Evening star., 1927-05-15

IFdi cflut IlilN vi tIiSiI
The havoc wrought by the flood s
fury goes beyond the Immediately ap.
parent facts and figures compiled by
Secretary Hoover's relief organization.
1t strikes deeper than do the esti
mates Of probably $3.50. 900 900 dam
age. 350,000 homeless. 300 dead and
900 600 acres of crop land inun-
dated.
Rehabilitation Big Problem.
These approximations, not yet COM
pleted, serve 10 apprise the Nation
of tangible results already noted. In
their limited way they give a matter
of-fact idea Of the scope of the catas-
trophe which has hit the land of cot
ton and sugar cane.
Only victims of the waters them
selves, or persons who have inspected
the far-reacling deSolation, however,
can realize adequately the complexi'
ties of the situation from Cairo to the
gulf.
There is, of course. the big problem
of relief and rehabilitation of those
evicted from their homes. The Ameri-
can Red Cross, supported by a sym
pathetic and generous Nation, is pre-
pared to take care of this phase of the
developments. The thousands of refu-
gees, JnOStIy vi TIE BcOlNI Al0SS VI
both races, now are receiving food,
shelter and medical aid from the CO.
ordinated agencies of mercy in each
affected State.
Work Already Begun.
The work of bilitation, which
includes the re-establishment of the
homeless in their previous places of
residence and employment, has been
started in the upper reaches of the
river with the gradual decline of the
81 laden waters, and authorized State
committees stand ready to begin this
repatriation" process farther south
rs the flood departs from the delta
region.
There is the grave problem of sani.
tation and health--one which is chal-
! ienging the combined health services
of a dozen States enlisted by the Red
Cross to combat the dangers of plague
and pestilence.
There is the staggering question Of
refinancing the owners of ruined farms
and plantations, SO that Americas cot
ton, sugar and other crops may be
saved, at least partially.
There is the problem of obtaining
sufficient seed and of giving 1T proper
distribution.
Farm Stock Depleted.
Looming ominously over all of these
agricultural enigmas. however, is the
bugaboo of labor and depleted farm
stock The machinery of rehabilitation
is we'll oiled and equipped to care for
the emergency problems of farm re-
establishment finance and reseeding.
But what good will money and seed
be to us If we don't have hands and
mules with which to do our planting
all over again?" plantation owners are
asking themselves.
These worried farmers point out
that their negro field workers have
been scattered in several States and
placed in refugee havens. They fear
that most of their help will not return
TO their old fields of endeavor, but will
accept, possibly, more lucrative posi-
tions elsewhere-in town or villages.
The farmers are afraid that the at
nosphere of camp comforts and char
ity influences will have a disQuieting
effect on their formerly satisfied en-
ployes.
Refugees Forced to Work.
Possibility of such an eventuality
has been recognized by the author
tiles in charge of the refugee centers,
and they are adopting a general policy
of enforced industry at the camps. The
refugees are assigned daily tasks to do
and they must adhere TO certain pre-
scribed rules of conduct. There is
nothing arduous or domineering in the
routine laid down for these unfortu-
nate persons, but they are made to un-
derstand that those who are helped
also must help themselves.
In this way it is hoped that the en-
forced vacation of the workers from
their flooded fields will not result in a
great economic labor problem when
The land has been drained of its muddy
torrents.
The attitude of many of the more
ignorant of the refugees is best sum-
med up in the words of one old negro
from a submerged Arkansas planta-
ton;
Nav. sub, cap'n: All don wanna
go back whah All come from-naw.
@lh.
Down whsh All come frum All ony
got one meal a day. Deys givin' me
two hyah. Capn, jus leave me whah
All is, please, sub. Ah'm gettin' along
right tollable hyah. All amt pahticulah
bout goin' back home. Nav, subj
Workers to Be Returned.
Anticipating or needing the fears of
the cotton growers that their employees
end allowed to seek new means of
livelihood, the refugee officials have
agreed on plan whereby every man,
woman or child removed from flooded
homes or farms will be returned di-
rectly to those homes or farms before
the supervision of the relief agencies
Is lifted. Under this arrangement the
burden of keeping the workers down
on the farm" will rest entirely on the
M ho for nd
managers. The Red Cross, in other
words. intends to carry back to each
plantation the refugees removed there
from and to say to their employer:
Here are the people rescued from
your place. We have cared for them
while the flood ragged over your acres
and around your houses. Now that
The waters have receded we are re-
turning them to their homes. If you
slre unable 10 care for them, al be-
fore. We will endeaVor to find them
employment elsewhere. TO aid them
until they are on their feet again. II
you want them back s employees, that
is a matter for you and them to work
out among yourselves
Granted that money, seed and la Dor
Is available after the food there re-
mains the problem of the plantation
mule TO deal with Modern mechanical
contrivances for the tilling of the soil
the sowing of seed and the harvesting
of crops are not necessary in the cot
ton belt. Labor is cheap and mules
are cheaper, and the combination of
man power and mule power has been
found very effective, very efficient and
very economical.
Thousands of Animals Dead
Thousands of the patient. plodding
farm animals have perished in the
Mississippi flood. Many were drowned
in their pastures or stables, and others
have died from starvation and thirst
on remote promontories. where aid
could not readily reach them. Thou