The weekly soliphone., 1915-02-12
DENIES THE REPORT OF
DESTITUTE CONDITIONS
w C. Bradsher of Narmaduke Says
Communication OF w. e. San
ford is Misleading.

In yesterdays issue of The Daily
Press appeared communication
signed by w. E. Sanford Of Marina
duke in which the statement was
made one-fourth of the farmers in
Greene county are in destitute con-
dition, and that in Mr.. Sanford,s
immediate neighborhood at least one
half the farmers are facing starva-
ton. Mr.. Sanford says in his COM
nunication:
"A large number of people in Greene
county are in destitute condition.
know many families that have almost
reached the limit of their provisions,
and no prospects for work any time
soon. | am told that at least one
fourth of the farmers haven't a
bushel of corn to begin with this
spring and are away behind on their
last years store account. l know in
my immediate neighborhood that
at least half are in that awful con-
dition. How can they make crop
without help. The store keeper can
not carry their old accounts and new
ones, too; they are overloaded with
debts. | suggest that all churches of
all denominations lay aside all creeds
and appoint officers and committees
and call for donation from the
prosperous communities; likewise all
fraternal orders and county and state
too late. Remember, the cotton is
Yearly all out of the farmers hands,
which was all he had, but all other
parts of the country are in high pros
perity. Why not ask them to help
us? They will do it. They freely
helped Belgians and they will help us
if you will ask them. Remember
that the Apostle Paul taught the
strong churches to take up collec-
tion for the week ones; and, remem-
ber, the great leader of men and the,
Savior of the World said, I'm as much
as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these, ye have done itxuntnI
me-"
Now, Christian people, show which
side you are on; don't let it all bel
talk; do something. Remember that
we are to do the work here and
God will do the work hereafter.
Hear my cry, for l am the voice of
hunreds and thousands in this
drouth-stricken country groaning inI
their souls for help. Do something
before there comes a great calamity. u
The communication created al
great deal of comment in Para
gould this morning. Citizens whoI
are familiar with conditions in ALL
sections of the county expressed sur
prise over the statements made BY
Mr.. Sanford. w. C. Bradsher of Mar
maduke, was in Paragould this morn
ing and called at The Press office to
read the communication. He said
the people of Marmaduke had notl
heard of any destitution or threaten
ed destitution among the farmers in
that section and that no appeals had
been made to the citizens of that
town. True, said Mr.. Bradsher, there
are some farmers who have very
little. This is the case every year.
There are always some who manageI
badly and are hardup. 1t is also true
conditions are worse this year with
all farmers than in previous years.
Bue he felt sure Mr.. Sanford had ex-
aggerated the situation when he stat
ed there was any considerable num-
Der of people in that section ofl
Greene county who are suffering,
otherwise he was confident the peo-
pie of Marmaduke would have heard
something about it before now.