HUMAN ELEMENTS IN COTTON 257 



fense, etc. All this should be presented in the name of a 

 blacklist and sent to all farmers within one hundred miles. 



Every tenant who applies for a farm should be required 

 to give testimonials from former landlords as to character, 

 dependability and industry. 



This would make a better class of tenants and would pro- 

 tect the landowner against dishonest and sorry tenants. 5 



THE COTTON SHARE TENANT 



The step in the tenure ladder from cropper to share 

 or cash tenant is more difficult. To secure mules and 

 implements requires industry, economy, and good crops. 

 The Negro cropper seeking to rise in tenure status may 

 meet with the reluctance of the landlord to relax super- 

 vision over his labors. The following case comes from 

 Brooks County, Georgia: 



Anthony More, a splendid worker, had a farm on this 

 plantation, with 20 acres in cotton and 15 in corn in 1905. 

 He made 1 3 bales of cotton and a large quantity of corn work- 

 ing as a cropper. The original account shows the large amount 

 of cash this Negro got during the year, as well as other 

 advances, and the credits of cotton, half the bale being cred- 

 ited in each case. He settled up the entire account and had 

 corn and meat extra, not to mention the $100 in cash which 

 he got just prior to the final settlement. This Negro aban- 

 doned the place the following year, because although he had 

 enough to buy a mule the landlord would not rent to him 

 for cash. He rented a farm from Mr. J. L. Brinkley, an- 

 other Brooks County planter, and wound up his first year 

 $70 in debt and nothing to show for the year's work. His 

 former employer was interested to see how the case would 

 turn out, as this was a good Negro so far as application to 



5 Letter from a landlord to Monroe Inquirer, Aug. 12, 1926. 



