Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-25
CONDITION OF THE PRODUCERS.
Will the Next u. 8. Census Show the
Mortgage Indebtedness on Farms.

VIII the Next u. 8. Census Show the
Mortgage Indebtedness on Farms.
There Is a growing feeling that the farmers
and other wealth producers do not receive an
equitable return for their toll. The state
ment is repeatedly made that ''the rich are
growing richer and the poor poorer"
that nincty-fve per cent of the wealth
OF tho country Is owned by less than
five per cent OF the population; that
| three -fifths of all the wealth is in the
hands Of less than thirty Thousand
persons, and that the sturdy, self-respectng
farmer is becoming the American peasant.
Lack of facts upon which to base conclusions
has rendered even theorizing valueless, and
ignorance of tho truth makes the prevalent
discomfort only more dangerous. The first
requisite to an intelligent discussion of
the subject is knowledge of tho actual
facts of the case. Up to this time
none of any Importance have been collected.
Much statistical information has been gath
cred and published to show the production Of
wealth in this country, but none to show it's
distributor. An important step in this di-
rection, in fact the primary step, would be
the collection of data TO show TO what ex-
tent the farms ana the homes-the basis of
our civiiization-aro owned by their oCcu-
pants aud free from debt. Correspondence
has beeu had with the chiefs of the bureau
of statistics Of the various states, asking
them whether they had collected any such
information. With singular unanimity they
reply that the facts are of great import
ance and ought to be collected, but
| that the labor and expense of such
| an investigation are too great to
| be undertaken by state bureau and that
the work naturally devolves on the national
| census. Mr.. Robert p. Porter superintend-
| ent of the eleventh census, in reply TO cor
reSpondenCe on this subject, says the act
| authorizing the census did not contemplate
| tho collection of these data; that before he
| can undertake the work there must be spe-
| cial legislation by congress instructing him
| to do so, and that he will lay the matter be-
| fore the secretary of the interior with view
| to securing such legislation. There is no
doubt that IL q general public demand
| existed, tho legislation could be secured.
| The country cannot afford to wait till
| another census for the facts, as OF least
| fifteen years would be required TO make
them public ana IN these days of the rapid
concentration of wealth into few hands
! that time is too long for a first diagnosis of
| the case. BY that date the patient will be
| fatally III.
! With view to creating such demand the
| Western Economic association of St Louis,
| has issued this address to the farmers and
| other wealth producers of the country. The
practical method of procedure Is for any
| body of such individuals, either organized or
| unorgan'zed, to adopt resolutions of the fol-
| lowing character and to send them to Wash
| ington:
| Whereas, There is a growing belief that
| the farmers and other producers of the coun-
| try do not obtain an equitable share of the
| wealth which they create, and that the farms
and the homes of the country are very
| largely under mortgage; and,
| Whereas, Exact knowledge on this subject
| is of great importance in the study OF the
social and economic questions OF the day;
| therefore, be 1t by insert here the name OF
the body adopting the resolutions and the
Resolved, That it is our Judgment that the
| next United States census should show what
| percentage of the people of this country
| occupy their own farms and homes, and
| what proportion are tenants; and of those
| who occupy their own farms and homes,
what proportion have their property free
| from debt; and of the farms and homes that
| are under mortgage, what percentage OF the
| value is so mortgaged; and be it further
| Resolved. That the secretary of this meet
| ing be requested to transmit copy of these
| resolutions to Hon. John W. Noble, score
tary Of the interior, Washington, ID. c., and
| n copy to the congressman from this district,
| with a request that he use his influence to
have these facts collected ana published.
| This matter is neither republican nor dem
| ocratic. 1t is purely economic. The appeal
| Is made to you personally, the reader. Inc
| next time you are in a meeting OF the Wheel,
the Alliance, the Farmers and Laborers'
union, ordinary mass meeting, or what not,
| introduce resolutions expressing these senti-
! ments, and send them to the officials named.
| AS the reassembling OF congress Is at hand
| and as considerable time will be required to
| procure the necessary legislation and to pre-
| pare the schedules before the next enumera-
| tion, prompt action is necessary.
e.. M. UPTON, President.
| b. C.. KEEL.R, Secretary.
Western Economic Association.