Evening star., 1938-08-13

This shabbily dressed 1Uo
arrested her for begging on n
terday, only to find she had 81
told police her name ,Uds Ann
States are among those which have
the largest proportion of their women
in gainful work." the report points
out. Moreover. women and children
work under fewer legal safeguards
than women and children elsewhere
in the Nation"
In addition, the tendency OF adult
men to leave the section in search
of jobs has left the problem Of main
tanning the home up to the women
in many instances, the council re-
ported. Studies in the Eastern COT
ton belt have shown IS per cent Of
relief households without a man
over Is years Of age and 81 per cent
without an employable man.
Erosion Wastes Resources.
The South loses more than $780,
100000 worth OF fertile soil every
year by the process Of erosion, de-
pleting not only its income but also
its capital, the council found. This
is largely the result Of tenant farming,
the report said. since the tenant
farmer Is not likely to use the land
in q way to prevent it from eroding.
Half of the South's farmers are
tenants.
Pellagra, a disease caused chiefly
by inadequate diet, affects the South
almost exclusively From so to SO
per cent of Southern families of low
income spend for food less than
enough to purchase an adequate diet,
the council said.
In extensive rural district there are
not only no indoor Aush toilets, it con-
tinued. but not even outdoor privies.
It. Is In these sections that hookworm
infection and consequent anemia have
fiourished. Twenty-six per cent Of
Southern city and town households are
without indoor flush toilets, the report
said. compared to y per cent for city
and town households in the country as
q whole.
Organization of labor has made
slow progress among the low-paid
workers of the South, it was reported,
and they have little collective bargain
ing power with employers or influence
with politicians for legislation.
The second section OF the report,
concerning soil, said that 81 per cent
OF all the Nations land badly damaged
by erosion is in the Southern States"
Farm Tenancy Blamed.
The council found the farm ten
ancy system largely to blame for this.
Commenting that half the Souths
farmers are tenants. many of whom
have little interest in preserving soil
they do not own" the report relates
that thousands of farmers neglect to
terrace their land and plow it in con-
tours in order to preserve it.
The emigration Of productive work.
ers. said the report, reflects the fail
ure Of the South to provide adequate
opportunities for its people,"
In some sections, there is tendency
to shift to large plantations worked by
machinery on an industrial basis.
Tractors and gang plows are substi-
tuted for men and mules, decreasing
the employment opportunities and re
ducing farm workers to the status Of
day laborers."
Credit Resources Nearer.
The report reviewed the meager
credit resources Of the region, indicat-
ing that it had only IL per cent of
the Nations bank deposits. Southern
companies. moreover. hold only 1885,
900, 900, or about 26 per cent of the
$28,4lS, 900, 900 Of assets held by the
Nations life insurance companies, it
was reported.
The scarcity of local credit sources
results, the report said. in high interest
rates and lays a heavy burden both
on individuals and local governments.
The average interest paid on Southern
State, county and municipal bonds Is
a. per cent, while the rest Of the
country pays only 3es per cent"
Faced with these handicaps. the
South has had to look beyond its
boundaries for the financing Of virtual
ly all Of its large industries and many
OF its small ones. This has turned
policy-making powers over to outside
whose other interests
often lead them to exercise their au-
thority against the Soutl1's best ad.
vantage"
Foreign Exploitation Disclosed.
Referring to the exploitation of
natural resources by persons not living
in the South, the council said:
The public utilities in the South
are almost completely controlled BY
outside interests. All the major rail-
road systems are owned and controlled
elsewhere. Most Of the great electric
holding company systems, whose op-
Grating companies furnish the light,
heat and power for Southern homes
and industries. are directed. managed
and owned by outside interests.
Likewise, the transmission and dis
tribution Of natural gas, one of the
5 uth's great assets. Is almost COM
pletely in the hands of the remote
financial institutions. The richest de-
posits Of the iron ore, coal and lime
stone that form the basis for the steel
In Birmingham are owned
,r controlled outside the region"
Wins Art Scholarship.
Miss Phoebe yonn Kent ~ 011o