The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-19
NEEDFEWERT TAXES
LESS GOVERNMENT
DECLARES BANKER
Farmers Urged To Stick BY
FIeecy Staple But To Raise
Enough To Eat
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD
Mont gOmery. Ala. May 10 !


Alabama farmers were urged by
the Alabama Bankers association at
its annual convention today to grow
cotton as money crop and to look
to dairying, poultry and hog-raising
for supplies for the state. This ac-
ton was taken when the association
adopted the report OF the
committee on agriculture, which
was submitted by B. w. Pruett of
Admission. chairman of the committee.
The report of the committee and
addresses by Thomas R. Preston of
Chattanooga, president of the Hamil-
ton National bank. and Henry B.
Steagall, congressman of the third
district, were features of the second
days session Following a business
session, which continued until late in
the afternoon visiting bankers were
guests of commercial organizations
and local banks on an automobile
ride through the city and county.
The last session was scheduled to
be held at Mitchell Dam. the new
development of the abama Power
company. where final business will
be transacted, officers named and a
ing. In the report of the agricultural
committee the declaration was made
that cotton can be grown successful
ly under boil weev1I conditions by
carly planting, proper preparation of
land. intensive cultivation, use of
good seed and proper fertilization.
The report said it is not necessary
to plant great acreages in order to
obtain proper supply and insisted
that it is better to reduce the acre
age and devote more time and atten-
ton to the smaller acreage. Dairy
ing was recommended as an agricul
tural industry which would furnish
the farmer with additional resources
where boil weevil conditions prevail.
The maintenance of dairy herds and
the growing of vegetables and forage
crops We're urged.
Il. II. Preston speaks.
Mr.. Preston's address was on the
tendency of the times toward central
ization of authority at the national
capital. He declared the great issue
in the campaign soon to start will
not be international ISSUES. but will
be on the question of taxation reduc-
ton and the removal of control by
the national government which he
said now is maintained over private
interests. Mr.. Preston insisted that
greater independence is being shown
hy the voters now than ever before.
Mr.. Preston stated that the civilian
employees of the national government
now number 100000. He compared
this number with the nations stand
ing army of $4,000 and presented
figures showing that the American
people now work one day in seven
for the support of the general
government, that taxes for all pur-
poses have increased 800 per cent in
eight years and that during the past
16 years the general government
and states have enacted laws at the
rate of 225 day, including sundays,
He suggested that the need is not for
plcre laws but a repeal of some of
a truce in law making during which
private business could get another
3 start.
Too Much Governments.
Mr.. Preston said the activities of
the government may be responsible
ft1 the growth of radical groups in
the nation. He mentioned various
acts of the government which he
said should not have taken ana
stressed the creation of "a federal
commission for the rearing of chill
dren."
He declared that the two great
political PARTIES should be given
another chance and that the lead
ing thinkers should be called into
service. He expressed the opinion
that Senator Underwood should be
riaced at the head of the list of
persons eligible for the presidency
Congressman Steagall commended
the Congress which enacted the
federal reserve legislation during
Tie democratic administration of
Woodrow Wilson and predicted that
when all banks, which are eligible.
have joined the federal reserve
system the credits problem will have
been solved.
O o o
Wants Debts Paid.
Mr.. Steugall said one the needs
of the nation is for the reduction of
the armed force and expressed the
opinion that Il tax rate should be