Evening star., 1938-08-29
PRESS VIEWS ON
SOUTH'S PROBLEMS
Demand That Administration
Remove Determinations I'M
posed Throughout too
Long Period.

In the countrywide press discussion
OF the report by the National Emergency
Council, analyzing the conditions that
hamper the Southern States, the COM
ments from that section demand that
the administration in Washington under
take to remove determinations that have
been created over a long period. 1t is
declared that, with such relief, it would
be possible for Southern leadership to
cooperate in developing the lf-suf-
flciency of those States.
The greatest need of the South" ac-
cording to the Fort Worth Star-Tele-
gram, is for sound leadership which
can renovate the old, unsuccessful eco
nomic set-up, with the aid of a re-
energized citizenry." The Baton Rouge
La) State-Times, however, voices the
wish that persons in other sections
might realize how much the South has
actually done for herself and her peo-
pie" The Winston Salem IN. c.
Journal indorses the advice to "buy
Southern given by Senator Bankhead
OF Alabama.
Southern leaders," states the Lynch
burg Vao Advance, have for years
been protesting the discriminatory
freight rates and the high tariffs that
have been penalizing the South" The
Advance comments further: so far as
the tariff Is concerned. the Democratic
platform of 1882 promised relief to the
South. But for more than five years, a
Democratic administration has taken no
steps to relieve the South of the burdens
which one Republican administration
after another placed upon it. AS a mat
ter OF fact the councils report Is an in
dictment OF the administration, for it
would have been possible several years
ago to have eased the problem of the
South and put the Southern States
further on the road to recovery than is
now the case"
TOO much politics." in the judgment
OF the Texarkana Gazette, ranks with
discriminatory freight rates and detri-
mental tariffs among the handicaps that
confront the South
X
ut Is for the South" declares the
Nashville TennesSean, ito activate its
own social consciousness and business
sense-and It's present political potency
we nave the strength to put our case
pe1ore the Nation, to demand the re-
moVal OF those disadvantages which
absentee ownership, through political
power have placed upon the region 1t
is not Tor Southerners to be inspired by
such reports as that of the National
Emergency Council to self-pity, or to
consider ourselves simply much abused >
We are the backbone of the political
party in power in the Nation and 1t is
our time to require the rectification of
lnequltleS which the sectional biases of
previous administrations have fostered. -
Given energy, brains and a reason
able national economy" advises the
Richmond News Leader, "the South may
become immeasurably richer than ever
1t was or ever it dreamed of being"
\ X X
I'm Southern resources and in South
ern leadership and cooperation" thinks
the Atlanta Constitution lies the an
sWer to Southern progress. which here
tofore has not been marked with the
stagnation evident in the East Unjust
burdens must be removed That accom-
plished, the South need look only to its
people for the answer to these problems"
What the section needs most" ac-
cording to the San Antonio Express "is
heavy industries-the sort that create
permanent wealth, develop industrial
centers and farming communities, build
homes and schools, factories and
churches. However, that development
requires long term investments counted
in the billions-investors who will put
up the money, willing to wait some years
for returns. Those dividends would be
certain and generous. but how to con-
vince the prospective investor on that
score? That is the Souths present
problem. 1t is not political but sound
public policy-including fair taxation
would help"