Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
Cotton-Crowing Demands
Are Discussed by Country

Leaders in agriculture, with efforts
10 create better conditions in the cotton
market, nave initiated a great national
debate on the subject of reduced acre
age, and while there is strong indorse-
ment OF such measures, the difficulties
involved are emphasized. Diversified
tion Is touched upon in the course Of
the debate, but it is held that the chief
problem is TO find q formula which will
guarantee general acceptance without
actual conpulsion Increased use Of
cotton Is also considered.
Economically worn to the bone" de-
clares the Birmingham News, Southern
agr1culturistS at last may be brought to
see the error of piling up SURPRISES Of
cotton. But they must have intelligent
direction. They are in imperative need
at this moment of economic and scien-
tif1c guidance. Merely to shout Reduce
acreageP Is not enough. They must be
shown how 1t can be done without tenn
porarily denying themselves meat and
bread. Drastic systems Of diversifica-
ton are theoretically sound But in
matters Of practice there must be scien-
tific and economic aid extended, not
merely to planters here and there, but
to vast groups of them"
Advice that "if the Farm Board comes
to an understanding Of the Southern
farmers problem, vivid enough to in
duce the establishment of credit basis
which will exert pressure toward diver
sification of farm output, instead of
away from it, the Southern farm situa-
ton will be well nigh revolutionized, is
given by the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
That paper continues: I'm the end
Southern agriculture must realize that
the raising of cotton is no longer a poor
mans business. The great farms, or
ganized on a semi-industrial scale and
operating largely with machinery, can
by economies of labor produce cotton
at profit in world competition. Obvi-
ously this induStrialized cotton produc-
ton will center largely where conditions
favor large operations. West Texas,
with its millions of acres of virgin soil,
free from stones and stumps, over which
improved machinery may operate freely,
must eventually lead in cotton produc-
ton, simply because cotton can be raised
mere cheaply here than anywhere else.
But In West Texas, as well as every
where else, the small farmer must di-
versify II he is to prosper"
4 n
On the subject of legislation to force
reduction of acreage the Little Rock
Arkansas Gazette holds that America
has had too many examples of the
tons that are not amenable to legal
control" and continues as to the effect
of such measures: Leaving wholly
aside the questions of constitutional
right that would be raised by acreage
limitation statutes, the acreage which
the landowners of a State shall put
into cotton is not something that can
be determined by legislation. If South
ern farmers cannot be persuaded and
nr1Inafnd Mt <,se 1ai,.
own benefit, it is certain they cannot
be dubbed into it. In other words, If
they are prepared to reduce acreage,
no law Is needed to make them do it,
and II they are not willing of their own
accord to take this step, law decree
ing reduction would be a dead letter"
Contending that the problem should
be dealt with as agricultural workers
advise until some plan is found for a
permanent solution" the Admission Star
remarks Disposal Of the 1880 crop is
now puzzling some OF the best minds of
the State and Nation, and it is several
months yet until farmers will begin
planning for planting again; but it is
not too early to think of the acreage
problem, and it is interesting to note
thot movement to prevent 1881 sur
plus is already under way. Further
more, the situation this year strongly
emphasizes the need for acreage reduc-
ton in 1881. AS stated by Gov. Graves,
the apparent surplus of cotton this year
makes it imperative that the farmers
limit their crops next year"
obviously, the reduction next sea-
son." thinks the Providence Journal,
must be in excess of 10 per cent of
this years acreage If the Farm Boards
maximum of 40,000.0O0 acres is to be
observed. That is no simple objective,
particularly when one bears In mind
that the process involves wise selec-
ton of the land that is to be used next
season. While It is probably
true that the Farm Board is pursuing