Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-23
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH IOWA?

the Missouri river We boast of our
enormous production, of the fabulous
amount of wealth that grows out of
the soil We read the statistics, but
we fail to grasp their meaning. The
brain is bewildered when we try to
/ think of thousands of millions. But
the most valuable of all the farms
products does not appear in the tables;
its worth cannot be computed in the
coin of the realm. The farms crop of
boys and girls is the most important
asset in all our nations resources
the one that should be most wisely
conserved. More than all others com
bined will it determine the nations
progress, in material greatness not
only, but in intellectual achievement
and in moral excellence.
We have no array of statistics to
quote, and personal experience is too
narrow, but some of our readers know
of country school districts where the
enrolment is about half what it was
40 or so years ago. The reports Of the
superintendent contain large lists of
country schools having FIVE to ten pu-
pills. The persistent demand for the
consolidated township school conclu-
siveIy demonstrates the decline of the
rural schools. The increasing short
age of farm labor, Notwithstanding
the great improvements in implements
and machinery, indicates plainly de-
fciency in the homegrown supply of
workers. And we have the authority
Of a most distinguished citizen that
race suicide" is a fact, and is a ma
tional peril.
This evidence is sufficient. It shows
that the farmers, not of Iowa alone,
have given more attention to corn,
wheat, cattle. horses, sheep, swine,
than to the boys and girls, the most
important of all. The fruits of this
policy are becoming apparent; hey
will be far-reaching. After 10 years of
unexampled prosperity, in which the
farmers have had full share, the popu-
lation of the farming districts must be
quoted, in the phrase of the market,
weak to 10 lower" And we are more
concerned in secondary consequences.
One has been suggested-the scarcity
of help both in the field and in the
kitchen. The farmers have neglected
to replenish the supply from the near
est and most available of all sources
Another certain result is an increase in
the number of rented farms, meaning
impoverishment of soil, careless taIlage.
neglect of improvements. A progress
sive, up-to-date agriculture cannot be
expected in such conditions. nor a
more highly developed social life.
And the farm cannot long continue its
contributions, material, intellectual and
moral, to the nations character. The
situation, therefore. appeals to the
patriot as well as to the socioIogist. In
the last analysis 1t touches the nerve
centers of the nations life.
OF course, a similar condition ex-
lists, though the census may not reveal
it, in the wealthy and aristocratic cir
Giles in the cities. This leads to the re-
Election, unpleasant as it may be, that
apart from immigration the breeding
places of the American republic are
in the slums and tenements of the |
large cities and in the manufacturing
and mining centers, where poverty. ig-
and vice abound. These mot /
ley groups Of street Arabs" will in 20 /
years exercise a powerful and in /.
creasing influence upon our govern !
mental policies, our industrial organ |
isms and our national character. II /
is up to our systems of public and re- |
ligious education to transform these |
candidates into available |
American citizens capable of perform |
ing the duties Of citizenship.
The problem of the abandoned |
farm thus acquires national and even
significance.
JOHN G. OSBORN.