The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-11

parts-production and distribution. pro.
 auction IS thoroughly understood by the
 farmers of Alabama. The incentive Of
 adequate reward for their labors ia all
 that IS necessary. The average farmer
 IS capable of producing more than he
 can Sell profitably. Distribution is the
 propiem confronting us. This part of g
 ricuiture has been and is rightfully the
 duty of the business men in the several
 communities. ',o A grave responsibility rests
 upon the local merchant and banker, for
 unless the necessary equipment is pro-
 vlued for assembling and making roer-
 chantaple farm products there will be no
 reward Tor the producers labor. InadA-
 quale storage facilities gluts the market
 The producer Of diversified products
 snouid no more be expected to provide
 tnls equipment than the individual cot
 ton producer was expected ct build the press, etc.
 Ahe business man. the merchant, the banker is responsible for this enorrnous Iood crop. Through their influence tha farmers produced 100.0Oo,000 bushels if the like S~Ss anu
 Tn making reference to the duty of the producer and the distribut far be It from me to attempt to erect a bar Ter between these two factors for thev are necessary one the other, and God Knows If there was ever a time when cooperation was needed 1t Is now. we should cultivate the idea that we have, no enemies among us. Lay aside our dislikes and jealousy of man or men and stand as one man to fight the common enemy. the speculator the manipulator either foreign or local The southern farmer does not envy his western brothers federal protection of $2.co wheat or the eastern manufacturer of his enormous war profits. but the southern farmer does resent the discrimination against him and in being told in effect to root, hog or die, and that the south ern farmer has never been able to mar ket his crops successfully, and the sooner the speculat0r gets hold of it the more money will circulate.
 Sectionalism does not enter into this aiscrllninatlon; it's a mere matter of business with the western farmer and the eastern manufacturer. By their com bfned activities they saw to it that Con- gress and the food administration con served their collective and individual in terest; and they did. while on the other hand there was no combined activity on the part of the southern farmer, and he got 1t in the neck as usual Remedying this unjust and unfair discrimination can be accomplished only by the southern people themselves: Institute systematic hunt for and discover latent and unde- veloped civic spirit, smothered, and not get known in individuals of the several communities. Awaken in them the mate 1esire to serve their fellow men. enlight- ,n their darkness with knowledge, i'm press them with the gravity of the situa- ion. coordinate their individual efforts nto cohesive organization. Build such m institution on constructive lines with me purpose in view, and let that be uccessful and profitable marketing of arm products. ''The farmer, the banker and the mer- hant each will play . conspicuous part n such programme, and likewise each vill reap his just reward The combined ctivities for specific purpose is the urest way to obtain immediate results. nd if ever . people needed relief, and eed it now. 1t is the southern farmer''