The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-01-10
Why Farmers
Can't Control
Cotton Acreage

The people that Do the farming
that Is the real farmers OF Texas do
not control the situation; not more
than half, anyway. Bankers, big resi-
DENTAL and non-rcsidcntial land hold
Land Lords Of Texas control
the other half, or more. The tenant
farmers and hired men have almost
no voice in the matter and they pro-
duce about half or more OF the cot
tom raised in Texas And this situa-
,ion and handicap 20 the real farmers
and 20 the progress and development
81 Texas will continue so long as Dig
residential and non-residential lana
holders control half or more OF the
best farming lands of Texas.
A. proof Of this statement ! VIII
give lust two sample cases.
One "hnnkor-farmer" who farms,
not the farm. but farms 'hls negroes
and tenants and Of course skins
them 60 finish says "Divcrdficn-
zion is an right but cannot be prac-
ticod" Why7 lie tells Why Here
IL is. ~ have a farm II several hun
dred acres on Red River J force
them lnrgrOes and tcnants) 90 plant
an the cotton possible They slmply
have to raise cotton get along fine
with my negroes" my ncgroesD
And don't fai 20 get this; "The me-
groos and white tenants alone pro-
ducc M least half " the cotton and
neither can reduce his acreage n sim
gle acre" That tells you why You
see. My big master landlord land
holder slave owner, viii not permit
a. And there you arcl Alsa, the
li'ile farmer and home owner Is vir-
tually in the grin, or subject 20 the
big land holders. foi that half ~ cot
ton raised by negroes and white ten
ants controls the cotton situation.
The other example in proof OF my
claim Is the biz Taft farm and ranch
~ Corpus Christi with rs fine farm
ing lands. gins, Mills. packing plant,
dairy. hog ranch, cattle ranch, etc.
rs improved and labor saving ma
chinery that the little farmers can
not afford. and with which they can
not compete. With its overscery,
cheap negro, Mexican and white Ia
Dor. and with its stores, banks, etc,
where the workers part with-or re-
turn the little they get FOR their
labor
And this IL Just two samples Of the
many big land holders ~ Toxas who
dominate, control and virtually own
Thousands Of poor working men won
en- and children. both black and white
aud dominate the little farmers and
tholr productions.
These big land lords occupy the
same nosition and exercise the same
authority as the Jrc-wnr cha'trl slave
owners. except, he has no money In
vested in his slaves and docs not have
t1 nprlv or care Tor them.
And ! want 20 further say
Th big land holding. fo- profits
and speculation, is the greatest curse
and drawback 10 farm owning. fnrm
progrpse. farm Interests and the i'm
nr0vemeni. progress and Develop
ment II the grcnt State of Texas.
Governor Pat Neff was elected on
land.plnnk and we hoped 70 see
something done ir regard 20 this big
iand.holdinR for speculation and
urofiiecring purposes, thus prevent
ing real development home owning
and home building. Bot is he going
% DO anything, or was u al a inkeY
No one man needs more than a half
section FOR farming, and all above
that should have a graduated land tax
on II. That would force these big
land hogs 20 sell for actual homes and
cultivation. Let the big stockmen
use lands for grazing III for cultiva-
tion.
7. j. ESTES.