The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-19
AIDING ALABAMA'S PROGRESS

AIDING ALABAMA'S PROGRESS
 To the victors belong the spells. This is not by reason of moral right, but because the victors are able to take them. Under that general theory many rank injustice has arisen, un- til reform has become inevitable. This is true no less in peace than in war, for the victorious in various peace contests have enjoyed advantages that are in reality the spells of their vic tory. No example more completely illustrates this than the manner in which some manufacturing centers have come to enjoy rate and other fa- vors at the expense of the localities producing the raw materials.
 Alabama is one of the sufferers from this spells system. Especially is this true with respect to one of Alabama's chief raw materials-cot- ton. All this has happened because first New England and later North Carolina have been victorious in build ing up textile industries for which Alabama has furnished much of the raw cotton. To these victors have gone the spells, which consist in fa- voring rates and strong competitive position which places this state at disadvantage.
 Just how pronounced this discrimi- nation against Alabama is may be de- duced from the statement oe the Ala bama Farm Bureau, which tells us that "cotton can be shipped from local to concentration point in Ala bama and reshipped to Carolina mills, and in some cases to New England mills, at total freight rate cost less than the total cost of shipment to an Alabama mill" This is an obstacle to the development of cotton manu- featuring in Alabama, and should be removed at the earliest opportunity.
 The situation arises from the fol- lowing out of the ancient system. The other localities are not to blame for having taken advantage of it. Alabama was not trying to develop textile industry, being content to produce raw cotton and send it else- where for manufacture. From a na- tional viewpoint the low rates to tex tile centers were doubtless justified, because it meant lower-cost produc- tion of cotton goods and correspond ing saving to the consuming public.
 That day has passed away. No longer is it considered profitable and logical to manufacture goods far from the source of the raw material. The textile mills, accordingly, are drifting Southward. The Carolinas and Georgia have been the first to re- ceive them in quantity, because they have been first in line and have ob- tained favoring rates. Now, how ever, Alabama steps into the ring with so many elements in her favor as a textile state. She has raw material, climate, health, power, fuel, shipping and export facilities, labor and other factors that must be considered when eotdpiisiiiHR all 1HQuSlry.
 It remains now to adjust freight rates on cotton travelling within the state of Alabama from gin to mill That such an adjustment will be brought about is assured by its inher- ent justice. What may have been logi- cal in the days before Alabama as- pired to be a manufacturer of cotton. becomes an outright absurdity now that cotton mills are developing in this state as they are doing in spite of the freight rates. There is no fear that the cotton preferentials against this state will not be removed just as, one by one, the other discriminations against this state have been removed. Let there be united demand for such promptness in attaining this justice as is possible. The Farm Bureau is do- ing fine work in making this vital question main issue in it's program to better the situation of the Ala bama farmer.