Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-11-08
A New and overshadowlna Issue.


More than so per cent of all Texas
farmers, more than AZ per cent Of all
white Texas farmers, and more than
60 per cent of all Texas farm popula-
ton. operate on rented land. Land
lords until recently have been content
to take, as rental, one-third of the
grain and one-fourth of the cotton pro
duced by the tenant. During the past
two or three years numerous land
lords throughout Central and North
Texas have demanded more. Some
have required one-third of the cotton
as well as one-third of the grain.
Others have insisted on the payment
of cash bonus of 81 to So per acre
in addition to one-third OF the grain
and one-third of the cotton. Some, as
reported by tenant farmers who ad-
dressed the Waco meeting, have at
tempted to rent land conditioned upon
the tenant surrendering his political
independence to the dictation of the
landlord. Demands for increased rem
tails were based upon the enhanced
value of the land. Lands which few
years ago were worth $50 to $50 al
acre are now worth $50 to $50. These
lands. as a rule, are less productive
than formerly. Owners seem to think
they are entitled to a commercial divi-
dend on the enhanced value of the
land, regardless of its producing ca
pacity. Where this view is enforced,
the tenant inevitably gets less for his
years work than he formerly did
Whereas the Farmers Cooperative
Union is theoretically at eiast) an
association of business men, the Texas
Farm Renters Union is labor union,
pure and simple. The Farmers Union
includes many landlords and farm
owners who cultivate their own
ground. The renters union includes
and will include none but tenants
men whose whole capital consists OF
household goods, farm tools, including
livestock. and their daily labor.
1t is noteworthy that the Waco con
vention perceived clearly that the
renters interests are not identica
with those of the landlords, but are
antagonistic, that is competitive. the
Landlord wants the most he can com
pei the tenant to pay for the use o.
the land. The tenant wants the use Of
the land as cheaply as he can Obtain
it. It was, very naturally, agreed thai
these two classes should have sepa
rate organizations The tenants fee
that when they have formed a strons
statewide organization, made up OF 10
cal unions, they will be able to make
better terms with the landlords than
they are now able to do acting md
yidually. They bound themselves
therefore. not to compete with eacl
Iother for the use of any mans land
They denounced land rents absolutely
and called upon the lawmakers to sub
NIT a constitutional amendment MAX
ling occupation and use the only vali'
title to land. They chose temporar.
president and secretary, instructed T.
take a referendum vote of member
iof the renters unions on the adoption
of a constitution, after which pei
manent state organization will be pc!
fected. Meantime, the organizing q
local unions will go forward.
Inasmuch as tenant farmers, a
though organized into labor unions
can not strike (because to strike Wor
for a season would reduce them
starvation). they are forced, seekin
relief, to resort to political actor
p They must go ahead with their task
/ making the corn and the cotton
Texas, in order that their wives an
children may have food and shelter
70 but they perceive that the way is ope
/ to them. as free citizens and voter
{ to enforce. if they can, such legisli
tive action as will make them ecOnon