Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-25
of citizenship, If cotton does net ad-

u I'D - "a L.. - AN l.
Of citizenship, II cotton does net ad-
vance materially?
During the years 1917, 1918 and 1919
We had a period of comparative pros
perity in the south during which both
the landowner and tenant classes made
more money than they ever dreamed
Of Many, however, never having seen
IL hundred dollar bill before, had. no
training in thrift and spent their
money without thought of the morrow.
Many are poorer citizens today than
they would have been if we had aot
had this period Of prosperity for hav-
ing had glimpse of financial he'.ven
and being again plunged into the hell
of abject poverty, they are naturally
bitter and discouraged.
The only remedy for the present
situation upon which all seem to be
agreed is acreage reduction. Most cot
ton sections know no money crop eX
cept cotton. How can the landowner
or tenant figure to keep body and soul
together to a greatly reduced acreage
of cotton even il the present price Is
doubled? Vet theyi must somehow do
this if better prices are TO be hoped for.
What the south needs is q steady
price for cotton which will allow 4 1alr
return to the landowner and decent
| wages to the tenant At the present
costs Of the commodities they must
buy for crop making purposes, 80 cents
is, we believe. the lowest price which
The industry should consider. 30 cents
will not pay the landowner or tenant
on the very restricted acreage that
must be planted this year. 1t will give
the tenant farmer producing bale to
the acre on 10 acres only Il little over
$3.50 per day for the support OF his
family or about half of this if he makes
normal yield Of one-ha!f bale per
acre.
l have evidence to show that coal
miners are receiving at least ten times
rs much as cotton laborers, VINO are
also paid far less than laborcrs in the
western wheat farms or in the mills Of
any section Of the country.
Every interest in the cotton trade
should recognize the terrible unfair
ness of this situation and should re-
fuse to consent to its continuance.
Every southern interest is bending it's
energies to restore and maintain price
for our money crop. which will allow
something besides a drear and miser-
able ex:stence-that will allow us to
build and maintain schools, churches,
roads and other facilities necessary to
the maintenance of decent civiliZa-
ton. Bankers, merchants. and profess
sional men are cooperating heartily
with the farmers to protect the basic
industry of the-sosiri1. This is not
enough, however. The whole country
is affected by the condition of every
section If the south is stricken with
poverty, it's laborcrs will flock to the
cities of the north ;lnd west and In
icnsifv their race and labor problems.
II the southern farm cannot meet en-
pcnscs for Il long period. the resulting
financial chaos will affect all the
money and trade centerH Of the coun-
try. If we do not receive sufficient
money returns TO support u decent
civilization. the civilization Of all sec
tinns will be affected.
Large classes in the south have. eX-
cent for brief periods, struggled along
eve. since The Civil War in II poverty
so abject that decent food and clothes
could not be obtained. During the pc
rinds when cotton sold for ! cents to
cents many families had To live on %
cents per day or less and right now
the prospcct for mHny is no better tilan
then.
The understanding sympathy of the
nation cannot prevent terrific losses ~
the south nor remove the necessity
for acreage reduction and other meas
i,rrs necessary to cqualizc the supply
Of the stable with the demand. y ma
,iun-w wide and understanding sympa-
thy. however can and will make ii
t.lsicr rnr us 10 get the financial sup
pnrt necessary tn tide over the present
emergency anw will protect US from the
re- erection of barriers TO foreign trade
without which the cotton farm can
never thrive.
To GET pRAPERIY BACK.