The Democratic advocate., 1909-03-19
THE LITTLE LAND LEAGUE.
A Movement THAT should spread
Throaglaat The R.annirt.

Governor Stewards recent comfnan-
dalton Of y1pant lot farming as
means Of eouateracfing some of The
cfll consequences " the congestion os
populations ia eitler might * regard.
ed a. straw showing the drift 0f
thought The air IL vibrant with
suggestions ns 10 how those who have
remained on the soil could be Induced
to stay there. and how th0Ae who have
been stranded IN the biF aud ifur the
unfortunately lonely city could be re.
stored 70 the independent. n toilsone
life on the farm. The Country IAfe
Commission has investigated aud re-
ported on one alie 81 the question, and
Ia every centre of popnintlon '.co-
operative farm colonies" or "Eubur.
ban hoTnecroft villages OF iika aaeo.
Citations are graphing with tho other
phase thereof Now. ae IN the fima
OF the Gracchi. and for similar reasons
the cry IL back 10 The land
There. AZ least there IA independence
and living. A living gotten from The
soil 10 the sweet Of ones brow has its
drawbacks; unemployment and star
walton, however. are not Of the num-
bcr In every large city there IL a lit
tie army of the too many la surplus
OF men. who. because of their indig-
ferent accomplishments or lack OF
self-aaserlivoneas, fail 10 the rear.
and stay there. Some ng them main
tain s precarions exiatence In keep
inG small shops. boarding houses aud
unllceneed saloons. others are in tkc
ranks q The cbgonicaily unemployed
from which estate Il ~ but short step
into The hRbituHily criminal eihss. II
they could be made Ga realize thst.
with go days work Ia tko year. two
acres san he made tu support an ay4
crage family. besides d surplus 81
marketable products ~ provide money
for clothing and 70 keep the roof 81
repair that ouch land can he bought
aear eivllisRiiau for trum siftY "a fwo
hundred ti0llafa.ntid 4 AhaIlaFsng huna
can be built for 4 feK hundred dollars
more; II tlpey should isara thai iaan
could BE- obtained on sarh d prop.
erty aa readily AZ on city Tuai estate
ana the entire indebtedness could be
paid out Of what they would nayo Ia
rent they had heen In the habit of pays
Ing 20 the city iandiprsi.--if these
thInga. which nrn drmunstgaiahly
true. could ~ carried home 10 agrug.
Cling city folk. Il Is almost incon.
eeiyable that the army OF the too
many" would continue 10 trUt tho
payements worried. hungry and say.
aRelY diaconent with the world.
To preach these truths ard give
heart % tha stranded in the cheefiess
wastes Of The city IL the object of ihe
Little Land League. an association Of
philanthropic men and women recently
organized IN New York. but whose ac-
tiylty ia intended 10 cover the whole
country. The league has no land 10
sell; It's simple purpose Is 60 stimulate
when necessary. through helpful leg
isiatl0n and By AID 10 individuals. but
mainly by agitation aud publicity. all
movements from the congeated CEN
tres to the country. from slavery and
immortality 10 independence and hap
piness. Every family should have
its homecroft, so that the masses Of
our people may become more eflici-
ent, prosperous and intelligent by
reason OF their more healthfuI en-
yironment and the moral uplift that
comes with owning ones own home
on ones own lund and all through
ones own effort" This Is the meE-
sage of the Little Land League; aad
II Il is keyed little high, the purpoRe
for which II Ii sent naturally exalta
the utterers-Philadeiphia Ledger