The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-08
FARMERS IN
ABLF TO PAY
THEIR DEBTS
But Outlook is Optimistic
Col. Jordan Predicts Revo-
Iutionary Changes in
Marketing Of Crops

Houston. April 5.-Harvie Jer-
dan. secretary, American Cotton
association. in a statement says: =
I'm my trip throughout the en- s
tire cotton belt, | find that the
farmers are unable 10 meet their
obligations. are compelled TO re-
duce their standard Of living. AMI
10 strip their communities of the
things that make them attractive,
causing stagnation in both town
and country The farm population
shows a marked decrease, especial
; ly during the last TWO years, and
the Young people, especially. are
leaving the farms and taking up
their residences in the cities and
towns Negro labor is showing an
alarming decrease in the agricul-
tural sections, seeking employment
in other lines.
Il do not think it Will be eX-
aSgerating 10 state that there are
thousands Of vacant farms through
ont the cotton producing section Of
America due to these conditions,
which are the outgrowth Of an;up-
sound agricultural policy which
has been pursued for the last fifty
years After the War Between the
States, when the negro was set free
he and his white master were im-
mediately required TO o>enter into
struggle for an existence in COM
petition With each other by the
productions Of cheap products. es-
! pecially cotton.
The old system has broken
/ down. The debacle in prices OF
! farm products since 1920, has
I wrecked the worn-out shacks. The
south is either in a death struggle
or oa the eve Of a new birth. and
l am convinced that the latter is
the case. We are on the eve OF a
new. more prosperous and greater
! south.
I'm conference with leading busi-
ness men, bankers, merchants and
farmers throughout the entire.
| south. find that people are think
! ing as never before. The state
ment was made to me over and
over that the old order of things
is passing away; that it has served
! its day and generation. People tell
/ me on all sides: We need white
immigration; we can never continue
: under the old order. 1t has caused
] both the negro and white man to
! OlV q fearful Oenalty
Even We're scientific methods
discovered today for eradicating
the boil weeyil, it would be inpos-
sible for the south to produce
! full cotton crop. The assets nee
essary for the production Of cotton
have been depleted to greater
! extent within the, last two years
than in any similar period during
! the last half century. The south
like the other agricultural sections
Of America, Is loaded with q tree.
mendous inflated debt incurred f6s
! the production Of the crops Of 1920
and 1921, and this burden alone
means the certainty OF q short
! production and complete change.
Two billion three hundred million
/ dollars is Il stupendous sum, and
yet this is what the south lost
! based upon the cost>ef production
OF the last two cotton crops. 1t Is
: in proportion to the twelve billions
! OF dollars lost. by the agricultural
! producers Of America based upon
the cost OF producing the last two
! crops and the selling price.
The remedy TO these conditions
is to change the old worn-out. hap
hazard system. The people of the .
! south realize they cannot continue
same and that they must place
! agriculture upon a strictly econom-
| zeal business basis. No longer will
they plant in faith, reap in hope
and market by accident. Diversi-
! fed agriculture is a certainty The
/ producers must secure q price for
; their products on a level which
! Will enable them 10 receive cost OF
production plus 4 reasonable profit.
The fact that the agricultural pro-
ducers of America and the various
! lines OF Industry that extend cred
its for the production Of the crops
! of 1920 and 1927 are in the same
I predicament as the people Of the
! South means the absolute certain
ty that these conditions are going
I 10 be changed for the better, and
no section Will show greater
change Tor the better than the
! south
For the present year, even with
ideal seasons, we are facing the
! certainty Of small cotton crop.
With adverse seasons common
sense plainly dictates the certainty
F.! OF Il recordbreaking short crop,
crop even much smaller than the
] record-breaking small cotton crop
OF 1921. The law of cause and
effect can have no other result
The world has been sick. Some
months ago ii stepped from its sick
! bed. II has passed through its con-
vaieScent stage. The world will
have an abnormal appetite for food
and clothing. From whence .rjll
these supplies come? While the
world was sick supplies exceeded
demand. Now that the world is re-
turning 10 health and vigor demand
viii exceed supplies, which viii
means IA mine Sun0l;.S @-ao,;pa