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THE NEWS-GAZETTE
B. H. HARDY, Editor
Subscription, $1.60 Year
BARNESVILLE, GEORGIA
APRIL 13, 1922.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE
In nil probability the comini? of
the boll weevil to this section of
Georgia will prove in the end to be
the greatest blessing which has ever
come to our people. All the ex
perience of the past has demonstrated
that the raising of cotton, forcing in
its very nature the people into a
one-crop system, has brought prac
tical slavery and bankruptcy. What
progress has been made has been in
spite of rather than because of cot
ton. If the same course in the fu
ture is followed our people will con
tinue to be “hewers of wood and
drawers of water,” and poverty will
be the heritage of the people as it
has been in the past. Cotton should
have been and may in the future be
a source of real profit hut it could
not and can not he when it is de
pended upon solely as the money
crop in the plan of farming which
has been in vogue since the War be
tween the States. Time after time
we have in the past suggested that
other products could he successfully
grown and profitably marketed by
proper co-operation. That is the
one solution to the situation.
The success of the chicken sale in
Barnesville Monday is a splendid il
lustration of what the co-operative
movement may mean. These same
chickens might have been brought to
Barnesville one by one or peddled
around throughout the year bringing
about half the price which they
brought Monday and would have
meant little to those who bought or
sold them. But brought together on
just a few days’ notice they proved
a means of giving their growers real
money with which to make puchases
or to assist in carrying on their
operations for this year. Every
time the people of Lamar county will
get together from 3,000 to 6,000
chickens there will be a buyer pres
ent with the cash to buy them at a
price that will be profitable to those
who raise them, even if it should be
a car load every month. Think of
what it would mean for $4,000 to
$6,000 in cash to be turned loose
every month in the year, $60,000 to
$60,000 during the year, going into
the hands of the people, more than
they are now receiving, from this one
source alone. It demonstrates be
yond doubt that poultry raising may
be a great industry for this section.
And poultry raising is just one of
PLANT PEANUTS
We Have Just Received a Carload of White Spanish
Peanuts for Planting Purposes
You can plant peanuts from the 10th of April to the Ist of July with a promise of profitable yield. Peanuts are in big demand at this time in
South Georgia at $75.00 per ton, and scarce. From the information that I can get from the best authorities, the yield of peanuts when properly culti
vated is from 700 to 2,000 pounds per acre. There is nothing that the farmer can plant under the present conditions that promises as much profit per
acre as the raising of peanuts. Those who have planted them for commercial purposes say that the vines as hay will pay all expenses of cultivating
and harvesting, and the nuts are practically clear profit.
There is already inquiry of me about the number of acres that will be planted in Monroe and adjoining counties by the manufacturers of Pick
ing Machines, so you can rest assured that there will be Pickers and Threshing Machines in plenty over the county.
I would urge upon every farmer to plant from three to five acres of cotton to the plow, and to fight the boll weevil with calcium arsenate from
the time it comes up until it begins to open.
My advice is to plant from five to 10 acres in peanuts to the plow, so as to be sure of a money crop. The balance of the farm should be devoted
to corn and other feed crops.
We have a limited quantity of choice planting cotton seed, pure selected stock. I wish to also inform the farmers that we have a full supply of
all fertilizer materials that we are selling cheap for the CASH or GOOD APPROVED PAPER.
My parting word to you at the beginning of the planting season is to plant a few acres of cotton and all the peanuts that you can up until the
first of July, as the cost of cultivating peanuts is very little.
TAKE COURAGE AND LET’S ALL PULL FOR A GOOD AND BIG CROP OF PEANUTS, AND OF ALL THE COTTON THAT CAN BE
RAISED UNDER THE PRESENT CONDITIONS.
The Southern Cotton Oil Company
T. R. TALMADGE, Manager
FORSYTH, : : GEORGIA
any number of industries to which
the people may turn their attention.
Hog raising offers probably even
more than poultry. Hogs are a quick
turnover like poultry. They may be
produced and disposed of in a few
months and the money kept going its
rounds. In this connection, the new
peanut industry, in our opinion, has
great possibilities in it, particularly
in connection with hog raising. Pea
nuts in themselves may be grown
with profit. It is stated that from
1 700 to 2,000 pounds of peanuts may
Jbe raised on an acre. They are
I grown With far less work and un
certainty than cotton. The average
price for the past several years is
around SIOO per ton. This will make
something like an average income
per acre from peanuts of about $75.
What will beat that record? Cotton
has not done it under the most fa
vorable circumstances, to say noth
ing of the present boll weevil condi
tions. A market is guaranteed for
all the peanuts the farmers of this
section will grow, as the Southern
Cotton Oil Cos., of Forsyth, of which
Mr. T. R. Talmadge is manager, pro
poses to buy and pay the cash for
all these peanuts at the market price,
all that may be promised for any
product, even “King Cotton.” It ap
-1 pears that every farmer could afford
! to try a few acres in peanuts under
! these conditions. There are other
products, of course, which may be
! grown in middle Georgia, but farmers
and business men should grow and
market all their products which they
want to sell on a co-operative basis
if they expect any success. It is
the only way to do it.
The opportunity is ours and it is
at hand. Why should we not make
the best of it?
The same spirit and plan of co
operation should prevail among all
the business men and citizens of the
county. Why could not every bushel
of corn now in the hands of our
farmers and for sale be turned into
meal by our own mills and sold by
our merchants instead of having meal
shipped into the county from else
where and sold by the thousands of
bushels? Why should the same thing
not be done as to wheat and flour?
Why should the same thing not be
done as to every poduct which is or
can be grown successfully in the
county? Lamar county officially has
been trying to set an example in this
direction. Except for a few small
purchases in the very beginning of
its operations in 1921 not a bushel
of oats nor a pound of hay nor a
foot of lumber has been bought ex
cept from the citizens of Lamar
county. In other words, not a dol
lar has been or is being spent for
anything which the county needs ex-
cept with its own citizens when it
is possible for them to supply these
needs. In this way a home market
is afforded and the money kept at
home and everybody participates in
the benefits.
Every citizen should be willing and
anxious to lend his influence and ac
tive aid in building up this spirit and
plan of co-operation, for it would be
exceedingly beneficial to individuals
and the people as a whole.
ILLITERACY, THE BLOT
OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE
R. W. HOLLAND—I 923
A study of history reveals to us
that there have been marked differ
ences in the educational progress of
various nations. While many have
struggled along for centuries in a
savage or semi-barbarous condition,
others have given themselves over to
an intellectual training that lifted
their citizenry to an elevated posi
tion, and placed such nations in a
class termed “civilized.”
Our own America, which is the
youngest of the leading nations, has
not entirely overlooked the educa
tional needs Of her people, for her
most capable thinkers have con
strained us to take note of the fate
of others, and such counsel has been
greatly to our benefit.
In the discussion of a question,
however, it is not fair to consider
the highest type producd, nor yet the
lowest. And in order that well bal
anced judgment may be rendered, let
us compare our own country with
our neighbor Mexico, and we will
take the armies of both countries as
representative bodies of each.
Anyone who believes that education
is an aid to good government and
social progress will be keenly inter
ested to know that, a year ago, more
than eighty per cent of the privates
of the Mexican army were illiterate;
today, the majority of them can not
only read and write, but also are
rapidly learning facts about arith
metic .history, grammar, geography
and civics. A correspondent of the
Associated Press says: “In these, as
in the two elementary subjects, the
progress of the pupils is remarkable.
So great is the enthusiasm that some
of the regiments have furnished" at
their own expense all ,th materials
of the school room.”
If they had started this progress
two years ago, how many a page of
Mexican history would have been
white or golden instead of red? How
much less of wasteful revolution
there would have been, and how much
more of fruitful growth? Asa rea
son for the illiteracy of so many
Mexicans, they say it is due in a
large measure to their restlessness,
and disorder. Since they do not
have the information and the power
of clear judgment, which is essential
to good citizenship, they have fallen
prey to almost all kinds of political
adventures. They have endured op
pression which an informed and
thinking person would have cast off
forthwith; and they have encouraged
strife when the country’s supreme
need was peace and the generous co
working of all. The surest evidence
•that this condition of affairs shall
cease is the fact that the Mexican
soldier and the Mexican child are at
last being given the primary means
to free and enlightened thinking.
Americans, although they are re
joicing in this step taken by their
neighbor to advance her civilization,
yet they will do well to think about
some facts concerning illiteracy in
their own land of bountiful oppor
tunities. In the late war, it was
found out by the army draft boards
that almost twenty-five per cent of
the men who were called to the col
ors were unable to read the language
in which the Constitution is written,
and they were unable to write their
names on a ballot. This record did
not refer to any particular region,
or one that was isolated, but to the
country as a whole. The impression
that illiteracy exists only in the
South is a false one. It was shown
a few seasons ago that there were
more illiterates in New York than
in Georgia, and more in Pennsyl
vania than in Alabama. Some of the
leading Northern cities have a per
centage of illiterates over one-half
as great as that of similar Southern
cities.
The marked difference between
these two groups of large cities is
explained by the fact that the cities
in. the Northeast have large foreign
born populations and those of the
South have large negro populations,
while the Western cities are mostly
free from these These comparisons
show that the question is not a sec
tional one, not a racial one, but a
national one. There are over a mil
lion colored illiterates in the United
States. And there are some four
million illiterates who were born in
the United States.
The North, South, East and West
can well muster their educational
forces to this task. If America
clears away this blot, her gain will
be as great as Mexico’s from bring
ing he own darkened millions to the
light. It has been reckoned, and
conservatively, that the economic loss
of this nation amounts to eight hun
dred and twenty-five million dollars
a year. So much on the economic
side. But think of the civic and the
social loss! More than that, think
From Mills to Millions
Real Silk Hosiery Mills
Indianapolis, Ind.
District Sales Mgrs. Office
423 Palmer Building
Barnesville Representatives:
W. G. WELLS, MILTON SMITH
of the vast increase in national ef
ficiency, the vast reinforcement of
national character, when we have not
merely banished illiteracy, but have
given to every person as thorough
an education as he will take.
This is the gratest and highest end
to which thoughtful patriotism can
be given; and when it is attained, to
that degree, largely, will our democ
racy go forward and deserve to sur
vive.
-—Crimson and White.
WHY T CAME TO GORDON
RALPH D. WADE
When the problem came up to de
cide what preparatory school I should
attend when I had completed the
course of study in my home town,
my father left the matter entirely
to my preference and judgment. I
stacked up catalogues from various
sources and searched them through,
and Gordon held out the best induce
ments. Not being satisfied with cold
print on such a vital poposition I in
terviewed people who knew the school
personally, and I am here to state
that there is nothing finer in all
Georgia than the Gordon spirit. “It
will act as a spur to prick the sides
of any boy’s intent” if there is any
thing in him, otherwise it would
inoculate him with the immortal
spirit. Gordon “stands four square
to every wind that blows” and to be
a Gordon boy once is to be a Gordon
man forever. The school’s record
records names high up on fame’s
honor roll from senator, governor,
judge, etc., on down to the “noblest
type of manhood are they who work
to live.”
In making a decision I considered
with much seriousness the curricu
lum for I was in dead earnest about
preparing for college. Gordon fur
nished the highest available. The
military feature I found to be a
drawing card. Besides other ad
vantages it gives a fellow a manly
bearing and makes him physically fit.
The location attracted me. Nest-
ling in the foot hills of pine moun
tains it is safe from terrific storms,
and at the same time elevated above
the malarial districts. It is easily
accessible from all parts of the state,
being within forty miles of Macon,
the Central City. Barnesville, the
home of Gordon Institute, would be
come famous as a health resort if
the people knew its peculiar ad
vantages.
The athletic appeal is strong. In
football, basketball, and baseball
Gordon has starred more times than
one and has won championships in
the G. I. A .A.
The expense as compared with
other schools is worthy of mention.
The requirements are not so elab
orate as elsewhere. If a boy prefers
dormitory accommodations, he will
find comrades of like nature; if he
prefers the home life, the best homes
in Barnesville welcome him.
Gordon gave the best and strongest
call to me and whosoever gives the
matter due consideration the call will
come to him.
Of all the Preps that ever were,
Or Preps that are to be,
None could give the matchless
chance
That Gordon gives to me.
—Crimson and White.
o
To Cure a Cold la One Day
Take LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE (Tablets.) It
stops the Cough and Headache and works off the
Cold. E. W. GROVE'S signature otreach box. 30c.
CAKE SALE AT MILNER
The Woman’s Missionary Society
of Milner M. E. church will hold a
Cake Sale Friday afternoon, April
14th, at the drug store in Milner at
4 o’clock. Come.
—. o
French parents are not permitted
to bestow “freak” names on their
children. Their choice of names is
limited by law to the 13,000 saints
in the calendar.
B