The advocate., 1892-06-15
CALAMITY HOWLs.
From the vanguard.

er6 Tor tnougnLIul perusBlS INC AOliO"lnS
pictures of the economic condition OF
farmer workers and city toilers in this
rich and prosperous state Of Illinois.
Observe that these extracts are from the
leading capltalistic papers OF Chicago,
and be assured that in neither case ts
the statement oVerdrawn:
Poor men are being crowded out of Il
linois. The independent farmer is every
year finding his pathway narrower, his hill
more steep, his load more heavy. The
renter and the hired man are taking the
place of free population. Thirty families
last week left single neighbOrhood IN Nc
Lean county, because since 1888 land values
have increased 40 per cent. all about them.
Increased taxation follows this rise in
valuation, and farming-whioh yields only
a modest profit at best-will not keep pace
with the added burden. Those whose farms
are unincumbered can do better with their
capital in newer states. An inquiry devel-
ops that the buyers are investors, not farm
ers. Home after home has fallen into the
hands of capitalists, who require a cash
rental too hopelessly high to admit a mar
gin of profit to the husbandman, and on
terms so severe that surrender means loss.
Cass county, Livingston, Logan and Nc
Lean are alike affected. It is estimated
that 1900 persons will this year leave GEN.
tral Illinois for the cheaper lands of the
west. They are men who can i'll be spared.
Reports may make the state seem richer,
but the man who stands on the land that he
owns is worth more than world of money.
Herald.
There are $4,000 chattel mortgages in
Cook county, Illinois. Perhaps so per cent.
of these is for the purchase price of furni-
ture, etc., the remainder is for loans on
various forms of personal property, loans
negotiable under the stress of dire necessity,
brought about by loss of employment, sick"
ness, death and other forms of misfortune,
loans on which interest is paid at the rate Of
10 per cent. per month. Not long since
friend overtsken by misfortune, sought
loan of $500 on household goods, watch,
clothing and other property, worth at least
$1,000. He wanted it for a year, but was
told he could have it no longer than six
months. The charges were $6 for drawing
the papers, So for examining the property,
10 per cent. per month, payable in advance.
At this rate he will pay $24O interest and
$12 extra for the use of 5000 one year.
Such instances are not rare. The little all,
the few household treasures of thousands
are thus absorbed every year. While I
write there are 10000 people in Chicago on
the verge of starvation; men, women and
babies, old age and helpless childhood.
They want money, and scheme that does
not offer this necessity is unjust. Save
them from the loan shark and pawn broker.
Inter Ocean.
The people who have suffered these
things have been the first to protest
against them, and their cries of distress
have been mocked at as calamity howlS."
It Is not In vain they have howled ifnow
and again startled acknowledgement
of the dangers and damnable dishonss-
ties of present legislative fostered
schemes of robbery Is forced from such
papers as the Herald and Inter Ocean,
The next step in reform is for the fair
minded and hitherto Indifferent class,
who have been neither benefited nor
directly robbed by legalizsd methods, to
begin a careful investigation to see
whether these things be so or not There
is policy as we'll as philanthropy In the
task, for this is certain: The American
farmer cannot be made an alien and q