The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-06-20
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
COMMONWEALTH CURSE

North Carolina. cursed with tenancy. Is being
! held back, and will continue to be- until some
economic Encouragement is developed by Which
more of the people of this state put to work
on their own lands and own their own homes IN
which to live '"'~" -.s - ~
The agricultural sdeformity, resultant FROM fthe
present system is mo more aggravatng and peril
Gus than athe social implications Of the presert
status -! NJ ~
In ths part of the state, only a fragment OF
this giant evil looms in view Down in the eastern
half is where the iniquty prevails to devastat-
ing extent. ''
What are the facts in regard to our homeless
and HARMLESS Masses ~ q"
Approximately one1haf of those farming in
North Carolina today do not own a foot of the
land they cultivate. s... ~
TIE records advise that this state is moving
into tenancy more rapidly than any other.
of all farm tenants in the state, who represent
about so per cent of the farmers in block OF
eastern counties, d. per cent are negroes-56S 96
to be exact.
In making progress from tenancy to farm own
ership however, the record made by the negro is
better than that of the white man. Ten years ago
IS per cent Of the negro farmers were tenants
There has been an Improvement of five per cent
among them in the last decade
The social disintegrations that spread while such
a conditioner tenancy exists is one of the more
alarming phases of this problem.
IT is estimated in Raleigh that 40 per cent of
the tenants move from year to year. The liability
of saehva2 situation is apparent '' .'. ".
q. Having nc, stake in the land they work, faced
with the urge to rbe constantly the move. this
large body tof our people have no community M
terest, no proprietary concern in either school or
church and, therefore, without the first instincts
of good citizenship '~r : '~ p
rIne eight of the high tenancy counties of this
state more than half of all the residents above ten
years of age have no church connections. And
incidentally, here, it would seem, is dynamic
challenge TO the missionary enterprise of our
evangelical tehurches. g. .
1. Why should they run off to China, Japan and
the isles :ofjthe sea with their pefervid represen
tatsves eof Christianity when at very doors is
such avast body of our own people who remain
unehurched?c
1.-The social effects of tenancy are further re-
Heetsd ineits identity with crime the natural out
come of this rowing, restless and irresponsible
spirit among these people.
% In .cue county of North Carolina, the Raleigh
records further reveal, where~80 criminals were
convicted, IS we're tenants owning not an inch
o. the soil nor "a single in the roof over their
headsacUte al. =, 80 49,. a -
The coilsteral issues arising from this problem
are acute tand dangerous to the proper develop
rhept and social progress of the state that they
may well engage not, only our agricultural leaders,
but our 'sociol6gists as we'll - $50
IS North Carolina is being restricted because of
the prevalence of this evil in its agricultural prog
One, reason that the state annually imports mil
lions Of dolarsin foods and feeds is to be found
in the circumstance that these tenants are not
interested in: that type Of production. All they
want rs crop they sell and from the sale Ct
which they ananage'to get little money to spend
on necessities, nsteadAof devoting themselves par
TALLY TO the production of such essentials.
But the citizenship angle is even more vital.
The quality of life of our state is being tainted
by the heavy load of tenancy which the common
wealth is carrying. - '-
The problem, from any angle from which it may
be considered stands out among the more in
tensely challenging of all that looms ahead of the
intelligent and painstakng leadership of the state.
Charlotte Observer. 80. Z, :'.'P