The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1917-03-01

AAoAN VIII were Compelieu 10 pay
tribute or perform service for an
other in olden times were character
lied as 'hewers OF stone and drawers
of water" for their more fortunate
brethren. This language is applicable
to the peop.e Of Mississippi to a great
extent under existing conditions We
are paying tribute to almost every civ
jlised country when the tribute should
by all means be coming the other way.
This IS net made in the sense of a
criticism, but IS stating fact In plain
language by one who has labored with
the masses of the people for many
years in trying to change this condi.
tfon, and is in position to fully ap-
preciate just where we are in the
great brotherhood of civilized people
and countries.
To bring the people to full realiza-
tion of their condition and secure their
attention. It is necessary to use lam
guage that is so plain that none can
misunderstanG. And this in the face
OF facts that cannot be disputed, that
we have advantages far superior to
many of the progressive sections that
at present are exacting from us this
tribute.
II the statement that heads this ar
ticle is true, and its authenticity can
be readily proven, then II l. certainly
time that we were awakening from
our lethargy and putting forth that ef-
fort that win bring our peope into
their own and command for us what
Is rightfully ours.
Although our soils are fertile and
product literally of the best of crops
hat are in everyday use in great
haJority Of the homes of this and 9th
er nations it is fact that we are buy
Ing daily many artic es of food and
other commerce that Is produced upon
lands hundreds and thousands of miles
away from u.s. A glance upon the
shelves OF the stores in any part of
the state will verify this statement
Our farmers do not have a ready
and stable market for what they are
able 10 produce, but go on year after
year buying what is grown and packed
by farmers in other sections that has
been loaded with the cost of several
dealers and more than one transporta-
tion company. The same condition
applies to the stock man. although it
has been repeatedly proven that we
can grow live stock of all kinds here
fer less than in the sections from
which our supply of meats usually
come.
There is a reason for this. and
good one, and knowing the cause,
there is more of a reason why 1t
should be removed at the earliest pos
gible moment. This condition can be
changed by our people In very few
years If they only WILL.
We have made little or no effort to
properly place our wares before the
consuming public and acquaint the
buyers with the excellence Of what we
might have TO sell. On the other hand,
the progressive and aggressive farm
ers OF other sections have exploited
and popularlzed their products to the
point that they are found upon the
shelves OF stores everywhere.
California has invested multiplied
thousands of dollars in making the
public of the civilized globe want her
oranges and lemons and has created
demand that takes care of all they
produce. Mississippi can and does, to
some extent, produce the finest sweet
potatoes In the wor d, but has one or
ganized effort been made to induce
people to buy and eat our potato?
Colorado cantaloupes are stable
upon the tables of the best hotels ev-
erywhere, but call for Mississippi su-
gar cane syrup and find that the ca
terer has never heard of It, although
you know that 1t Is by far the best
that is grown anywhere in the world.
And this condition applies along
down a line that would grow tedious
in the recounting> We are without a
market for the reason that no effort
has been made TO create a demand
and produce a market. Other sections
have blazed the way and demonstrated
Just how a demand can be created,
and 1t is high time that the people of
Mississippi realized the fact that they
must be up and doing If they are TO
have what belongs to them.
The greatest opportunity~of a cen
tury for beginning this campaign to
make a demand for our products is to
be found in the Exposition. Areason-
able investment will bring to the at
tention and favorable consideration OF
the hundreds of thousands of visitors
that will come from other states and
foreign countries as many of our prod
ucts as the people see fit to prepare
and exploit to them.
But some man is ready to say thai
times are hard and we are not able to
do things this that is suggested. 1t is
safe to answer that so long as some
thing of this kind is not done. times
will lcontinue hard. Just so long as
we remain asleep and continue to pay
good money to the more progressive
sections for stuff that they are push
ing, Just so long will we be without
market or demand for our stuff and
times will be hard.
The best merchants always adver-
tise most literally during a lax bust
ness period There is a much better
reason why they should in dull times
than when business is good. THE
farmer and stockman is only mer-