The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-09-30
The Cotton Farmer
And The European War
Editor Leader Enterprise,

Editor Leader-Enterprise,
W e have noted with some
considerable interest and amuse-
ment the many different plans
to help the farmer out of the
dilemma which the European
War has thrown him. We wait
ed on and had utmost confidence
IN the government helping thru
or rather giving US some assist
ance, but when we see good hon
est farmers who have sold or
rather sacrificed their cotton for
6 or z cents we know that it is
too late.
We have been so busy picking
cotton, we have not had time to
consult our dictionary and learn
that definition of Valorization
and Moratorium, but really we
DO think it is a shame for officials
to sit idly by and see the poor
farmer carry his cotton and try
to market it to meet his matur-
ing obligations, obligations that
were made when conditions were
normal. We know that 60 per
cent of the Worlds cotton con,
sumptions is entirely cut off. Now
if conditions had been abnormal
when he made these obligations
we could not nor would not COM
plain, but when the farmer made
these debts that are now matur-
ing there was no war. There was
a good foreign demand for our
staple; it was worth Is to IA cts.
Now with food products as high
as they are we do not see any
reason in the farmer having to
sell his cotton for 6 or T cents,
nor do we see much chance for
crops to get cheaper any time
soon unless the observation-disclosures
facturer or some one will lend a
helping hand just now for the
farmer needs to plant a heavy
grain crop and he hasn't the
money with which to buy seed
and tits now time to plant.
Every one seems to be afraid
to offer 10 cents cash for cotton.
They fear the farmer would plant
a full crop next year and there
by cause them to lose money.
We don't think any one need
worry aboutth at. We feel certain
if he can get through this strug-
gle he will be far from planting
cotton.
We have read a good deal about
the back to the farm movement
but as the situation is now we
do not see any inducement to
cause any one to go back to the
farm.
The farmer has been taxed to
get funds with which to fight the
boil weevil, cotton wilt anthroc-
nose" and other diseases common
to the cotton plant in order that
we might produce more cotton.
Now these same people propose
to tax the farmer to help him to
raise less cotton.
1t really seems that someone is
always in need of the poor cotton
farmers money whether it is
worth 5 or Is cents.
We think a better plan would
be to put a tax on food products,
for the farmer who will not pro-
duce his own food products ought
to pay the tax. Let every farm
er pay 50 cents per bu. on corn,
rs cents on oats, $500 per ton on
hay and other products in pro-
portion and thereby cause the all
cotton farmer to raise his own
food supplies and possibly some
for market.
We wish to say we appreciate
the ''buy-a-bale" movement or
any other movement that will
help us meet our obligations and
get the real necessaries of life
for we feel too proud to beg, but
it looks as though we are really
about to get to that point.
Now a word about our schools.
When you drive out in the coun-
try you will see the country chill
dren bending their backs in the.
cotton fields while their city cou-
| sins are in School tho for,,oo,,