The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-27
Head of Virginia Polytechnic
Institute States His Views
on Question.
ONE-CROP SYSTEM FAILS
Approves Cotton Campaign to
Raise Price of Staple and
Plane of Living BY People of
South.

st. Matthews, S. c., June 26.-Mr,
j. S. Wannamaker, president of tbe
american Cotton association, has
sven out the following letter receiy-
ed from DR.. j. ID. Eggleston, presi-
dent of the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute:
Mr.. j. Skottowe Wannamaker.
President American Cotton Associa-
tion. Columbia, S. C.
My Dear Sir: / have your letter
of May 29th.
In answer to your questionnaire:
L. L have all my life believed in
and worked for living wages: reas
enable hours OF work. and proper
working conditions In so far as this
affects children and young people. it
is undoubtedly TRUE that the ten.
dency Of civilization is to forget that
all children and young people have
an inherent right to play, and should
be encouraged to do so.
2. A one-crop system is slavery
whether it be cotton, tobacco. or any
thlhg else. No doubt God could
make country permanently pros
nerous without cattle, but He has
never done so. With me. the vital
question is not how cheaply a thing
can be Produced but how the stand
ard Of living can be made so sane and
healthfuf that the human being.
making the thing can make it with
out detriment to themselves physi.
cally, mentally or morally
B. / have never believed in sec
tional lines. An illiterate child in
Idaho should be a matter of con-
cern to every citizen In Alabama. An
overworked child in North Carolina
should enlist the deep interests OF
every citizen of California. I'M
proper working conditions; made
quate wages: child labor these
things are menace to every citizen
or our common country, and the
welfare OF the country itself.
4. Not only remunerative prices
for cotton, but diversification OF
crops should be encouraged through
out the south
D. Child labor should never be
permitted if it intcrferes with the
physical, mental and moral growth
OF the child. The child is valuable
to the country as citizen. Every
thing should be done, therefore. to-
make of him the best possible citi-
zen.
II should not be necessary to make
practice OF working children end
women in the fields. Except under
temporary stress. the children should
be in school with plenty of time for
play and the women should be in the
homes, and the homes should be
worth while being in.
6, The one-crop system is slav-
cry. Aside from that it will and does
tend to poverty OF soil 1t is worse
than absurd that southern farmers
buy meat, hay, etc, from the west.
Z Every home should be a pleas
ant. healthful place in which to live
Small farmers especially should be
encouraged to get away from the one
and two-room dwellings; to have wa
ter in the house; to have good sew
age wherever possible; to have sani-
tary surroundings; to have electro
lights, telephones. etc.
8. 1t is positively depressing to
me to travel through the country dis
tricts of the south and see the wash
ed hillsides; the bleached fields: the
unpainted and understood homes;
the poor cattle; the general air of
neglect around many of the homes.
The contrast between some portions
OF the south, and other parts of our
country, in these respects. Is very
marked. We need a campaign to ge.
our people to whitewash and paint
homes. barns, stables, fences and tol
plant flowers and cultivate grass and
set out trees.
9. The negroes are human be-
ings. This should answer your
question.
10-11-12. Already answered
13. A mans occupation in any