The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-20
For the Good of
 the Community

lS Lle UuSlIIeSS OI the people to De benefited. It is not that of others What the waterways will get depends on the tenacity with which the people cling to this project.
 The western grain growers, in the age when one read about Bleeding Kansas were burning oats, corn and wheat in To- comotives and in their fire grates at home. They had depended on others to care for thelr grain, to move 1t, to see that they got fair price. The others failed in that vicarious task.
 The Kansans awoke as out of dream They built their own warehouses in pre- cinct, county and state. They held their grain until the milling centers sent their agents to dicker for it. Since that time Kansas has grown rich Its farmers own more automobiles than the farmers of any other state. All due to Kansans realizing that their grain was their business.
 Southern farmers had little respect for the peanut. They entertained little more for hogs and for cattle Even after they raised them there was no market except the store of the county capital. They were not taking care of their own busi- ness. Then came the county farm agent and, through his aid, the farmers began cooperative marketing of peanuts, hogs and cattle. St. Louis and Chicago slaugh- ter houses sent representatives to- trade with the associated shippers through their county agency. Top prices for beeves were received either from the faraway buyers or from the local merchants whose sway had been disputed Other farm products also became lucrative through this process. The farmers were conduct ing their own business not relying on others.
 Men established creameries in Ala bama. There were not enough dairy cows of good breed to supply the cream cries. The operators did not twiddle their thumbs, run along on scant production with large overhead and invite bank ruptcy They sent experts to other states to secure fine cattle. They sold the cattle tofarmers at cost, the farmer, in turn, pay ing for the cattle by shipping his milk to the creamery. The creamery has become a real Alabama asset because the cream cries did not balk at obstacles, but fol- lowed the necessities of their business whither they led for their relief.
 There is an apparent impasse at Cor dova. The Frisco stands pat on relin- quishing all control, handling and respon- { sibility for cars bearing freight for the river terminals there after they have left the tracks of the Frisco at the intersection with the port tracks. The Warrior man. agement sees in this the eating up of the 20 per cent freight differential through charges for switching. They foresee a dangerous precedent initiating against the entire Warrior scheme.
 Whose business is this? Not that of the railroads It is that of the people of Ala bama who will enjoy the differentials if they are saved and will lose them if they do not themselves do the saving. The Warrior project depends on differentials, because, if they are wiped out, the econ omy of river transportation is wiped out with it and the inland waterways will die in the crib of their rebirth.
 It is not necessary to get hot in the col lar about it, but to profoundly and for ever sense the crux of the Warrior pro-