The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-10-17
SOUTHERN FARMERS IN PERIL
European War Has Placed the Cotton
and Tobacco Growers In Most
Precarious Position.
To the American People:


Turing the ten years that I have
oeen representing the National Farm
ers union, in every question which |
nave discussed dealing with the inter-
ests OF the farmers, and therefore con-
trioutory to the interests OF all the
people, | have always striven with my
utmost strength to tell the exact
truth.
During these arduous ten years I
nave met with great encouragement
from the newspapers OF the country in
my work. and desire now to express
my gratitude to them for the loyal
support | have received from the great
majority, even though at times, here
ana there, some timid editor has been
rearfui that | would go too far. At
times, 1t has been my duty to call the
farmers attention to the fact that his
business interests were affected, in a
large measure, by legislation at Wash
inglon, and In SO doing have been
compelled to criticize some OF the
measures OF past administrations.
nave not hesitated, when the truth
demanded 1t, to say that efforts were
intentionally made to deceive the
farmers.
A new occasion has arisen which
imperatively demands from me that
shall tell you the exact truth, in so
Tar as | am able. One-third OF the
farmers Of the United States, living in
the cotton and tobacco belts, are face
to face today with bankruptcy through
no fault Of their own. They have
raised normal crops, and for several
years past these normal crops have
been easily taken care OF by the world.
II not at big prices, at least at prices
which have enabled the farmer to
live. The great cataclysm OF war,
which has involved the greater part Of
Europe, in one day entirely dislocated
the business OF the world, and has
placed these cotton and tobacco farm
ers in a condition Of the EXTREMIST
peril which has threatened them in so
years. With the renewal Of shipping
facilities across the waters, and the
urgent need of foodstuffs, our farmers
who are producers Of foodstuffs can
look forward to adequate relief in the
near future. Not so with the cotton
and tobacco growers. All of the work
ing capital and the credit Of these two
classes have been invested in the sea-
sons crops. and they are confronted
u-;th tnto oh ~
the inability to sell at any price; and
the inability to secure such measure
Of relief from credit agencies as will
tide them over.
In all our history there has been no
like Observation-Disclosures our great
financial authorities. our treasury de-
partment and our government (which
seems unable to move unless 1t can
find a precedent) are at sea. There is
but one power In this country which
can relieve the situation adequately.
and IL the congress had been big
enough and wise enough to grasp the
gravity of this situation, and its mean
ing to the future OF our people, it
would have instantly utilized the
credit Of the American government to
the extent Of at least three hundred
million dollars, and taken OF the mar
ket a sufficient amount OF cotton to be
held until conditions become normal
in Europe. This would have steadied
the situation so that the remainder
would have been sold in American
markets, IL not at a remunerative
price, at least at cost price.
want to call your attention, how
ever. most earnestly, to this situation;
to the failure Of our government to
come to the relief Of these producers
in their extremity.
Do not misunderstood me. None of
the American farmers, whatever their
particular speciality may be, have ever
called for charity from the govern
ment. When / use the word help"
here, I mean that government can fur
nish the resources which will tide
these men over q critical situation.
and government will receive its money
back with interest.
What Is to be said Of a government
which, faced by q situation Of this
kind, can do nothing to relieve it ex-
cept a food of talk, deceptive prom
ises and an inadequate dribble Of dol
lars put out through the medium OF
middlemen, who must have their toll,
and a liberal toll at that, before even
that inadequate dribble can be used.
leave the matter with you. can
only hope that the hardships through
which we are doomed to pass in the
near future will awaken our producers
to a closer investigation and greater
watchfulness than they have exercised
in the past and will not pin their
faith quite as strongly to the promises
of smooth politicians-for we do not
seem to have an over-production of
statesmen.
Atlanta, Ca c. 8. BARRETT.