University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-10-11
MOTT SHOULD HAVE
FARMERS SUPPORT
S. NJ. Jordan, Writes on
Amendment in Colman's
Rural World.
PAY ONLY IS PER CENT
Says That ''No" Is a Vote
Against Agriculture and
Therefore Against State.


raj World, published October in
st. Louis, is an editorial on the pro-
posed mill tax for the University of
Missouri. The article is signed by S.
NJ. Jordan, institute director of the
state board Of agriculture. Mr.. Jor-
dan says:
In my talks with men regarding
the mill-tax amendment for the sup
port of the state University, there
seems to be but little opposition ex-
cept where the matter is not under
stood. When it is explained that it
is not necessarily to increase the
amount of money for the institution,
but that it puts the income on a pos
tive basis, that it will be known from
year to year just how much money
can be depended upon, it commonly
meets with favor. 1t seems that when
the matter is made plain that there
can be but little opposition. especially
by the farmers, whose greatest di-
rect interest is at stake.
In the past when it is not known
how much money will be appropriated,
it is impossible for the management
to know what steps to take for carry
ing on the great work for the institu-
ton. In fact, it has always been that
the management has had to work on
an uncertain basis, and it should be
clear to any thinking man that the
best results cannot be thus obtained,
either in the matter of efficiency or
economy. 1t becomes clear that to
support the tax will be economy.
AT this time certainly all business
men and farmers recognize that the
fertility of the soil is our wealth, also
the College of Agriculture is doing
more to teach the people how to best
conserve that fertility than all the
other forces combined, and when d
man votes No on Amendment No. IL,
he registers vote against his inter-
ests, because to defeat this measure
means to hold in check the better
ment of the farm, which means IL
rect blow at all the other interests
of the state.
Would Benefit Agriculture.
1T should be borne in mind that
the University relinquishes the inner
itance tax that at this time is given
to its support. 1t also figures out that
an amount equal to every dollar that
is paid on the farm lands under this
amendment will go to the support of
the College of Agriculture, the greatest
farmers school.
LAS a business proposition it might
some of the things doing in the Col.
lege of Agriculture. Its extension
work with it's outlying fields for dem.
onstration; its talks to the thousands
of farmers at the institutes, and to the
items of thousands on its special trains;
its work in the veterinary department
| in which at least hall million dol.
lars in hogs were saved for the farm.
ers of the state last season; its work
in driving out of the state Texas fever
and tuberculosis from among our
herds of cattle; in its solution of the
breeding and feeding problems; in its
work in the increasing of our fruit
crops to a wonderful degree in both
quantity and quality; in its work in
building up the greatest dairy herd in
the whole world, as demonstration
for the dairy farmers; its department
of agronomy where it has demon
strated the value of pure seed; its
teaching regarding fertilizing crops
which have increased their use almost
one hundred per cent, and how the
land can be built up rapidly with the
means at the hands Of every farmer
and perhaps the very greatest work Of
all in the end is to teach the boys and
men how to conserve the fertility o!
the ,dnd that large crops may be
grown, making it thus possible that
the coming young farmer may be
able to pay today for the half worn
out land on which the older ones
have wrought. If this institution. OF
some other does not do this very
thing and our soil destruction must
go ON for the next century as it; has
the past one. it is at that time THAI
the American farmer will be renter
a tenant, yes, a peasant on American
farms.