South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-29
COTTON SLUMP Is
TERRIFIC BLOW TO
SOUTHERN STATES
r1ners Ready to Abandon
Product as the Backbone
of Their Crops.

ATLANTA. Ca April 2s-Fecing
ina gTnnmest fight since the days
OF the reconstruction that followed
tho wnr between the states. southern
loTmers today arc ready 10 practj-
. cally abandon cotton "a the back
bone Of their crops and ewing over
10 commodities which Will bring
hthena moro revenue. They hope
Athey will not havo % be drastic
nough TO SERIOUSLY affect production
pof this stayple. which in the past has
brought many thousands Of millions
annually into this section but all
ready steps have been taken 20 cut
into this years planting with suffi-
81 cie2t vigor. they believe, 10 force
clces back TO something near nor
4 nal.
u Conservative estimates place the
Enumber Of cotton bales on the farms
and In warehouses now at 10000
600. There are fields scattered over
The south spotted white with cotton
/ which has been left % rot on the
stalk Farmers would rather il
> stayed there than go 20 the expense
j OF picking, ginning and shipping.
Many things have contributed 20
the condition which makes the lot
or farmers IN Dixie unusually hard.
First there was the exodus Of ne
gro labor when the north began Of
y fering wages which attracted the
y field hands. Some Of these are now
returning TO the south. but many
! others are not Therefore wages
mounted 20 prohfbitive rate. White
IN n are not constructed TO stand the
whitening heat Of southern cotton
fields
Below Pre-war Rates.
Freight rates have shot up untiI
shipment Of raw cotton now is q
serious business.
Stiil-c0tton prices are lower now
4 than before the war
\ canvas Of the situation I'm the
"old south" and extending into
u oklahoma. Texas and Missouri.
shows that state departments have
taken OFFICIAL cognizance of the sit
Fuation and are urging steps to Off
Il set what might happen If planters
cntinued in the old way and plant
&cottcn crops.
Soy beans. something COMPARE
ively new IN crops of this country,
viii be planted by many farmers. It
~ u
FprCducts contributing 20 its value.
These facts have been developed
fu Investigations by the Information
81 News Service:
Georcia's cotton acreage for this
4 year viii not xeceed one-half that Of
1872 provided survey made by the
state is correct Food and feed
products viii replace it.
Tennessee. which has one OF the
y worlds greatest cotton markets
Memuhls-does not raise great
deal Of cotton hut Memphis organ
szations are backing "a movement TO
cut the acreage of That .ata In half.
Nothing definite has aee0 learned
pet I'm oklahoma city circles regard
ne this years crop. but strong pres
is being brought to bear 10
. make the crop smaller by half. Let
.cracads now being used by this
states agriculture board bear car
\ toou which shows "a whirlpool on the
edge Of the shore. diversified
roSgK' A farmer struggles i'm tho
hrlpool. which is marked "the
one-crop cotton whirlpool" "If we
could arrange TO raise 5000, 600
bales i'm 1921 instead of H. 900. 600
bales the credit OF the south would
4 be greatly improved" says a note
on this letterhead.
Florida Looks Elsewhere. 81.
Florida-Various crops are being
substituted for cotton. Corn. pea
nuts. sugar cane, hay. soy beans and
similar products viii be increased
this year 10 take the place of cot
.ou. Florida. remember. raises a
large amount of sea island cotton.
I the rare long staple product which
grows only on the southern islands
! and seacoast.
Arkansas propaganda has
not filtered into Arkansas with fun
i Roadway. and state officials are
4 doubtful If the crop there viii bc de-
\ creased more than onc-ffth Food
products will be grown where cotton
abandoned.
Tcxas-Cooperative marketing un-
s. der way. crop VIII be cut 50 per
cent
North Carollna-Cotton VIII he
4 c,rt One-tbi-d Corn, peas. SOY bcaua
potatoes AID other food crops VIII
replace II.
Ioussiana-The reduction I'm this
n state viii be from 90 20 40 percent
according TO state estimates Corn.
Il velvet beans and truck crops viii be
planted.
Missouri -Watermelons cante-
loupes. potatoes. sweet potatoes and
similar products VIII cut heavily IN
! - cotton crops here. County OIL
Gals have organized TO help cotton
grUwers
Alabama-No.hing definite, bit it
Is presumed this state VIII follow
Others.
SOUTH CaroEna--CrJp wi'l be
EreNt,y cJ;t probably 80 percent. and
rood products mainly substituted.
J, Is reilly too early 51st now 10
gain an accurate estimate % the 1921
~ crop. fo- planting does not begin UNI
rt 1fa--. but pledges OF farmers dur
rg Tho DIVE conducted throughout
~ tllc winter forms a basis TO- ccmpu-
'ation. TIE only fear IS expressed
~ cotton handlers who tr- arc
NAVY farmers VIII depend .r their
rei-aoors 90 cue while they VIII COM
Gnus = plan. heavily.
Sooperaei-e uargcf.-- plans are
mating their cr-rs~-e orr. of these
e being heavily t..s.. lr GEORGIA
tennessee. also IS -.rUu-E behind
one. Farmer .-'.- t1is plan would
30 Obliged -a a,I--r their cotton