Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-23
BY w. p. WALTHALL
CReprintcd.l

ana the negro question. I mention the
things that nave been used by northern
and western press agents IN disparage-
ment of the South-the things that are
now in the past hut serve to keep peo-
pie from coming here. One by one
the south has met these problems and
overcome them The Civil war, with all
it's disastrous consequences. is now only
n memory Yellow fever was local and
confined practically to one port but
common rumor credited the entire south
with the dread scourge; science has
obiterated it. 1t is also known that
malaria is not associated with latitude
or climate, but its cause and method OF
prevention are well known. What of the
negro problem? That too, has been
solved by the south in its own way.
without the aid of the side whiskereu
gentlemen who edit Boston papers. The
negro problem was an aftermath of the
Civil war a result of that weird politi-
cal wisdom which after the war dis
franchised the intelligence of the south,
and placed the ballot in the hands of
ignorance and viciousness. AS politi-
cal asset the negro is a failure, but as
a la.borer he is among the best.
l thought of this while looking at
gang of laborers working on the irriga-
ton project in a western desert. AS
common laborer, there is none better
than the southern negro. l would not
exchange the good-natured southern
darlxies, who sing at their work, for
gang of laborers composed of half
breeds, Japs, Chinese, Wopps, Dagoes,
Slavs, Huns, Goths and Vandals. At any
rate the negro is not buying foreign
money orders to send his wages home
oh, Yhn4 In rms
in the community; most of it goes Sat
urday night to the corner groceryman
for canned goods. He cannot live en-
tirely on spaghetti
The south can grow everything that is
grown out west, and in addition 1t can
produce fifty-seven other varieties of its
own. Some day it will be discovered
that the cheapest and best lands now
left for colonization are in the south.
Living conditions are so much better
here than out west, where one has to
spend all he makes in the summer buy
ing coal to keep from freezing during
the following winter One trouble
about the south is that it has been so
easy to make living that it has
brought about a certain amount OF
shiftlessness, as contrasted with the
restless energy of people who live in
more rugged climate and struggle con-
stantly with nature.
One trouble with Georgia is that there
are too many hound dogs and not
enough sheep. There are too many shot
guns and fishing poles, rabbit dogs and
holidays, not enough foreign settlers,
press agents, beef cattle and farm ma
chinery. Dwellers in the south do not
realize what natural advantages they
possess in the way of climate and soil,
to say nothing of the monopoly of cot
ton production. If the west could grow
a plant that would produce cotton seed
only it would be played up as a great
inducement for settlers to come there.
If all tho world knew of the advantages
possessed by the south, there would be
a rush to this part of the country. We
are making some progress along this
line one reason that the south Is gain
ing in the estimation of the world is
that southern people are virtually run
ming the country today; and, further
more, they are running it right