Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-08-05
Something About The Negro And The
Future Of Cotton Farming

Over at Lake Phil Armage the other day where the
Senator James O. Eastland the Junior Member of the
u S. Senate from the state of Mississippi in speech
befttng the occasion reviewed some of the problems
agriculture modern Industrial Age and stated his
belief that if agriculture is to live IN modern ndusrlal
age it must organize
Maintaining that the Southern Cotton Industry
biggest industry in the United States; asserting that
the south maintain its cotton export markets. stat
ing that the price of cotton must down with the cost
of production and citing the passage of bills by the
congress of the United States to help the cotton
calling for increased subsidy in order to Dolls
ter the cotton economy warning against wider crop
diversfcation in order to avoid agriculture war with
other sections of the nation and pointing out the virtues
of cotton and of cotton growing the Senator named the
Rayon Manufacturing industry the greatest treat TO
the Southern Farmer.
In recent years great amount of thought, time and
money has been put into efforts to develop mechanical
contrivances which would reduce the demands OF cottoh
growing for large number of workers Although thefe
has brilliant efforts it does not yet appear
that any mechanical continuance yet produced has
en- itself sufficiently reliable reduce the demands of
cotton growing for large number of workers so for
the greater and most important labor in connection with
cotton growing must be done by hand.
Among the ten million people in this country as point
ed out by the Senator who making their living in the
production of cotton small percentage of that number
the Negro workers VINO IN by lar greater p1ortE
than any Others supply the all important irrespaceable
abors of the hand which is vital part of cotton grow
ing -. ~
very large part cotton growing is done under the
farm tenancy share SYSTEM in which the lana
assigns worker certain number OF acres TO be
cultivated the land generally supplying the
with the worker receiving his share from the proceeds of
the crop after deduction of expenses at the end OF
harvest time very large percent of the Negro workers
who supply the all important labor of the hand in con-
necon with the growing of cotton work under this system
In years, there has been observable to anyone
interested in the matter increasing amount OF unrest
among Negro cotton workers who have already left and
are continuing leave the farm lands of the South IN
ever increasing numbers This unrest being due in every
respect what to be complete breakdown OF the
Law and enforcement machinery with respects not
only as the ordinary rights of citizen but also as re-
CARDS the protection due him in his rights and interest
in the fruits their labor farm worker This fact being
evidenced by the growing number of incidents OF pubic
knowledge where Negro farm workers and share CHOPPERS
have worsted to the loss Of life when seeking
to share the fruit of their honest labor against
the design of scheming landowner.
We the need of organization among the cotton
growers the south and the first of such organ
zaton had best be to provide of protection for
Negro farm workers. tenants and sharecroppers and OF
assuring them by future action that such protection exists
for unless such step taken before long the vanishing
Negro who has been performing the labor of the
hand so vital cotton growing instead of the Rayon IN
duStry out to be the greatest menace to the
future of the southern cotton farmers.