the first year. That can be done by increasing the bale tax to s1 after l 1915.
 State bonds, secured by actual cot ton, and provided with an interest and carrying fund of that kind would be as good security as can be found in the world
 The bonds would soon pass at their face value and be accepted as money ill payne of all obligations.
 State Could Retire Bonds
 Before they are due the price of cotton, by reason of settling conditions and acreage. will certainly reach point where the state can dispose of I the cotton held by it at cost, and re- tire the bonds without loss to the state.
 1 do not believe that it would be nee essary for the state to buy half the crop. The consumption of cotton goods must go on even if the war lasts. Just as soon as the people of other l lscuthern states see how relief has been brought to the people of Alabama, they will demand similar action Nothing can stop it.
 1 I am reliably informed that the surplus above the present needs of operating .s not over S.oOO,o0o bales.
 1 So long as that surplus is on the mar ket. buyers will pay their own price. ] Notice that S00,000 bales will be taken
 
 to spinners that they had better get busy.
 l If other states follow our example. there will Dc a great rush for cotton. and the balance of the crop will sell for l 10 cents or more.
 l We are confronted with situation 1 fr9pght with disastrous consequences to all our people, if some heroic measure is pot resorted to. This is no time for ab- stract discussions of paternalism and other such doctrines of government. While we gre not actually in war, we have all the business consequences of war. The farmers cannot handle the situation. There are too many of them and too far apart to make any effective organization on such short notice.
 Duty of State It is the duty of the state government for the support of which taxes have been paid with such regularity, to step into the breach and work out a plan and lend it's credit until the perilious times have passed. Under the plan it can do sc without impairing its credit and with out the loss ultimately of dollar. Why hesitate about adopting this plan? If the newspapers will advocate 1t and every farmer and business man who wants relief according to my plan will make his wishes known by writing letter or postcard to the governor at once, I have no doubt but that Governor ONeal, who is deeply concerned over the situation, will promptly call the leg islature together to submit the necessary constitutional amendment to vote of the people and pass necessary laws for carrying out the details of the plan No time should be wasted If prompt action is taken the state could be ready before January 1 to begin buying cot ton.
 The tax on cotton and acreage will be a very small item to each farmer com pared with selling his cotton at or cents, and possibly cents as now ap- pears to be the intention of the spinners.
 Confident of Results
 This plan is offered with the positive conviction that 1t will afford relief to our people Let us lead the way for our sister states. We hope they will follow our example. believe many of them will, but if they do not, we will be the one southern state not ruined by the Eu- ropcan war
 I urge the calling of mass meetings and Farmers union locals in all parts of the state without delay to make known the wishes of the people on this subject, at which meetings resolutions should be passed and forwarded to Governor O'Neal. l request that some citizen in every once. It is necessary for some one to so. do it yourself. It is time for action.
 JOHN H. BANKHEAD.