The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
FREE HOMES NEEDED
By the Strip Farmer, Even if
He is Prosperous.
FARMERS CASE ARGUED
In an Able Article In the Med
ford Patriot.
FARMERS CASE ARGUED


about it. A certain element has felt that
advertising grain trains travelling through
the east, rosy boom articles in the news
papers about Oklahoma prosperity, and
governors report showing unexampled
thriftiness would throttle all chance of
free homes.
The progressive element of the territory,
the men who build states, who are OPP
timistic, would not forego advertising.
They knew its value and knew Oklaho-
mas worth and they did not believe in
hiding their light under a bushel for
possible effect on congress in the matter
of free homes.
But the fact is recognized that free
homes is needed by the settlers. Great
as the prosperity has been, it has been
the prosperity of a new country, where
a greater degree Of prosperity is needed
Il bring affairs where they should be than
in an old and established community A
great many people conscientiously hold
that all western farming communities
have been developed through mortgages,
even in cases Of free homesteads. With
free homes, these people contend, there
viii be an era Of mortgages in Oklahoma,
much as it is deprecated.
At all events the farmers Of the Strip
are anxious that congress should under
stand that their barns are not carpeted
with Brussels and that they do not have
grand pianos in every room in the house.
With an eye to this, AIr. T. J. Palmer
of the Medford Patriot, gives his views
on free homes, as follows:
1T is claimed by eastern people and
those adverse to the granting Of free
homes to occupants of government
lands in Oklahoma that the prosperity
of our people amply enables them to pay
for the lands. and that there is no longer
the demand of other years for free
homes. It is true we have had fairly
good years; so has prosperity generally
attended our people for the past three
years, but We desire to state fact which
Is conclusive proof that the occupants of
these lands are not able to pay for them
now and will not be in 1904, the limit now
given them to make payment.
i
prosperity. 1t is not the trait of an
American to whine. but rather to look
upon the brighter side and press courage
ously on. Yet there are facts which
prove more than words the actual inabil-
tty of our people to pay the government
mortgage on these lands.
THE editor of the paper is United
States court commissioner, before whom
many Of the occupants Of these lands in
Grant county are now making their final
proof. and it is a fact, one which we re-
gret TO publish. but the truth may as
well be known one time as another, that
over 80 per cent of those who are now
proving up their lands are borrowing
the money to do So exchanging the gov
eminent mortgage for another.
THE question will be asked why they
are making final proof. Various reasons
are alleged, but the principal one is that
they are in debt and desire to pay out
They incurred debts when, earlier in their
settlement circumstances were less IA
Vorable. They have put off their credit
ors from year to year, renewing their in
debtedness ana ec9nomizing as best they
given them to extend the debt for five
years and obtain a little money to i'm
prove their homes or secure some stock,
they embrace it. So far as the cost Of
the land, the government mortgage, is
concerned, they consider il is only an ex-
change Of creditors and that the real in
dehtedness is only that borrowed on the
land in excess of the amount necessary
TO make final proof.
MANY of them have lost hope of ever
occurring free homes and think that the
change of mortgages is imrnaterial.
"Of course they are making a serious
mistake. as we view it. Interest on the
mortgage which they now incur and the
taxes they must pay. are much greater
than that which they must pay the gov
eminent; and having made a living on
the land six years. it were better for
them to endure their deprivadons and
sacrifices a few more, knowing that they
can borrow money te meet the govern
rnent mortgage when it becomes due. as
well as now
yet We held that it is not at all
strange that they should borrow money
L I,
let US take an older settled country.
Iowa or Illinois. and how many of them
are buying the farms adjoining them
and paying for them from the products
Of the farms they occupy? What do the
records Of those states show? That a
large portion Of the lands are mortsaged
more or less. and that their owners are
doing business on borrowed money.
The fact is that the average farmer
like the mechanic who works on q salary
consumes the product Of his earnings
and does not save anything. II he has a
good crop ne buys more freely. and wher
St is poor ne economies and gets in debt
Fully 20 Per cent Ct daily wage earners
save nothing from their salaries. Il is
thus with the farmer. and those living in
Oklahoma are no exception II the rule
1T is useless to say they should Go thi
o. that way. They DO not and Will not
We must accept the condition as il IS
which is that less than Do Per cen. o.
them viii be able to pay for the lands
from their own products when the gov
eminent mortgage becomes due. Extend
Ing the time. while the interest IS &C
cumulating. viii not help them. They vi.
b no more able 70 pay for them in lSo
than they are now. They have dwell
upon the lands for six years. many O
Them eking out a varied existence Tn
snan OF the house has promised his VIII
and family certain comforts from year q
year and repeatedly deferred them Nov
when an opportunity IS offered ne has &C
cepted and borrowed money 10 pay r..
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