Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-03-03
COLONEL OUSLEY
SPOKE At MARLIN
Guest Of Commercial Club Explains
Agricultural Condition and Fore
tells Changes.

The time is coming when tenant
eultiyators OF the soil and impover.
ished land owners In Texas will rebel,
said Hon. Clarence ousley, director
Of extension work Of the A. and NJ.
College. In his address before the
Commercial Club Friday night. un.
less economic conditions now prevail
ing In rural sections are radically
changed. in such a manner that the
industrious cultiyator may today be
able to obtain and pay for a farm for
himself.
In treating economic conditions
with reference to the present prob.
lens OF the agricultural masses in
Texas. Mr.. Ousley stated that the
business OF the world was divided into
three great conflicting. yet interde-
pendent channels. In which all com.
nerce and labor were entirely de-
pendent upon agriculture. lie char.
acterized commerce and labor as be.
ing selfish and liberal. as contrasted
with agriculture. which he said was
altruistie. giving out TO others with.
out taking In. while commerce and
labor take where they do not give,
through the general spirit OF aggran.
dizement.
No Longer Able to Buy Farms.
Ten years ago, the speaker stated
a farmer could buy and pay for a
home, but now ON account OF higher
prices. he cannot. saying that with
land at 500 an acre with S per cent
interest to be paid. the products Of
the ground will not enable him to have
enough surplus To ever pay the prin.
eipal.
This condition cannot continue. he
said. the reaction must come. There
are 2o0,0 0 tenant farmers in Texas.
I do not mean TO be sensational. but
do desire to sound the warning. There.
was a time before the war when white
men were prosperous, not as cultlva.
tors OF the soil, but as men who Rad
the soil cultivated. That condition Is
changed today. and tenant cultiyators
and impoverished land owners will
take the condition In their W hands
before long and Sebel and contend for
agricultural freedom In rural ono
ics. unless the situation Is saved by
a n action. Farm land Is worth what
il ultimately produces and nothing
more.
Mr.. Ousley sustained his contentious
by reports of investigations made un.
der his direction In Ellis county. where
IL was shown that 9S per cent OF the
farmers do o believe Il possible at
the present high price OF land. with
the interest charges, to pay for homes
admitting that some few OF the more
ingeniouA have accomplished that un.
beIievable thAA. lit that'the law OF
averages would have to govern in this
as in all other like problems.
Explains Cotton Situation.
I'm speaking OF the cotton situation.
Mr.. Ousley said cotton was the lazy
mans crop. as u required. by actual
figures. one hundred days OF work 10
produce the staple. The 10000 900
bale crop OF 1914 was the means. he
stated q three cotton firms In Texas
making $4,000. 900 profit buying cot.
ton at &c and selling at PC. borrowing
money from the banks to hold their
cotton. while the banks refused to
protest the producers. Taking figures
for Marlin territory, he stated that
tho $4,000 bales sold through here
alone. II held. would have brought in
cash to this section 100000 more than
was distributed here. The bankers,
however. he explainv. learned their
lesson. and made possible the slow
disposition OF the 1915 crop. through
the great agitation OF public opinion
and the aid OF the federal reserve
banks.
II the same acreage Is planted this
year. as last. unless storms proyiden.
TALLY occur again as last year. he be
lieves the 5000. OOO. bale crop condi-
ton may be brought about again this
year.
Guests Of Commercial Club.
A number OF farmers and business
men were present at the reception
rendered the agricultural agents in
the Commercial Club rooms. when Mr..
Ousley delivered his address. Mr.
Ousley was introduced TO the audience
by President G. w. Glass OF the Com.
mercial Club. Refreshments were
served. and about fifty sandwiches
which remained were turned over to
the United Charities FOR distribution
among the needy OF the city.