Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-12-01
"BAck TO THE FARM

"BACk III Int FAkM'
NATIONAL BAPTIST UNION RE-
VIEW WARNS RACE OF RESULTS
OF MAD RUSH OF OUR PEOPLE
TO THE CITIES.
The advice Back to the farm" that
has been sent and Ia now being her
aided to the inhabitants of the con-
gested centers Of population, the great
overcrowded cities. by the great mold
ers and shapers OF public opinion, the
great statesmen. newspapers and mag
azines, 10 a piece Of premonitiye ad-
vice that Is fraught with the future
veal or woe OF our common country,
according to Its acceptance or rejec.
ton. However the urthinking and cas-
ual observer may look at the matter,
there Is serious aspect to 1t, never
theless; and thoughtful observers
whose visions of future possibilities
are tolerably clear and reasonable are
deeply concerned about 1t. They draw
their conclusions from the congested
conditions of the cities made 80 by
those who have and are now constant
ly leaving the farms, the mainstay and
support for the well-being and pros
perity of the municipal communities.
The thoughtful men Of the times are
well aware Of the dire calamities that
will inevitably come II the good broad
acres are left untitled and the erst-
while contented and happy SWANS
pour themselves into the laps Of the
great cities to become part Of that
nondescript element from which are
bred all sorts Of idlers, black-legs and
criminals. These sons and daughters
Of the soil, untutored in the devious
ways Of city life, soon drift to the low
est level and soon become the ready
prey Of the vilest and most loathsome
diseases, which ere Death write over
against their brief careers ''ffnis," they
disseminate to the detriment Of So
ciety.
The drift Of our people from the ru.
raj regions and precincts that has
been going on SO rapidly for the few
years past almost amounts to an ex-
odus. The agricultural districts are
being depopulated, while the cities
and large towns are being surfeited.
There are underlying causes that make
possible this state Of affairs, yet
there are remedial adjustments for
these causes. Our ministers, educa-
tors and philanthropists can remedy
to a large and appreciable degree the
conditions that drive our people from
the country into the cities and towns.
The minister has, II he Is what his
calling implies, an influence over the
members Of his congregation such as
no other man has, which gives him
the power to direct them In buying and
building comfortable homes and sur
rounding themselves with that which
comes of thrift and industry and
which spells contentment and even
happiness. If our ministers In the ru.
raj districts will but do their duty.
wholly and intelligently, they can
check this leaving Of the country on the
part OF many by showing the awful
fate that befalls the major portion of
those who leave opportunities that
may be developed for the fluctuating
and uncertain conditions of city life.
The educator can do telling service
In intoxicating an intelligent concep.
ton Of the opportunities which lie be.
fore them into his country pupils. He
is in position to influences the i'm
questionable period Of their lives and
can influence them to love and devel-
op their surroundings, and that they
are as much the architects of their
fortunes and conditions in the coun-
try as they would be in the germ-infest-
ed cities and towns, and the philan-
thropist can find place in the work
of helping to instruct our people to
stay in the country where they are,
and make good. They have the call
ing that God himself assigned to man,
and 1t Is the healthiest and happiest
of all professions, if one will but follow
1t intelligently as he would any other
profession.
Not only is this the right time to i'm
press upon the consideration of the
negro people the Importance Of hold
ing on to their country homes, but too
great emphasis cannot be placed upon
the Importance Of acquiring more land
and more land and more homes and
more homes. The day is coming when
failure to do this, remorse, like a
vulture, will gnaw ever on the minds
Of those who failed. It will then be
too late, but regret will nevertheless
be your compa MON.
Let all Of our ministers and educa-
tors, both Of the country and city,
move out in earnest effort to rene
dy the sore situation confronting them,
In which our people are leaving the
country to come to the towns and cit.
les to die of tuberculosis and other in
fictitious diseases In dens and novels,
and sunless Easements. Other races
have movements on foot to check this
evil. and let us meet 1t with interest
and concern that will be effective.
This is a duty sacred in every sense
of that term, that we owe to the future
well-being Of posterity.