Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-28
ED RIAL .
A SERIOUS BLUNDER

1T is not in any spirit of envy o
jealousy that the Times Recorde
IS prompted to make a'few comment
upon campaign recently embarke
upon by our contemporary, the AT
lanta Constitution, an old and honor
able newspaper. But we believe the
movement it has undertaken is so lad
en- with mischief. to the welfare OF
the farmer and every business mar
of the South, that attention should
be called to it. We refer to the cam.
paign undertaken to show the farm
ers how they can grow more cotton
despite the boil weevil.
At considerable expense the Con
stitution has sent a staff writer to
Texas and othey section of the cotton
belt which have had the boil weevil
for the greatest number Of years to
find out and write about how cot
ton IS being successfully produced
there In spite Of the boil wccvil. This
information is disseminated through
the columns of the Constitution
daily, and other papers are being in
vited to publish the letters also.
The purposes which prompted the
Constitution to undertake this cam
palgn were probably the loftiest; it
undoubtedly was intended to do the
farmer of Georgia, and others indi-
Tectly, distinctive service, But in
our humble estimation the opposite
VIII he the unavoidable effect in
whatever degree the campaign has
/ any influence.
WHAT THE FARMERS OF GEOR-
GA NEED NOW is TO KNOW
HOW TO RAISE OTHER PRO
DUCTS THAN COTTON II AND
MARKET THEM. They need to be
drilled constantly on. the absolute ne
cessity from this time forward of di-
versifying crops and the Importance
of putting them in proper shape for
marketing after they have produced
them. True, diversified crops are not
worth much now. But these are alb
normal times, and the. ratio win not
long remain so unfavorable against
the farmer-except. in the case Of
cotton, the price of which now, de
spite its lowness, is probably higher
; than next years crop or that of any
succeeding year for some time will
be, unless the boil weevil ravages con
tinue to become more serious.
The danger of the CONSTITUTIONS
propaganda lies in the fact that the
farmer needs no encouragement to
plant more cotton than is good for
him or good for the country; he'll dc
it on the slightest provocation. To
tell him that he need not fear the
boil weevil and that he can really
raise big crops even with the weevil
infesting his fields is as logical as
telling small boy suffering .stom-
ache from too much candy to have
another piece. OF course, he is go
ing to eat more candy, because that
pleases him best, regardless of what
is best for him.
The Constitution, in effect, is pass
ing the candy plate and tempting the
already sick boy. and is thus adding
to his agony and prolonging his pc
Rod Of indisposition.
The best service can be done the
farmer by teaching him to live at
home and raise cotton as side pro
duct We do not want him to give
up cotton etirely, for the world needs
cotton and will pay for tiff we do
not grow too much But the South
has seen the wisdom of living at home
this year; with little money in the
bank and few cash markets for pro.
ducts, warehouses and pantries arc
Filled with hams, syrup, meal and
other products which permit the pop
ulation TO get by the strenuous times
with almost no suffering. If more
cotton had been planted last year this
condition would not have been as
true as it is today.
Cotton can easily be the absolute
ruin Of an already embarrassed sec
ton, and only a little encouragement
70 plant more Of it, as is being Civ
en the farmers by the Constitution
can accomplish this ruin. Real serv.
ice, it apepars to us, lies in encourag
ing the farmers in the other direction
and safety lies there, too.