Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-08-22
DOE AND ROE,
The Hardships of the Tenant Farmer
Under the Present system.

DOE AND ROE.
The Hardships of the Tenant Farmer
Under the Present system.
1t has recently come to the knowledge |
of the financial editor OF the Indepen-
dent that the George theory needs to be
demolished, and in late number of
that journal he draws the picture of the
sturdy pioneer John Doe, whom he de-
scribes as having in his youth gone upon
the frontier, and by a lifetime of toll
to have carved out fruitful farm and
a comfortable home. The Independent
proceeds to point out how entirely the
farm is the creation of Mr.. Doe; how
full, absolute and unquestion-
able is the fee titles and finally, how the
man who dares in any way to question
his entire lordship over the land is a
highwayman or lunatic. Now it
chances that Mr.. Docs farm lies in my
vicinity, and that l, as a country doc
tor, have lately rendered services to the
family of Richard Roe, who is
tenant farmer, and engaged in tilling
the farm first subdued by the pioneer
John Doe.
Mr.. Roe is now in his early manhood,
and has been working as hard as ever
did Mr. Doe, who "entered the land" at
the Government price fifty years ago.
However he has scarcely been able to do
more than pay his rent to young Mr..
Doe, who now owns the farm by Inherit
ance. l was particularly impressed by
the narrow margin to be gained over the
rent, as l found it was quite unreasona-
BILE of me to expect an ordinary fee from
one in Mr.. Roes circumstances. Unfor-
tunately, also, young Mr.. Doe generally
lives in the city, SO that do not havo
tho practice in his family, and can not,
therefore, by any extra fees from him,
recoup myself for my loss on his tenant.
Mr.. Roc told me he was highly discour-
aged with farming, and that he should
sell off his tools, stock, etc, and next
year gather cream for butter factory.
For that he will receive SO day, fur
nishing his own team and wagon. OF
course in certain seasons of the year he
will be employed only two or three days
in tho week, receiving only his psr diem
for the days of actual service.
Perhaps his hardships are no greater
than were those OF Mr.. Doe fifty years
ago, but the man who is doing the farm
work now has no prospect that he will
leave an estate Of 240 acres OF land
worth $50 an acre, aside from its build
ings and other improvements.
Mr.. Roe's case, like Mr.. Does, is
typical one, and there are millions in
the United States living as tenant farm
ers and confronted by the same discour-
agements that beset Mr.. Roe and his
family Mr.. Roe told me he would stick
to farming II he could afford to buy a
farm. Can the financial editor of the
Independent offer any plan by which
land may be brought within his reach as
it was within tho reach of John Doe
fifty years ago?
Crops are always good in Iowa, but the
vulture. rent, is here to devour them.
The poor can no longer get land. Part
go to Dakota and part crowd into our
towns. The rural population is dimin-
ishing in many localities, and that of the
State is nearly at a standstill.
For every fine, new farm house, with
extensive barns and stables, there are
three or four melancholy groups of will
lows and cottonwoods marking the site
of the departed cabins of the departed
pioneers. Tenancy also is largely on
the increase, and business men find that
tenants are undesirable persons with
whom to do credit trade. / forgot to
mention that tho sickness in Richard
Roe's family was due to the unsanitary
condition of the old farm house. Young
Mr.. Doe will put no improvements on
the houses, although, as he has an inter-
est in the cattle, he has put the stables
in good repair. l wish the able finan-
cial editor of the Independent would
point out Mr.. Roe's rights-Mr. Doe
can take care of himself.-Irving W..
Smith, Charles City, Iowa.