Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-05
FORMER STATE OFFICIAL HAPPY
OUT OF TURMOIL OF POLL
TICS AND PUBLIC LIFE.
AIDING "sAck TO THE FARM"
MOVEMENT IN PRACTICAL WAY
Tolls Of Interesting Contest for Prizes
for Best. Titled and Best. Kept Farm in
Scott county-Sussests That Other
Counties Arrange Similar Contests
State Capital Gossip.
to Times-Republican.


may be enga ged in a mad scramble for
office that veteran business man and
ideal of Iowa farmers. Hon. John
Cownie. in serenity and clear conscience
is quietly turning his attention to what
he can do to make farm life more at
tractive and thus in a practical way to
aid in the real back 70 the farm move
ment.
Mr.. Cownie has just returned from
most interesting diversion as a MEM
Der of a committee of judges to de-
eide what is the best titled and best
kept farm in Scott county. The Scott
County Commercial Association had
offered a prize, or prizes for the best
farms. and Mr.. Cownie and the cashier
of a bank aud the head of the state
grange made the decision.
There We're twelve farms entered for
the contest said Mr.. Cownie. and it
was a most interesting experience to
visit them and to find out what was
being done. We saw some mighty fine
farms TOO. OF course they brushed
up a little when we came. but we found
farms where not weed was permitted
10 grow. w mere lIlc tiA II diiptI w as w
nigh perfect. where the fences and
buildings were We'll kept up where the
yards were kept clean. Such farms
bring the best results. The very fact
of these farmers trying to win prize
is good for them. II IS worth their
while TO learn that they can put every
thing in first class condition. But best
of all will such contest be valuable
val 20 <,Ff he
county and lead 10 a general improve
ment of farm conditions.
such contests are not especially
new. l we'll remember that my uncle
in Scotland, who had d big farm Of 30
acres. won the prize for three years
in a similar contest when I was a mere
lad That was one way they had of
encoura ging good farming where it was
greatly needed.
The example of Scott county might
we'll be followed elsewhere in Iowa, and
in many other counties. That is prac-
teal way OF encoura ging better farm
ing We need a great deal OF such
teaching in this state. Let other coun-
ties follow the example OF these Scott
county people and it will do good
Mr.. Cownie has always been in great
QGYnaIlu dS SpedhS1 az AelAii A1ASsN
tutes. and now that he is footloose he
will probably accept many invitations.
The students of farm statistics are
still puzzling themselve over the dis
crepancy pointed out some two weeks
ago between the census figures on Iowa
farms and the assessors figures as re-
ported to the department Of agriculture
for Iowa. The assessors reported 3d.
221,356 acres of farm land. That is all
tina. was actually assessed. The enum-
orators reported total acreage of 3d.
1000. which was considerable de-
crease over ten years before. The ex-
PLANTATION offered by the census bureau
for this decrease is that of change in
the enumeration date to an earlier Pc
Rod The census bureau found only
90, s9s 900 acres of improved land in
Iowa the larger figures showing not
only the improved land but unimproved
land included in farms. The belief
prevails among those who know, that
the assessors figures are more nearly
correct and that in some way the
eIluinerators included much land not
properly classed among the farm land
of the state, such as city gardens. I'M
improved acreage in cities and timber
land.
When the next jefferson day banquet
is held in Des Moines it is possible that
Gen. James B. Weaver will not make
the principal address. The fact, also.
that William ]. Bryan had 10 hire a
hall for himself in Lincoln may lead to
his being left off the program. And
Jefferson banquet without either OF
them would not be worth the price.
Gen. Guy Logan, at the head of the
IOWA national guard, has called
of the new advisory board APP
pointed by him. for the 18th ito advise
with the adjutant general regarding the
organization, administration. instruc-
ton and discipline of the guard, the Sc
curing of legislation both federal and
state for the benefit of the guard and
any other military subject that may
come before it, The new advisory
board, which is to be a feature of the
military organization of the state here
after, is composed of Gen. James r.
Lincoln. Col William T. Chantland.
Col. Hubert a. Allen. Col. Ralph p.