The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-11
MARKETING OF SURPLUS CROPs1

Emmett A. Jones, heading a committee
 oI market experts spoke last week al
 Montevallo. where they conferred with
 business men and farmers, and addressed
 lnelh on the marketing of their surplus
 crops, explaining the need of local o.
 ganization to handle the situation.
 Al Kennedy. MT. Jones made tell Ing address, and his remarks were fre- quently applauded as he told the farm CTS, the merchants and the bankers just what the conditions are that they are facing and pleaded for the southern farmer that he might secure his rights.
 MT Jones said in part:
 With the exception of the southern IarIner, every line of business has in- creased profits from 100 to 90 per cent. The industrial institutions of America nave massed great fortunes since war was declared The wheat farmer of tue northwest who a few years ago consid- cred $l wheat profitable IS today guar anteed $2.20 for his crop.
 ne intuition plants have contracted their products at a price based on raw cotton at $1 90 pound. The cotton mii.s sold the United States government duck. ton, and the French government based on 50-cent cotton.
 The oil mills have sold their products based on cotton seed at $S0 to $1O0 per ton. We are told the world is in ai starving condition and in great need of the souths food and feed crops; that the world is short 4S0.000, 600 bushels of wheat and that this deficit must be made up OH corn The great prosperity in other sec tons of America and the high price paid for manufactured articles containing southern farm products ordinarily would mean prosperity for the southern farm CTS. To the contrary, fear disaster rather than prosperity, unless the pro- ducers Of these raw products arouse themselves to other cond1tions more se- rous than is generally understood by the pubic.
 If the southern producer does not par ticipate in the profits of his ally, the manufactures. our people will not he ahle to continue the production of food prod ucts. If the speculator and manipuiator are allowed to take from the southern Farmer cotton at q price less than cost of production and buy his corn at the agreed price of $1. delivered in new sacks at central points and buy cotton seed and peanuts at three-quarters the then disaster rather than prosperity faces us.
 The gravity of this situation demands serious consideration. The rights and privileges of the southern farmer must he respected. Our greatest need in this crisis is leaders in every community of the south. History is repeating itself. That great apostle, Bradford Knapp, like Moses. led us out of bondage-the one- crop method. cotton-and we, like the children of Israel, are still roaming in } wilderness of diversification and with our leaders we will roam this wilderness for 70 years to attain the promised land # profit It took Moses and his people 70 years to realize how powerful they 1 were Their lack of knowledge, cooper Ition and organization. kept them out # the promised land all these years. sideon with a handful of men armed with knowledge. cooperation and organization. 'aptured the Milianites, numbering many imes his forces
 When aroused no people are more re- ourceful than our southern people and 10 more important question has confront d us than the profitable marketing of rops
 "The southern farmer has demonstrated ' lis patriotism, complied with the Pres dents request and grown the greatest ave 1t. What are we going to do with Marketing diversified crops is new to 1ost of us. A combination of things en- 2 sr into the successful distribution, chief :, these being the combined activities of 7 he producers themselves and next is the 2 ecessary equipment for assembling and repairing for market these products. s'Merchantable farm products are ds- ally standard and standard products are quid in the eyes and language of the q anker, and standard products can bor- e " money when properly stored. Agri- 2
 A - A 2,