Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-21
Rented Farms.

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themselves on having escaped the evil OF
Old Word landlordism. When the fiat
and the apartment house began to crowd
out old homesteads in the cities and tc
suggest that tenancy was inevitably the
coming mode of existence the saying
was that, however secure fo0thold the
European system might gain in centres
of population, the American farmer
would eternally be lord of his own do.
main. But, alas for this short-sighted
optimism! Even while men are exulting
over the record breaking crops and in.
credible wealth of our farmers, land.
lords and tenants are multiplying rapid
ly in agricultural regions. A significant
summary of facts has just been given in
the Popular Science Monthly by Pro-
fessor Homer C. Price of Ohio State
University. Eight years ago more than
thirty-tive farms out of every one hun
dred were operated by tenants, while
1913 per cent of all farm lands Il. g., both
developed and undeveloped acreage) was
rented to transient occupants. Rural
landlordism is thrice as prevalent in this
'land of economic freedom" as in over
populated Germany, and statistics taken
to-day would probably show that the
high tenancy rate of France (47.2 per
cent? is almost if not quite equalled.
When it is considered that the relative
number of tenants has been increasing
annually for forty years in homestead
grants, the magnitude Of this economic
transformation becomes still more i'm
presSive.
1t is encouragingly contended that in
America the farm hand rises to tenant,
and from tenant to owner, so that the
trend toward landlordism is not an un-
wholesome sign. But Professor Price
affims that this roseate theory conflicts
with the facts; if tenancy were trans
itional stage for any large number of
farmers the percentage of rented farms
could scarcely increase steadily for
twenty-eight years. The only methods
thus far suggested for discouraging
leaseholders and keeping owners upon
their native or acquired acres are not
hopeful. The removal of taxes on
mortgaged farms, questionable pro-
cedure at best, would not accomplish
much; nor would an improved credit
system be much more successful. For,
at bottom, the reason why proprietors
lease their farms and move to the towns
is that they prefer smaller profits and
city life to larger gains in the midst of
solitude. Detailed studies show that
the highest percentage of tenants is
found on the most fertile land. While
this indicates in some measure, the
natural operation of capital seeking in
vestment, it is more striking picture of
the downward rush. The amazing pros
perty of the American farmer has
greatly accelerated the drift toward
tenancy. Judged by reasonable stand
ard, thousands of agriculturists are
rich, and how rare is the rich man to-
day who can resist the lure of the town!
These men, after years Of hard work,
have saved enough to move into town
house without being obliged to sell the
old homestead.
Unless landlordism is made a crime,
therefore, the army of tenants must con-
tinue to grow. Unfortunate as this is in
many respects, tenancy need not be as
black an evil as it is sometimes painted.
1t is true, as Professor Price reiterates,
that tenants natural lack of interest in
improving and maintaining farm tends
to deplete the fertility of the leased
land. But the increasing agricultural
wisdom of farmers is doubtless already
correcting this evil habit. If farm
leases, which are now short, should be
materially heightened the tenants in
terest in keeping his leasehold at the
highest state of efficiency would be
much greater. Properly protected and
encouraged by laws and officials, the
American tenant farmer need be like his
European prototype only in name, thrift
and sobriety. In intelligence and edu-
cation he may rank with the best ele-
ment in any industry. Farmer.