The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1920-01-31
TO SOLVE THE LABOR
'PROBLEMSONFA ARMS
in STATE MISSISSIPPI.
Former Yazoo City Man Who Spent
Six Months in Italy, Gives Inter
esting Facts In Connection
With Great Problem.
SAYS ITALIAN LABOR CAN BE
SECURED TO ADVANTAGE.
Italian Farmers of the Better Class
Are Scientihc-Labor Shortage
Due to Migration of Negro.
rom the Yazoo City Sentinel

From the Yazoo City Sentinel:
The biggest problem which now
confronts the farmers of the South is
the labor problem, and it has been
subject of serious concern in every
agricultural section of the South,
and more especially in those districts
of Mississippi where large planters
have extensive holdings which must
be operated regularly and to full ca
pacity to avoid serious loss, if not
real financial disaster.
The steady flow of negro labor
northward during the last few years
has made it necessary for employers
of labor of the larger plantations to
cast about for some means of sup
plying the deficit caused by this
hegira. The Hon. Chares Scott, now
dead, and at the time probably the
largest planter in the State, brought
| to the upper delta large number
of Italians from Northern Italy, and
while some planters in that section
were not altogether satisfied with the
experiment, others are now using
them exclusively. In the latter class
is Mr.. w. K. Herrin, of Clarksdale,
one of the largest planters in the
delta, who, it is understood, leases
all his land at a cash rental of $40.
per acre, and is quoted as saying that
/ it is the most satisfactory labor ne
has ever had. They cultivate the land
more thoroughly than colored labor,
and it is not necessary to furnish
them, as has long been the custom
with colored labor. Moreover, these
Italian tenants pay their rent prompt
ly, when due.
Italian on the Farms.
Now comes Mr.. E. L. Tarry, form
erly secretary of the Yazoo CONNER
cial Club, but who, for nearly two
! years past, has been doing Y. M. c.
I A. work in Europe Mr.. Tarry has
I lust returned to the States, and ar
rived in Memphis a few days ago.
In a very interesting letter to the
editor of the Sentinel this week he
discusses this question of labor from
the standpoint of using Italians, and
pives some facts about the situation
that will illuminate the problem. Mr..
lTarry wrote very interesting series
of letters to The Sentinel from
Europe until he was transferred to
italy, and these were discontinued
because of the strict censorship there.
Tn the letter Just received from Mr..
Terry he writes:
Censorship Handicaps.
81 have just reached home, sailing
from Naples. I suppose you think
| dropped the Italian correspondence
quite uncermoniously, but | found
the censorship so strict in Northern
Italv. especially at Trieste, which is
in old Austria, that l never could
write anything that l was sure would
90 through the censor. My private
mail was so cut up by the censor that
nv correspondents never knew just
what | wanted to say.
"Well am glad to be back IN Am
lerica, though | come back with most
emphatic knowledge that there are
other lands and other peoples be-
sides our own. l think have learned
good deal that is, at least, comfort
ing to know.
Erroneous Ideas of Italy.
"While in Italy was greatly m-
pressed with the people of that coun-
try, especially as agriculturists. We
lhave an entirely erroneous idea OF
1.-The Italians, basing our opinions upon
/ the somewhat undesirable class we
) get from Southern Italy and Sicily
In the production of cereals, including
: Indian corn, Cor maize, as they call
, LTD they give our government expert
{ odds, and beat them. In Northern
lItaly saw better corn grown on land
(which has been under cultivation fol-
$4,000 years than have ever seen or
: 1.-The uplands of Mississippi, and usually
I as good as we see in the Delta. lr
1 fruits and vegetables, they are, OF
1 course, far ahead of US. The people
are kindly, intelligent, industrious
and thrifty.
A Superior People.
| 'For six months was closely asso
| iciated with the Italian army, know
ing both officers and men, and foune
them very superior people. me-
a great many farmers among the prl
Yates, and a good many not IN the
army. They have an idea that Amer
ic is richer country, in soil and pos
; sibilities than it really is.
"Now, / see in the papers that la
Dor is getting to be serious question
in Mississippi, great numbers, as
read of it, of negroes leaving there
Mississippi is deficient in population
There is not enough population thers
to properly develop the resources o
the State. / believe hat if we coult
get number of these farmers, from
Tuscany and more Northern Italy, t,
locate here and buy small farms,
would be greatly to the advantage o
the State. The tremendous suprem
facy of Arkansas as fruit-growinl
State, is due to a small body of Ital
ians who were located in western Al
kansas few years ago.
Louisiana as an Exmple.
Louisiana from Kenner north OF
the Illinois Central railroad, is set
tied with Italians who supply tn
vegetable markets Of New Orleans
While / was in Rome was fortunatl
in being associated with some rathe
prominent Ital1ess Ncers an
through them cabrin'