The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-22
Should Pay Debts Even if Forced to Sell Some
 Cotton
WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO CREDITORS, HE SAYS
Fine Opportunity to Establish Can ming Factory in Jefferson County, He Says-Tanner and Asso-
 ciates Figuring On It

T. B. Tanner of Tanner Bros is of the opinion that the farmer who has no other means of paying his just indebtedness should sell what cotton he holds at cur rent prices. pay as much as he can and turn his attention to crops other than cotton in the future. This says Mir. Tanner, is the only solution of the pres ent situation. He thinks that holding cot ton for 10 cents a pound and refusing to sell or to pay debts because the price is not 10 cents is unfair to the merchant who has advanced the farmer food and supplies while his crop was in making. And not only that, he contends the refusal of farmers to pay debts is responsible for the present stringency because the mer- chant cannot pay his obligations unless the farmer comes to his aid.
 ''The only proper solution of the south,s cotton problem" said Mir Tanner vester- day is diversified farming. The farmer Of this section should get away from the one-crop Idea and devote more attention to the production Of food crops, farmer can take 20 acres and plant it in plain. old-fashioned cowpeas and make more money to the acre than he can with the same amount. of land planted in cotton. The same holds true of tomatoes, canta- loupes and any number of other crops.
 Cotton Holds Land
 Cotton. when planted, holds the land for practically 12 months in the year. This should not be, for there are other crops that can be raised and marketed twice or three times year on that sa me land. Right here in Jefferson county to- matoes have been grown with great profit oy many farmers. l know of instances where much money has been made from csntaloupes in Jefferson county When a farmer raises cotton for which he can get s1oo he has spent $50 in time and worry over his crop.
 In regard to the present situation in cotton, I think the proper. thing for the farmer to do Is to go ahead and sell his cotton at the market price, If he has no other means of meeting his obligations. If ne cannot sell his cotton for enough money to pay all his debts he at least can dis charge some of the more pressing ones. This would enable the country merchant to meet at least a part of his indebt- edness, and would have a tendency to make the times less stringent all along the line
 Ihere is no reason why the farmers should refuse to meet his just oblieations because the price of cotton has been re- uuced to about half what he expected to set TOT IL He has no guarantee that he Will receive certain sum for his cotton When he puts it into the ground. and because he cannot get what he expected is , no sooa excuse for not meeting obliga- lions. The pig iron manufacturer could cite the same reason for refusing to pay his debts, saying he was not receiving what his product was worth
 The Farmer should sell his cotton U ioss' 1T necessary, and pay his iebts. He then should make nav start on his land, leaving cotton on. 'f the reckoning. Food crops should se raised and can be raised in Alabama IS profitably as anywhere in the Uni ed states. The soil and climate here s well adapted to the raising of cat ie, hogs, sheep, horses and grain if he farmer of .this section only will nake the experiment he will soon dis over that his crop always will be in iemand and that he will lose no money.
 Tn Jefferson county there is an .x- 'ellent opportunity for the establish nent or canning factory. Tomato toes
 c. "" n ASic dS cuedpiy as any where in the United States. The state 'f Alabama could be supplied with products raised within it's borders and here is no reason why 1t should lot be-
 Opportunity for Canning Factory
 Just before the beginning of tho Var in Europe I and few others were interested in project to establish q ,ahnery In Jefferson county. It has 'een temporarily abandoned. but as oon as the atmosphere begins to cl gar ,. little we will put 1t in operation. There probably will be a comprny nrir'cd and enough capital to build .ood sized factory Farmers with whom
 have talked are favorable to the proj- 1 ct. Under the plan. as outlined, we | will contract with the farmers to sup- ly us with . certain amount of thair | 'roduct. Everything they produce over | he contracted amount can be sold to 1 he consumer. If the farmer finds he | annet sell all he raises to the con | umer then we will relieve him of his | ;oods. This plan would embrace ev- rything raised on the farm that can e canned.
 'If Alabama farmers will only sell | heir cotton at what they can get for | [. pay as much as they can on what | hey owe and turn their attention to | classification of crops cattle raising, | oEs, chickens and similar products, | ee nc reason why this country should l lot prosper. At any rate, the problem | rfll be solved in Alabama"