The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-10-08

prosperous and happy. We can raise
any of the crops and animals they
raise and with less effort. Let US
suppose no State control of cot
ton acreage is taken, and that the
poor widow woman, the tenant and
the small independent farmer de-
pend on organized effort, such as
pledges and a gentleman's agreement
to reduce the cotton crop what will
be the result? This European war
has blotted out our accursed crop
mortgage system. The widow as well
as the big land-poor city resident,
will next March have to guarantee
the merchant and banker for sup
plies to make another crop. More
than ten million bales of cotton will
be made. A cents price for term
of years will be the result, and they
will lose every cent of the coveted
rent. Land values will drop so per
cent, and it will be practically i'm
possible to raise money on real es-
tate mortgages. The no cotton law
is just as valuable to the small land
owner and the renter as it is, to the
largest farmer in the State. The
greatest hardship will fall on the
shiftless negroes who have always
worked for wages. But even to
Them no cotton means less suffering.
With low prices and continued busi-
ness gloom, there is going to be scant
employment for our shiftless negro
lobor. Sooner or later they must
learn to grow other crops than cot
ton. Every negro family might raise
enough chickens and eggs to supply
their cash needs. The Southern
white man has always been the ne
gro's best friend. We have fed and
clothed the shiftless negro for seven
ty-fve years. We have made him
shiftless by our one crop system and
by our determination to make him a
cheap body servant. Assure the
South Carolina farmer of good
price for cotton, and he will continue
to feed the negroes dependent upon
him. Fifteen cents cotton will en-
courage some much needed improve
ments on the farm next summer and
fall which will give employment to
our people. Let South Carolina pass
a law eliminating all cotton in 1915,
conditioned that it shall not go into
effect until the other nine producing
States pass a similar law. Let the
governors of the cotton States get
together and sign the bills the same
day. and put the law into operation
by proclamation. Mr.. Farmer, If you
endorse my views see that your dele
cation to the legislature vote for it
We have nothing to lose by enactins
such a law, but everything to gain
II it is constitutional to limit the
planting of cotton to a per cent. OF
the land or to a certain number OF
acres per horse, it is certainly consti-
tutional to cut it out altogether
South Carolina has on several occa'
sions been a leader in passing radi'
cal legislation. In 1851 we passed
the ordinance of secession without
making it a condition that the other
Southern States join us, but they did
We then had a crisis in the constitu-
tional life of the nation and out OF
it has grown greater United States
the richest and greatest country on
the globe. and a model government
from which all nations are copying
our best features. We now have a
business crisis in the South. Let the
Palmetto State as usual take the
lead. and help to bring back the
greatest era of prosperity we have
known.
WADE STACkHOUSE,
President S. c. Div. Cotton Con-