The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-10
FARMERS AND
NATIONAL UNIONS
BY HOLLAND


soon after the bituminous coal miners
were called out upon a strike in which
the assertion was made that the miners
would have the support of the farmers of
the United States AMI that ultimately a
naion-encompassing union which nclud-
ed the coal miners, the workmen in the
steel plants and the farmers would be
formed, and that the number of these
would be so great that in the course of
, time and in fact a short time the mem
bership of that union or federation would
amount to 100000.
OF course it was recognized that IL
1900 COO industrial workers in the United
States could join hands so as to const-
tute union organization they could for
time control not only The industries but
the politics. the Congress and the fed
eral administration.
Business leaders here and in other parts
of the country, however, were not
alarmed by this assertion. In the first
place, they felt assured that the farmers
of the United States were not disposed
and never would be disposed to perfect a
union which contained such qualifications
as would admit it to the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, In the next place these
business leaders had reason to believe
that the great body of farmers of the
United States are as thoroughly opposed
to radicalism and anything that seemed
the most conservative citizens.
The recent demonstration at Hagers-
town, Md, of the real attitude of the
American farmers towards that feature
of some of the modern day unions which
is represented by the attitude of the rad
icals and the socialists. is spoken of here
as justlfying the belief that the indus
trial leaders will never be able to bring
the farmers of the United States into or
ganized union association.
AS 1T is IN THE SOUTH
The recent gathering of representatives
of ali phases of the cotton industry who
came from many parts of the world,
incidentally demonstrated that there is
no danger that the agricultural indus
try will be associated in the form OF
organized union with any or all of the
industrial unions
OF course if the southern farmers
agreed to go on strike and to refrain
from production, and if they were able
to maintain that. position for year,
they could practically starve many of
the people of Great Britain. of France,
and of Japan, and bring industry to the
United States upon a dead center. But
they would also suffer themselves, even
il no other reason prevented them from
Joining in industrial union organiza-
tions.
How great the cotton industry of the
south is relied upon for the cotton man
ufacturing industry of the world was
demonstrated in an address made by e.
Kent Swift prominent manufacturer
OF Whitinsville, Mass His figures were
not dry. They were so compiled and re-
ported as to be not only of interest but
of something like dramatic or sensational
| interest. He spoke Of the clothing worn
| by the people of the world, saying that
about half of the total population OF
| z.,t,, ioTI, lath ND
about $50 100000 wear no clothes excepting
the waist cloth.
The clothing which is worn through
out the world is manufactured chiefly
from cotton although of course good
deal Of it is based upon wool fiber ana
some upon silk. Ali over the world cot
| ton goods seems to be gaining favor. 1t
was upon the demand of China for cot
ton goods that James J. Hill relied in
great measure when he was planning
for a great international trade between
the United States and China, most OF 1t
to be carried across the Pacific.
Mr.. Swift reported that contemoran-
eous with the European war China and
Japan alone doubled their consuming ca
pacity of cotton goods. How vast this In
dustry has become is shown by the fact
| that while in 1860 there were 5000, 900
| spindles in operation, in the world today
little over $50, 900 spindles are manu-
featuring cotton cloth. An immense
amount of machinery is required in order
to furnish the manufacturing apparatus
whereby cotton goods are made. The pos
! sibilities are that for IL years at least
| there is to be an inevitable shortage OF
spinning machinery, although the cotton
industry as whole is to enter upon a
period of very great activity and pros
perity.
| So greatly concerned are the cotton
goods manufacturers of the world and so
apprehensive are they that the south
will turn more and more from cotton pro-
duction to other agriculture that they
are looking the world over to discover II
possible new fields for cotton growing.
They have discovered that 1t may be
possible to obtain a much larger growth
| of raw material IN India, and for that
reason the British government is OF the
opinion that India offers the best field ior
enlarged production of cotton. SO also
Egypt and the Sudan are relied upon TOT
increased production OF raw COTTON ana
it may be that in due time Africa Will
become a very large producer OF "a"
cotton. In fact, already Africa grows
yearly about 65, 900 bales. Egypt and lnola
arc TO stand hereafter next to the cot
ton production of the south IN the amount
| OF OUTPUT The United States will, how
ever, for many years remain the source
of supply of raw cotton. 1t was stated
nv John M. Parker, who is one of the
Heading cotton factors of the United
states that next to the production OF
wheat and breadstuffs is the Importance
Of cotton production. Should there De
a total cotton crop failure there would
| e.,Iax, o,o of Tho rnOsr far-reaching dis