The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-25
BY c. T. CARPENTER
Written For The Indlanapoiis Iimssl


BY c. T. CARPENTER
Written For The Indianapolis Iimssl
MARKED TREE, Ark, May Is
The effect Of the Agricultural Ad-
fustment Act on the sharecropIer
system is exactly what might nave
been expected.
Before its passage most Of the
plantations Of the south were heav-
ilv m0rtcaged. Il was freely pro-
pheacd that the plantation system
was breaking down under its own
weight and that the great planta-
tions would soon by broken up into
small farms. owned by the people
who cultivate them.
II only this could have happened.
the depression with all OF its mis-
fortunes would have been an in
est.mable boon 20 the south. but
bv the Federal aid the plantation
system has been given a new lease
OF life
system Strongly Intrenched
The money. paid landowners by
the government under the reduc-
ton contract. and the boost in the
price OF cotton caused thereby, have
enabled them 10 hqUidate, or at
least reduce. their mortgages. Today
the plantation system OF the south
is more strongly intrenched than
1t has been for years.
However. this Is not the most sig
uifcant effect Of the Federal aid.
By IL cotton acreage was reduced
about 40 per cent. and something
like 40 per cent Of tenants were dis
placed. As a result, hundreds OF
evictons have taken place in most
counties. In the eastern part Of
Poinsett County alone there have
been about 300 OF which the writer
has a record.
II should here be noted that most
Of these evictiOns have not been at
the hands of the sheriff Many
sharccrOppers. on receiving notice
from the landlords, moved whether
they had a place to 60 or not. As
a result. hundreds Of poor families
are drifting without any permanent
place Of abode.
Live in Tents, Barns
Some have been taken into the
homes of relatives and friends. lit
tie better of than themselves.
Others have sought shelter IN tents,
deserted houses and barns. Still
others have moved 10 neighboring
towns to become charges on charity.
Congress passed the Agricultural
Adjustment Act to aid agriculture.
We all thought this act was in
tended 10 aid all ClaSses-the plant
er. the managing share-tenant. the
ShareCroyper and the day labOrer.
Most 81 US wanted to believe and
did believe that IL was intended TO
aid most those who needed aid worst;
but the opposite has happened.
As soon as the first reduction con-
tract was made the planters began
to maneuver to get all the money
paid by the government. New con-
tracts. between landlord and tenant,
were at once entered into. by which
the landlords secured all the money
paid by the government.
Defeats Own Purpose
SO We have the situation of a
noble movement on the part Of the
government for the benefit Of agri-
culture so perverted and manipu-
lated as 10 defeat its main purpose.
Managing Share-tenants who stood
up for their rights have been dis
charged. and other tenants obtained
who would agree for the landlord
to have all the rental. Since Negroes
are more submissive. many a white
sharecrOpper and renter who de-
handed his rights under the gov
eminent contract has been removed
to see his place filled by a Negro
But even this is not the SaddeSt
part Of the story. Small renters
and sharecroppers have been re-
duCed to day laborers and paid
minimum wage of 55 to IS cents
a day for the actual DAYS they labor.
and nothing for the days they can't
work.
Form Union. Then Thown Out
Their condition has thus been
made worse than that of SharecrOp-
pers. The government subsidy has
provided the planter with the cash
TO pay wages. and although cotton
is up. wages on the farm so down
We give a concrete example of its
working. 4 certain landlord had
1000 acres cultivated IN cotton. BY
the cotton reduction contract. his
cotton acreage was cut 40 Der cent.
for which the government paid him
$1,000 BY this reduction about l35
families were adversely affected:
among these were the best men on
The farm and some who had been
there for years
Some Of them thought they were
entitled 10 a part Of the money
paid by the government for the re-
duCtiOn Of their crops and wrote
about It 70 the Secretary of Agri-
culture. some organized a union 10
secure their rights. These men were
al removed from this farm.
II any one fact of this situation
Is more certain than any other. it
IS this: That Federal aid TO agri-
culture has not relieved, but has
Sorely aggravated the most pressing
problem Of the cotton states.
Tomorrow: A remedy suggested.
rtnE nEnnnTO