The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-04-11

NNA
1t seems a foregone conclusion that we must have
industry % supplement- 2dT agricultural income II we
are ever to have any real wealth.
Mr.. Bowen says:
There a time, going back some years, but not too far
back for most of US to remember, when Mississippi a wide
iy believed to be hostile to industry. 1 say believed to be-
because I do not think such a n attitude was then, any more
than now, the real attitude Of the thinking people of this
State. However. many things were done and said in the
name Of all the people Of Mississippi. which created and
supported that impression. Whether 1t was justified or
not, that wa the reputation which Mississippi came to have
pretty generally elsewhere throughout the country. The
result of having that reputation - the inevitable result Of
IT - was that business e who wer seeking opportunities
for industrial enterprise, for turning natural wealth into mar
ketable wealth. gave Mississippi a wide berth.
a We AL have Ger a decided change in that regard in
more recent years. Now there Is not a community of any
size anywhere in Mississippi that is not at least o the
surface - industry minded. that does not recognize what
industry can mean and do for Il In increased payrols and in
increased business activity and n building up and support
ing the home market. that is not seeking to attract those
industries which win best nt into the local situation to round
out the lie Of the community. This improved attitude also
has been reflected In the administration of public affairs.
both in the state government and in county and local govern
ments. along lines to insure industrial progress. This change
has not come overnight; Il has come gradually and a it
has gained force it has served to dispel the impression of
antsgonism to industry which formerly existed.
Naturally we want to see these promising oppor-
tunities bear fruit There are four answers, according
+ M Re"eg, - he question &C how "Crt 20 insure fur
Their industrial development in our state.
My first answer is that the furtheranoe of industrial
development. like many other things. must begin at home.
To put it bluntt. a community that does not take care of
what it has. that does not watch out vglanty for its
listing industries has no right to expect others to come
Knocking at its door. You may suspect me OF having a
selfish reason for making that statement, seeing that in all
the yardstis&s which measure Industry In payrous. in taxes.
in purchase s and in value Of plant. and product ~ our rail-
road is The largest single industry in Mississippi I assure you
that m reason Is not wholly Sesash. bat sven If it were. it
would not be necessary Q ofet my apology for that state
mcnt. However, I would prefer for the enphads to be placed
upon the industries which at present go to make up the bust
ness life of any community. The treatment they II accorded
speaks louder than words a to wha, the newcomer may
expect when the newness wears off. Consequently. the first
and greatest offer which any community al make for the
development Of its industrial possibilities Is a record Of fair
treatment of those industries which have previously cast
their lot with it,
THE second answer 1 would make to the question I have
suggested is that there should be a greater measure of CO
operation In the work OF Industrial development. 1 refer not
merely to the cooperation of the community and the railroad
or of the business man and the public official 1 refer also
to cooperation among neighboring communities - which too
often In the past have worked against each other when
heir better Interest lay In joining forces to meet inside
competition.
My third answer to the question of how to encourage
industrial development is that there should be a clear recox-
milton of the fact that there lis no conflict between agrEuL
tre and industry. That recognition IS specially needed
here because the Mississippi Delta Is essentially the rich
est agricultural area in the world. II there were a real con-
fct between industry and agriculture. 1 would say without
any hesitation considering the greatness of your agreu-
tural resources, that your interest here would lie in the choice
of agriculture. In that event, it would be cur choice for
this are too, because our interest s. obviously lies In what
is best for the territory.
However, re dc not face that choice. There Is not such
conflict. Agriculture and industry can and do 20 hand In
hand and side by side. Those industrial possibilities which
oHer the greatest opportunities here ana else
where in Mississippi are generally speaking, those industries
which utilize natural resources and agricultural products.
which contribute to the home market for agriculture, which
join with agriculture in supporting the population and adding
TO the wealth OF all. Elsewhere agriculture and industry
have developed successfully alongside each other. and thai de-
veiopment can come and indeed must come increasingly In
mississippi if this state is to make the most OF It's great
opportunities.
The fourth answer 1 have is that we all must eet To-
sether and decide - once and for all and for keeps - what
= III Is we really want. Evrything I have said up 10 this point
4 las been said o N the assumption that we are 4 m mind
IN desiring to realize o opportunities for further iadus-
uai development. However, 1 think our closing thought misht
vel b. to ask ourselves the question: Do we really want
industrial development in Mississippi? Is our state OF mind
- deep down inside - such as will really foster and pro-