The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-04-18
Through
HazeN
Eyes~%
BY
Hazel Brannon

The average per capita wealth o!
the South was $2S5 in 1888 as com
pared with a per capita average Of
$537 for all other states according to
studies recently made by the Mis-.
sissippi Planning Commission.
In 1888 the income of the South
was approximately 78 billion dollers
and the population was approximately
27.7 millions. The same year the
income for all other states was sat-
billion dollars and their population
was 101.6 million people.
An interesting comparison may be
made with the total volume Of for
eign trade. In 1888 the total value
of foreign trade was slightly owe
8 billion dollars. If the per capita
income Of the South ($285) was rails
ed to the level of the rest Of the
United States ($537), the total In.
crease of the South's income would
be owe Z billion dollars.
This would open q potential market
greater than all exports from the
United States for 1888.
The so called experts" have been
worrying and wondering what Is 60
Ing to happen to the foreign trad
of the United States with almost the
entire world at war. There is rap.
idly appearing a new order in Europe
and regardless OF the outcome, wheth
or England or Germany wins the
war. we may rest assured that the
victor isn't going to concern himself
with the welllbeing of the foreign
trade OF the United States.
England or Germany, in either
case will be out in the future as they
have In the past. to get every bit OF
trade for themselves possible. We will
receive scant consideration at theiI
hands. They will deal with us only
when they are compelled by necessity
to do so.
1t seems hat the best brains Of
this day would seek to solve our
problems of production and distribu-
ton at home rather than abroad
We realize that foreign trade Is q
necessity If there Is to be free trade.
However, today free trade Is impos
stble because of war. This, it seems
thai 1t behooves us to work III our
W salvation and let the rest of the
world do likewise.
We cannot help but believe that In
America our prohlapo 30 ,,oc,nIox,
ment, SURPRISES in a land When some
do not have enough to eat, banks
overlooking with money and small
business men struggling for existence
a country where there is so muct
wealth and too much want, we cannot
be other than hopeful hat there is
a solution to u problems so that the
greatest nation in the world can
truly come into its own.
We believe that at least a partial
solution of those problems, affect
ing so desperately our national econ
omy, can be found by bringing the
income and living standards of the
south up to the rest Of the u
try.
In solving the problems peculiar
70 TIE south a great measure of the
problems of other sections will be
solved. In short, when the toll Of
the worker of the soil brings to hin,
an income sufficient to feed, clothe
and educate his family and maintain
a decent standard of living, there
will be little unemployment felt in
centers of industrial activity. When
the problems of distribution between
these two groups are solved we viii
not have to worry about foreign
trade.
We should not feel that our prob
lens are hopeless. Faith in America
demands that we keep on praying
and working for their solution.