The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1914-12-04
RESERVE BANKS
WILL HELP TO
REDUCE COTTON
Farmers Will be Compelled
to Produce Grain or Suffer
Financially.
NEW PLAN APPLIES
LARGELY TO DIXIE
Secretary McAdoo Endorses Plan
to Place Grain Ahead of
Cotton.

st. Louis, Nov. 28-The cotton sit
uation promises to afford new proof
that 'there is more than one way to
skin a rabbit" The Federal Govern
ment and all of the Southern State
Governments except South Cardinals
SHE'D away from propositions to re-
strict next years cotton acreage by
law. 1t was, the cotton farmers who
begged for it were assured. unconstitu-
tlonai; it was an outrageous invasion
of mans right to plant what he
pleased; it would create a dangerous
Socialistic precedent. The farmers
were told they could arrange the re-
striction Of acreage by cooperation,
and the general public was treasured
against fears of another lew-priced
bumper crop next year with the ex-
PLANTATION that the cotton growers
would have to cut their 1915 cotton
acreage in sheer self-preservation.
1t appears, however, that there is an
agency Of government which can be,
and will be, employed to enforce, re-
striction Of acreage quite as effectuals
Iy, for a majority Of growers, as a
straight-out limitation law. This agen-
cy is the Federal Reserve Board. The
purpose of this new agency controlling
American credits to use its power to
enforce less cotton and more grain
acreage in the South next year was
first broadly intimated in a statement
given out by Secretary McAdoo. In
that statement he said:
While the creation of the cotton
loan fund and its use under the plan
will have far-reaching and beneficial
influence upon the cotton and bust
ness situation, nevertheless the atten-
ton of the South should not be drawn
away from the other pressing and i'm
portant problem with which it must
intelligently and effectively deal,
namely, a material reduction Of cot
ton acreage in 1915 and the raising of
food products on large part of the
acreage heretofore devoted to cotton.
Not only will Investigation help the
prosperity of the South, but the mere
assurance of a large decrease in the
cotton crop next year will Immediately
enhance the value Of the present crop.
The food products which the South
can advantageously raise on part of
the cotton acreage will find ready
market at profitable prices, even if the
South itself cannot absorb them with
greater advantage than by buying
supplies from neighboring states.
If the war in Europe is protracted
the demand for foodstuffs will grow
in volume and intensity, and must be
supplied in large part by this country.
The recently expressed views of the
Secretary of Agriculture on this sub
ject should be read by every farmer in
the South. The Department of Agri-
culture will gladly give information to
the farmers of the South about the
best means and methods of crop di-
versifcation suitable to the conditions
of each locality.
The bankers also have an exception
al opportunity to aid in this commend
able work They can, in large meas
ure, influence the character of crops
by imposing proper conditions upon
the advances they may make to the
farmers. Where the bankers are not
dealing direct with the farmers, the
merchant who supplies the necessary
credits can exert the necessary influ-
ence. l earnestly hope that the farm
ers, the bankers and the merchants |
in the South will cooperate with each
other for the purpose of materially re-
ducing the cotton crop in 1910 and Sc
curing satisfactory crop diversified,
ton. Not only should the Southern
farmer plant food crops, but he can |
raise cattle and poultry with great
benefit to himself and the country ut |
lsrge. He can not do this, however, |