The La Grange reporter. (La Grange, Ga.) 184?-193?, December 24, 1914, Image 8

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Sedan Ooupelet Town Car Touring Roadster F. O. B. Detroit. SANTA WILL SPEND HIS XMAS HOLIDAYS IN A FORD. HOW ABOUT YOU? C.'W. SMITH 7 * SON. 1BW >:rrHB lagrangk reporter THURSDAY MORNING. DEC. 24, !»I« Interesting Communication from Mr. George Boddie The Reporter culls especial atten tion to a timely and interesting: article appearing in this issue which, was con tributed by Mr. George B. Boddie. Mn. Boddie is one of. thp most successful fanners in Troup county. Ills ar ticle, therefore, has the additional weight of being backed by practical experience. The Reporter takes this occasion to repeat its invitation to the fanners of Troup county to help ench other by contributing their ideas and experien ces to its columns. Such articles, cal culated to bo interesting and helpfu/ to others, arc always welcome. THE WAY OUT’ By George B. Boddie. The low price of our fleecy staple which is one of the results of the European war has brought forth a host of advice for the Southern far mers. Every paper that we read contains one or more letters of ad vice to the farmer, all handing out the same old dope, 1. e., plant less cotton and raise more diversified crops, etc. Evidently a great many of these letters arc written by imaginary far mers who livo ip houses with asphalt streets in front of them, for they give no method whatever aa to how or where we aro to market our diver sifted crops. They simply hand out the same old dope that we have heard for the last quarter of a century, 1. o., plant less cotton and raise more diversified crops. And there they stop like a moon-eyed mule at a hole in a bridge. Advice is on awfully cheap commodity; it is very easily given, as it oftimes consists only of a little hot air. The question is, what is it Worth 3 But the muin question that con fronts us today is: The wuy out of qur pn-sont predicament. Cun wo get out by raising divers fied crops? If so what diversified crops uri wo tp ruise? And how are wo to depose of them advantageous ly? How many of you read the letter that was published in the Atlanta Constitution a few days ago from Mm. Nellie Peters Uluck? Mrs. Bluck is u very estimable lady and evidently a lady of very superior business qualifications, judging from tire vast estate that she is successfully pranaging. Sho tells us that she tan- gone in person to every wholesale supply house in Atlanta und tried to sell them shulled oats, and in every instance she was mot with tho same reply, i. e., “We prefer handling tho Western oats.” Likewise sho tried t sell them hay which was of a good quality and put up in merchantabl bales. In every instance she wus met with tho sumo reply: “We prefer handling tho Western hay.” Like wise sho attempted to sell thorn other farm products, such hs potatoes, dairy and poultry products, etc. But in every instance sho was met with tho same discouraging reply. Your writer has had u similar ex perience. Not mnuy months ago 1 approached a grocery dealer and tried to sell him a superior quality of Georgia raised outs in quantities varying from 100 to 1000 bushel lots, all put up in bugs of uniform size and delivered in his place of business. I offered as an inducement to make said sale to take the pay in groceries from time to time us I needed them, und at the ruling pj-ico of such groce ries the day said groceries were de livered. Tho reply Uiat 1 got was: “1 can buy Western outs for 53c per bushel, and 1 don’t care to handle yours at that price for I prefer hand ling the shipped oats." Now in the face of such circum stances what are the Georgia farmers to do with their diversified products after they raise them T It seems as if the Georgia merchants and con sumers ure not in sympathy with the prosperity of tho farmer, only so far as it benefits their financial interest, for they will not buy a home-raised commodity except at a starvation price for tho producer, hence the Geor gia farmers arc handicapped insofar as the markots arc concerned. Now the way out is the question that confronts us. I see but one solution to the situation, and that is diversified farming for home consump tNin only. Wo must as a matter of Keif-Preservation make our farms ab solutely .self-sustaining in every par ticular. in other words, it behooves every farmer c? be a community of one to look after his'-<l wn interest and let Mr. Neighbor do like'>* se - How easy, how absoluteTj easy, would it be for every farmer, be he rich or poor, to raise an abundant suppi? pf a]) of the necessities of life on his own farm, and then not a cot ton field but a cotton patch on the side? Then what would the harvest be. It would mean a double yield of cot ton per acre, together with all of the necessities of life and comfort a. home, IK >v Under the above practice we would not lie required to rush our cotton on the market in three months’ time; as is now the custom, but on the oth er hand we would be in position tq put it- under a shelter in eur own back yard and market it for a JUST price from time to time as we seui fit. , - Under the method of our present practice we are annually making the farmers of the Middle West, togeth er with the merchants and dealers of our country richer and ourselves poor* Permit me to give you a bit of statistical history, which should cause every Georgian to open his eyes with amazement. I will take, for instance, the livestock, feed and food products that were shipped into and sold in the state of Georgia during the year of 1912. There were shipped into and sold in the state of Georgia during the year of 1912 the following products to-wit: Corn purchased in 1912 ..$58,920,000 Hay purchased in 1912 .. 23,080,000 Oats purchased in 1912 .. 39,33(1,000 Miscellaneous food 1912 .. 2,650,000 Meat, dairy and poultry Products 48,000.000 Livestock purchased in 1912 70,000,000 Whicni makes a total of livestock, feed ud4 food products shipped into und soldi in the state of Georgia dur ing 191%' $242,490,000. While I the total cotton crop of the state of - Georgia during the year of 1912 sold in round figures for only $160,000^000. This, as you will see, leaves a bal ance on the debit side of the ledger of $92,490,000. Why couldn’t we have kept every dollar of the above amount here in our own beloved state? The trouble is the lack of Judg ment on-iour part, “You and Me,” to gether with the lack of co-operation on the part of our merchants and consumers. The feathered tribe seems to be quite a small asset to be discussed in the public prints, but allow me to give you some statistics upon this subject by way of comparing our supply with that of some of the Mid dle Western states. The average farm jn Iowa now has 108 folwi. The average farm in Ohio has 125, while the average farm in North Carolina and Alabama has 20, and the average farm in South Caro lina and Georgia htis only 17. What explanation can we offer for this? Only our own neglect. Why shouldn’t we pay more atten tion to some of the smaller farm ani mals aa well as things of larger value? Tis true that all of the corn, onta, ” l ne /American who sccks taust- iu*uuy iui Kiamuuc w «•* Giver of all good things, need not carry the quest far from his own threshold. Only the misanthrope will refuse to admit that we are singularly blest among mankind. It is ours to know the felicity, not merely of having, but of sharing what we have. Of the fruits of earth we have enjoyed an overflowing yield. In the spirit of humility let us rejoice at this Yuletide, and may we have the knowledge that we must make use of these blessings. The star of empire has taken its westward way and now stands poised above this fortunate land for our sure guidance to ideals still more exalted, of our duty to ourselves and service to mankind/’ BANK OF LAGRANGE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST MEET. Tho First Primitive Baptist church on Groonwood street will hold their regular Thursday night prayer meet ing on Christinas EJve night. The public is cordially invited to attend. W. C. T. U. MEET. The ladies of the. Wotnun’s Chris tian Temporance Union mot last Friday evoning at tho First Baptist church. This was a business mooting and was presided over by Mrs. Abner Callaway. The celebration of Christmas was discussed and plans were arranged for the distribution of clothing to the ncody people o^ this city. A large attendance wus present and tho ladies showed much enthusiasm • in this worthy cause. SERVICES CHRISTMAS DAY AT S. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. On Friday morning at 10:30 a. m. services will be conducted at St. Mark’s Episcopal church. Tho Holy Communion to which all church mem bers aro invited will be held and briaf address concerning Christmas and its significance will he given. Public Installation of New Officers The LaGrango Woodmen ,of the World will have a public installation of officers at the Troup county court house on Tuesday night, January 19. All of the Troup county camps are asked to he represented at ihis meet ing. Five new members wore initiated ■into the secrets of this order Tuesday night. They were Rev. S. A. Bales, Rev. S. G. Woodall. Mr. J. T. Traylor, Mr. J. T. Whitaker and Mr. Odis Wells, Hon. W. II. Woodruff of Ma con, who is State Organizer and Dis trict Manager, assisted the local mem bers in the initiation exercises. hay, livestock, meat, dairy and poul try products that are shipped into and sold in Georgia are not used by the fanners, but nevertheless the Gieorgia farmers can and should raise it all, and the Georgia merchants should handle and the Georgia con sumers should use the Georgia raisod products—and at a just price to the producer. Tis clearly demonstrated fact that we can raise our own food and feed products, and of as good quality as any state in the Union can produco, eniuoiraiio SERVICE AT MISSION j alwl wc « n P roduc * them at a co8t that will not exceed 30 per cent of Ah usual, there will be a special j what it will cost us to buy them. Yet service for Christman day in tho Chapel of the Good Shepherd at the Mission. This service will be at 10 o'clock. It is hoped that tho people of the community will take advantage of this opportunity to publicly worship Al mighty God on the day set aside to commemorate the birth of His Son and our Lord into the world. Good Shepherd Sunday School Xmas Service. The Sunday school of the Good shepherd will have its annual Christ mas exorcises on the Sunday after Christmas at 2:30 p. m. Xmas at the LaGrange Settlement. On Tuesday, Dec. 29, all the clubs and organizations of the LaGrunge Settlement wilt have their Christmas Tree in the Mission House. While this Tree is being given by all the Clubs, each one doing its port, every one in the community is cordially in vited to attend and to place at the foot of tho tree any presents they may wish to he distributed to their friends on this occasion. how few of us raise them! likewise we can raise our own mules and horses, just as good as can be raised in the Blue Grass and limestone sections, and we can raise them at a coot that will not exceed 26 per cent of what it will cost uh to buy them. And yet how few of us even attempt to raise them! Aside from the natural resources that we have for producing all of tho .necessities of life, we as farmers of Wie South have a God-given monop oly on that commodity thnt every civilized country on God’s green earth is obliged to have, i. e., “Oor Fleecy Staple." Other sections, the Middle West, for instance, which is apparently the richest country in America, with their mangnificent golden harvest togeth er with their livestock and their mine ral products, must look to the cotton producing states for their wearing apparel, an item which necessity com- pells them to have. New England as well as Continental Europe with all of their manufactur ing wealth, are compelled to look to the cotton producing states of America for “our” commodity upon which they are dependent for clothing to wear on their backs. And yet, wc look upon these people as our “Dictators.” We allow them *o dictate to us the price at which we are to sell “our” commodity and at the same time they dictate to us the price that we are to pay them for their finished product. And we, like dumb-driven cattle, led like a lamb to the slaughter, we are dumb so we openeth not our mouths. GET YOUR NEIGHBOR TO SUB SCRIBE FOR THE LAGRANGE REPORTER. « 'J '' 'i’ ^ ♦ ♦ ❖ LIBERTY HILL ♦ ❖ * Among those from here who attend ed the Hazel-Adams shows at East Vernon last Friday night were Messrs. Tommie Garrett, J. D. Barnes, Misses Ethel Shirey and Bessie Garrett. Mr. James Barnes spent Saturday and Sunday with relatives in Roanoke, Ala. Mr. Milton Strickland made a busi ness trip to Standing Rock, Ala., last Thursday. Mr. Groves Garrett is the guest of relatives in Franklin, Misses Mattie and Ethel McClain, Messrs. Wesley Turner, J. T. McClain and Jamie Forbus were in LaGrange Saturday. We are sorry to place Miss Muuuo Scott on the sick list. • Misses Mattie and Ethel McClain had as their guests Sunday Miss Kara Forbus, Messrs. Jamie Forbus. Wes ley Turner, Mark Prince, Lehman Esters and Eugene Turner. To The Folks of Surrounding Troup and Counties: The Callaway’s Department Stores wish to thank you for the enormous business of the past year. Thousands of people have patronized our stores and made 1914 one of the most profitable years of our history. Wishing you all a Merry Christ mas and a Happy New Year, we remain yours for service. (Signed) MANAGERS OF Callaway’s Department Stores