Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-18
THE CALAMITY IDEA.
NOT SO PREVALENT As CROAK-
ERS WOULD HAVE Us THINK.
The Pross of Iowa on the Agricultural
Situati0n-The Famers Seem 10 BE Get
ting Along Nicely, and Will Keep Out OF
the Poor House for q While Longer.
fFrom the Chicago Inter Opaa,, Il s
ARE FARMERS IMPOVERISHED

phC 0hAiOhkO AAtSE OC6uLs
ARE FARMERS IhfPoVERIsHED?
We copy below the answers.o of num-
Der of Iowa papers to the above question
and similar testimony could doubtless
be drawn from the press of other West
ern States. It will be seen that the
"calamity" idea of the present agricul-
tural situation is not SO prevalent as GER
tain croakers would make us believe:
Waterloo Reporter: Within few
doors of each other on certain block in
this city live five farmers who have each
earned competence of this worlds
goods and retired from the farm to spend
the rest of their days in taking the com
forts born Of the fruits of their labor.
On a corner in neighboring block
another farmer has purchased nice lot
and will shortly build modern residence
be equaled in this town by any other
branch of business, and seems to be a
pretty good answer to the croakers who
have been bewailing the. impoverished
condition OF the Western farmer. Farm
pretty well in these parts.
Indianola Herald: There is much said
these days concerning the farmer. He
eC1 ACu VIZ pun ZIG uOWu-
trodden farmer" and various other
names, all of which is certainly very
disgusting to the average intelligent,
free American born farmer citizen. The
Herald is not acquainted with the condi-
ton of farmers In other parts of the
State. They may be lot Of ignorant,
downtrodden slaves. but we want to re-
sent with great yigor the idea that any
nf "a,
the farmers of Warren County. On the
contrary, they as class are the WEALTH.
est, most independent of all others.
They run the politics of the county, hold
the offices, represent the county in the
Legislature, levy the taxes, and assess
the property. The two banks in Indian
ola arc owned, controlled, and managed
by farmers. They are about the only
set of gentlemen who, when they die and
the debts are paid, have something to di-
vide among their children. The judges
and clerks Of court know this to be true
The farmers of Warren County have to-
day deposited in the banks of this city
about $4,000, which is there for safe
keeping. They do not get interest on it.
Some of the farmers are scarce of money,
and many of them are mortgaged, but
as a class they have plenty. The farm
ers of Warren County disdain to be
called downtrodden. They are free men,
and not slaves to any man or set Of men.
The Herald is of the opinion that the
farmers of all Iowa are as independent
and free as those Of this county.
Grundy Center Republican: There are
a large number of farmers in this county
who have retired from active business
and are taking life easy. Many of them
have moved to town, either bought or
built nice residences, and are educating
their children. In order to knock dema-
gogism over the oppressed farmer in the
head it is only necessary to take a ride
into the country and one can notice
prosperity on every hand among the
farmers. Not ten days ago the writer
was out in the west part Of Palmero
Township, and the only rickety houses
and barns observable belonged to Iowa's
Governor, Mr.. Boise. The Governor is
not a poor man by any means, and we
suppose that if Gen. Weaver or some of
his ilk were riding over this county
with q stranger, these houses and barns
would be pointed out to show how op-
pressed the poor farmer is, when, in fact,
they belong to gentleman who is plenty
able to put up neat cottages and barns
for all his renters. With the Democracy
it is anything to catch votes, no matter
how they are secured.
Cedar Rapids Times: While we can
not say the city is full of retired farmers,
men who live at their ease in a modest
and sensible way, we can say there is a
large number of them, more than any
other class of mon in the city who have
partially or entirely retired from the ac-
tive battles Of life. And we may add
that not all the independent well-to-do
farmers, farmers who do not owe dollar
and who have money at interest, who
have good houses and barns, cattle and
horses, and good comfortable carriages
for their families, are in the city. There
are scores of them on their farms within
but short distance of the city, sitting
under their own vines and fig trees,
spending the evening of their days In
peace and plenty. There have been
more farmers, two TO enc, who COM
menced with but little or nothing since
we came to Cedar Rapids and who have
secureda competency than any other
class Of men in the city, or out of it.
Atlantic Messenger: While the dema-
gogues are wailing over the oppressed
condition of the farmer the farmer him
self is building new residences, new
barns, buying more stock, and laying by
a balance in the bank. The best car
riages seen on the streets of Atlanta are
driven by farmers who few years ago
had nothing. Take it year in and year
out there is no business man who does
better Oh his investments, is so indepen-
dent and enjoys life more than the farmer
who really farms. If any one doubts
that the good farmer has been prosperous
let him count up the number in every
Iowa county seat who have moved into
town for the purpose of schooling their
children and taking life easy. Atlantic
Is full Of them, and so are the others.