The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-24
PEOPLES FORUM


/ ~"''et u ne fHsinlan;
| Sir,--You have said a eood dsaI about ,,r
Paui f. .Barringer. the president of the virs inia
polytechnic institute at Blaeksburg He has just
recently resigned, and eH-tif, common with
other fair-tninded men) justify his course dur
ing the six years that he has been president
! Of this State college
The chief accusation against DR. Barringer
mas oeen that the men graduated from this
V. p |, do not become practical farmers ana
that therefore the methods and courses used
there are wrong and should be changed so as
20 produce that much needed class OF citizens
Now mold that this is trumped- up charge.
ihough the accusation may appear to many
70 he serious one the fallacy of It lies in the
tact mat It IL really true. The V. p. /. does
not turn out many practical farmers This
may sound like admission on NV part that
i ~ not following its resf mission but the
banning character of this accusation is more
apparent than real, for deny that it is possible
Tor the '. T. l. or any other college devoted to
teacniHg. and TO research work In science to
turn out practical farmers. 1 hold that the
work or the v T. !. is educational Cet prac-
tice be kept within the practcaD. Its duty Is
10 train men in the arts and scienses Chiefly
related to agriculture).
The majority or the graduates from the Y
r. |. get work that pays more than they would
make as practical farmers taIso they are thus
of more economic value to the community
The real way to make practical farmers In
Virginia is to let young men and young
women have access to the OF the desira-
BILE land which is now lying idle Cor anly partly
used) The Y. 7. l. has amply justified itself
in the work of disseminating the wonderful
Yeast Of scientific knowledge through the great
body of the people But of what use is know
ledge of farming il the farmer has to give the
results of his labor and skill rent to land
specniator?
The facts are that in Virginia the real far
mers and workers. gradually being pressed
back from the desirable land to the mountain
sides. cross roads, and back alleys by that Sc
Cret power and growing evil land monopoly"
Rent" is gradually absorbing the interest OF
capital and the wages of labor The land which
should be hiiing the growing needs or the peo-
pie is producing only real estate signs and the
best is being sold for sporting resorts and ''show
places All the land around the cities has In
, creased in value 400 per cent. though the tax
assessments have not been raised. The result
Is to parable the industry or the community.
and to put money In she pockets of non-pro-
ducers.
Tax this land into use and invest the money
in public service Pay good salaries to men
/ eachers in the schools. Use this great undls
covered public asset to pay V. P. I. engineers
to build roads. to pay v 7. |. masters OF
science farm demonstrators. Jumping tax
, assessments to full value don't hurt anybody
but the land spectators
! deny in toto" that the v P !. can turn out
practical farmers under present conditions. 1t
cannot supply the men to MI the technical po-
sitons ready for them graduation. The far
mers winter course at V. +. I. Is good. and the
farm demonstrators worth millions TO the
State Those boys who cannot take scientific
course at Y. +. I. should take apprenticeship
with some real farmer with privilege Of scien-
tifc study and trips to V, p. l. to see the labor
atory work.. He is but a stupid boy indeed
who cannot learn great deal about elementary
parts OF science, staying at home on the
farm, Books cheap. and letter OF IN
quiry to any OF the scientific staff at Y. 2. |.
will be answered promptly. our boys and girls
are not go stupid after all. All they want Is 3
chance to use the land which God made for his
people 10 tfot to speculate I'M,
i 1t is idle to say that much land can De
bought In Virginia at very low prices. Such
land is not desirable land. 1t is below the mar
gin Of cultivation" as II phrase is in political
1t is a sin against the laws of nature and
God for good men and women to be Forced 10
use TIE least desirable land first Thew have
to cultivate poor land when the good land Is
/ held out OF use" for the increase In value.
They have to live in back alleys when the de-
sirable lots are vacant and monopoiized.
Tax reform is needed for the good of the
whole State. There is going to be new order
OF Democracy in Virginia. Let all think clearly
and make the distinction between farmers VINO
farm farms and farmers no farm farmers.
"PTEpMONT'