The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-27

have yet to decide whether to settle
the land owership problem by CO.
operation or by government assist
ance. This Is the most important ques-
ton before the country today. 1t is
a question that directly affects crop
production. The farmer, as the one
most directly concerned, must be fore
most In the solution. Yet he Is by no
means the only one affected. The
prosperity Of the whole nation is d.
rectly concerned. for the nations food
supply is hanging In the balance.
If the high prices impress upon the
country the fact that national pros
perity depends as much upon the pros
perity Of the farmer as upon that Of
the manufacturer, the farmers exist
ence will be justified. The day of a
government of the people. by the farm
ers, for the cities. Is at an end. The
farmer must be considered in legisla-
ton. He will force a consideration Of
his interests. He is already demand
ing his rights.
There need be no fear of the farmer
domination of government in this coun-
try. Our territory Is too large and our
interests too varied. At the same time
all Indications point to the fact that
business domination must end If
business cannot thrive without special
favors from legislatures 1t would bet
ter be left to exc out a sickly exist
ence. The truth is it can thrive on the
same treatment that Is melted out to
the rest of the citizens Of the United
States.
Fair legislation will not hurt bust
ness. 1t may hurt some of the over
fattened parasites who hide behind
the shelter Of business and raise the
cry Of panic every time a reform is
proposed. If 1t does, so much the bet
ter. The world can do without them
very well. The city harbors too many
people whose right to live Is not based
upon anything they have ever done for
society. 1t is to the country statesman,
with views unbiased by the intoXica-
ton of luxurious living, that we must
look for the initiation of this great re-
form. His innate sense of justice will
not be satisfied with the shadow of re-
form. His natural conservatism will
prevent radical steps that defeat the
purpose of reform. Under his guild
ance the details of popular govern
ment will be worked out to success
full conclusion. Government by spe-
cial interests must end. Real repre-
sentative government will take its
place. The short ballot the direct pri-
mary and the initiative and referen-
dunn are all steps to that end. Any
thing that will make machine rule
more difficult and popular rule more
simple is for the general good.
Most of the problems Of popular gov
eminent are still to be worked out.
No one can forsee the exact trend
which popular government will take.
There are several influences at work,
however, which show in measure the
of the times. 1t is not likely
that the government Of the United
States will develop paternalism
which some other countries call gov
eminent by the people. There is too
much individualism about the Amer
lean people for that. While the Cana
dian farmers have been actively cam
paigning for government ownership Of
elevators. the farmers of the United
States have solved the grain trust
problem through cooperation. While
the agitation for the postal savings
bank has been sweeping over the coun-
try, the farmer has never actively de-
that the government go into
the banking business. He is not averse
10 the idea OF a safe depository where
the laborers of the cities can deposit
their savings. He admits that postal
savings banks may be a convenience
IN some communities and may be the
means of bringing boarded money into
For the most part, how
ever, he is satisfied with his co-opera-