The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-08
THE Farm.
"And Still It Moves"
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.


papers few days since appeared ar
editorial criticism upon letter from Q
farmer in the State of Michigan, in
which he advocated that as one means
of relief for the depressed conditions
under which farmers everywhere are
suffering, that Government should issue
its money direct to the people, with
farms as security, the same general idea
that has within a short time been in
troduced and ably supported in the
United States Senate by Senator Lee
land Stanford, of California. This
agricultural editor says, 1T would be
unfortunate under our political system
if the Government should 60 into the
business of loaning money to the
people"
On behalf of thousands of other
farmers who think as does that farmer
in Michigan, l would like to ask that
editor if the Government is not noac,
and has it not been for years, loaniDg
money TO one class Of its people, and at
charge of only one per cent for ats use
at that? with bills now before Con-
gress to loan it to them absolutely free).
Take two men at the close of the
war. One buys farm for $4,000;
the other buys Government bonds for
$4,000. Both are investments the
farm and the bond. Both represent
value, and have buying and selling
price. The money in the bonds, with
out any labor of the holder, has paid a
much larger interest it is true than has
the money in the average farm, with all
the hard work of the farmer and his
family. Those favored few, the special
class "of the people, who own the
bonds, can take them to Washington,
deposit them in the Treasury (say
$lOO,OOO. They are safer there
than al home. Those who bought
them still oacn them. The interest on
them never stops. 1t is regularly and
promptly paid. And, on those bonds
as security, Uncle Sam-the Govern
ment-loans this special class "of the
people" 100000 in money, which they
take home and, as middlemen. loan
this Government money to the farmers
and others "of the people" at 6, s, 10,
II or more per cent interest.
Now, why not let the farmer have
the same chance with his property?
If the bank loans the money obtain
ed, printed, made and furnished by the
Government, to farmer on his note,
and be fails to pay it, don't they take
his farm, if necessary?
In my State-New Jersey-for many
years past, the State has loaned its
school money to farmers, with their
farms as security, and with entire sue
cess and satisfaction.
In England number of years ago
the Government loaned large sums OF
money on long time, and at very low
rates of interest, to farmers for the
purpose of tile draining their lands.
How many hundreds OF millions Of
dollars has our Government loaned to
another class "of the people" to help
them build railroads that are now toe
often used to Cypress the farmer?
1t simply makes difference acho is
doing it.
Senator Stanford's step was in the
right direction.
The world moves. and the farmers
are awakening and commencing to
move with it. New ideas are coming
to the front.
"All citizens shall be equal before
the law says our National Constitu-
ton, and that means finance laws, tariff
laws, and all laws. Let US think on
these things.
The National Grange at its annual
session in November last in Sacra-
mento, Cal, by a vote of more than
three to one adopted the following:
RESOLVED, That we x also favor
the maintenance in circulation of the
paper money Of the United States,
independent of the National Banks, in
sufficient volume to prevent any future
contraction, and consequent embarrass-
ment to our prosperity.
And the National Grange has always
declared itself fairly on the side of the
great mass Of our people on these i'm.
portant questions. This the farmers
are coming to understand more and
more with each passing year; and so
this great National organization OF
farmers. now nearly twenty-four years
old, grows and prospers at this time
better than ever hefora in ito history