Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
.sOUTH'S DEVELOPMENT
is A WAR NECESSITY
Southern Settlement and Develop,
ment Organization Is Threatened
With Starvation.
PROTEST THAT HAS BEEN FILED
Most Efficient agency That Has
Been Fostered by Railroads.&c.. S.
Senator's Sign Petition That Gov
eminent Keep II Alive.

1t is probable that no agency for the
industrial and agricultural develop
ment of the South has done more good
in its line than the Southern Settlement
and Development Organization. which
was organized and put into active
operation few years ago. The rail-
roads penetrating the South. including
all OF those passing through and
touching into Virginia. took great in
terest in this organization: in fact.
they were the powcr--certainly, the
financial power-behind the movement.
large appropriations for the support
OF the organization. The stockholders
OF these roads We're the first 10 pro-
test against the proposition OF the
ftdera' authorities. under whose con-
troll the roads are now operated. TO
aeanaon the appropriations for the
work OF settlement and development
as carried on by this organization.
SHALL THIS EFFICIENT
AGENCY BE STARVED OFT.
Another tremendous protest against
the abandonment OF the railway APP
preparations to the Southern Settle
nlent and Development Association has
been laid before the government rail-
soal administration. and the people OF
she entire South are praying that the
administration Will give the protest
more serious and thouShtful corside-a-
ton. The fact" says the Baltimore
sun, that this petition is signed by
twenty-five members OF the United
states Senate puts il, indeed al once
IN class 10 itself" Continuing. the
Sun fails 10 recall another semio.ticial
paHer which carries such weigh; tor
authority and Judgment as is arrayrd
behind this, and IL cannot be imagined
tAat Il can be lightly dismissed on
merely temporary grounds OF ex-
pt0iency.
Although the sisners are nearly all
Southern Senators. argues the Balti-
more paper. and though the agency
IN whose interest they speak is nom
inalty devoted TO the development OF
the South only, II Is clear that the ac-
tivities in which it Is engaged aid the
DEMENT'S that are involved in its opera
tons are national in scope and in
huence. They are so obviously OF this
character that II cannot re doubted
that the signatures could be re-
enforced by those OF many other men
OF national prominence. in and out OF
Congress. from every part OF the coun-
try.
WORK THAT HAD TO
hi; WELL DONE
Even without such wcighty backing,
the mere statement of fact made in the
oriei review describing the purposes
ana results or the work that has been
done through the instrumcntal!,y OF
the southern Settlement and Develop
ment organization should be sufficient
10 entltle II to a special hearing For
nearly TWO generations the question
or southern development has inter-
ested men OF vision because OF the
possibilities, or rather the certainties
or national advantage which such. de-
Nelopment involves. Private business
capital flowed into the Southern States
Tor years after the War between the
states, stimulating Industrial progress
IN certain lines, but II was more or
less one-s!ded In effect, and scarcely
scratched the surface OF Southern re-
sources. Cotton and tobacco remained
almost sole Sovereigns. because even
greater things were allowed TO sleep
IN the Southern womb unborn What
the south needed more than anything
else were working additions TO its
white population. which would turn its
waste areas into productive ccnters
ana an organized comprehensive and
scientihc system Of guidance which
would build II UP along intelligent.
business lines. This was a long
recoshlHeo want but want that was
never adequately met until the forma-
tion OF the Southern Settlement and
development Organization.
NOT MERELY SOUTHERN, but
A NATIONAL PROBLEM
II was the final realization OF the
fact that this was a national problem.
which must be handled by unusual
led to the creatioh' OF tlfs association
referred to- II Vas no more sectional
IN It's real object than the Panama
Canal. which united two oceans. was
sectional; no more sectional than are
The improvements TO the Mississinni
River which opens way TO commnr.
GA! exchange aud communication be-
tween sections thousands OF miles
apart. The West, the North. the E.st
ma need OF the South in their daily
HIs ana business; they need all il can
contribute to the common stock O.
production. y lopsded country is al,
Unbalanced country. and to that cx-
LENT weak country. And that was
ana VIII be. our national defect Just
so long as the South does no, con
tribute its fun share TO the general
partnership. :. horse that has three
powerful legs and one that Is not so
strong cahno; pull! nearly so large a
load as horse all OF whose legs
are equaliy sound and muscular. 1t
was 10 give the whole country the
benefit OF fully developed Southern
power that railroad and business men
or wide experience and foresight cam.
together and formed the organization
for which twenty-five members OF Tho
United States Senate have now ioined
III an earnest appeal.
SEEMS TO COME AS
WAR NECESSITY
Says the Sun, in conclusion
We do not eNaggerate when we saw
that II would not be true war conserya-
ton but calamitous waste that would
throw this association into the Junk
heap. 1t would destroy the mos, helm
full and hopeful national agency for
construction and reconstruction now in
eyistence-an agency that is urgently
needed now. and which Will bs su
premely needed after the war in work
ing out the material problems which
the country must he prepared to solve
when peace comes. We have not the
space at this time to 20 into All ,h,.
facts and fgures that can be mr..
sented against the wiping out of an
organization that stands for the i'm
mediate and pressing needs OF the
country, but Il reference TO what !,
has done in the promotion OF The cattl.
industry alone Indicates how closely
ii is allied 10 the vital machinery Of
the food administration for instance
In point Of fact. the Southern Set
Element and Development Drgan.z.-
ton is now virtually doing govcru,u.u,
work OF the first importance. ana 10
government should utilize its hiphI,.
scientific and practical continent, a.