The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-19
RIGHT KIND Of LANDLORD 1 BEntfACTOR
" ISAAC I. ToTTeN.

" ISAAC L. TOTEM.
SO much has been said about the
landlord and tenant system Of farm
ing being . national menace that one
10 almost led to believe that there 10
no virtue in the system whatever.
Some one has said that. landlords
and tenants, poor roads or no roads at
all, poor houses and poorhouses. slip
shod farming and old-time methods
all these together-where you ind one
you hnd the others.
This. of course. is true to a large ex-
tent; but we believe that. in most farm
communities there 10 just as great a
percentage of rundown, unsightly
farms in the hands of owners them
selves as in charge of the tenants.
Our purpose in writing this article,
however, 10 not to argue that point;
but 10 tell of what two landlords have
done and are now doing. which shows
that there Is some virtue at least in
the landlord and tenants system.
There was a farmers meeting In the
city recently, and just around in little
groups discussing farm topics-which
10 one of the values of farm organiza-
tons. The farmers in the group. Of
which we were a part, were talking
about landlords and tenants. There
were three landlords and five tenants
in the group-indicating that tenants
az we'll as landlords are interested in
farmers meetings.
One Of the landlords was much inter-
ested in a power blowing outfit. He
had catalogue with him which show
ed cuts of the pillow and told OF the ex-
cellent features of the outfit The land
lord seemed to know the good points
of the implement by heart.
III that machine will do the work
that the makers claim it does. l believe
that it will be good investment for
me and my tenants to procure 1t for
use on my two farms" said the land
lord. His two farms joined and he aim
ed to economic for his tenants where
ever it was possible for his tenants to
use the same equipment.
Il believe that l can afford to pay
one third of the purchase price of the
outfit, and that it would pay each of
my tenants to take a third interest in
It,"
He then proceeded to explain the
economical value of the implement.
do you consider everything in con-
necton with your farms in that way?"
We asked when he had completed his
explanation.
III you mean: do l take my tenants
into consideration in everything con-
nected with the farm work? l must
say that l do, because whatever will
make money for them will also make
money for me-" was the reply.
"A man working for a landlord like
you, tenants. wouldn't be switching
around every year or two" one tenant
in the group remarked.
"A man working for a landloard like
you would feel more like going ahead
and doing some extra. instead Of see-
ing how little he could do to get some
thing for nothing out of the place."
was a remark from another tenant.
"You are wrong" said the landlord
to the first tenant who spoke. During
the past fifteen years l have had six
tenants on one of my places. but on
the other the present tenant has been
with me for a little over ten years.
The only reason that this one has been
with me SO long Is that he is trader.
and II seems practically impossible for
a trader to save any money.
although do not like it because he
hD 10
good worker. The others that 1 have
had for tenants on my place are now
in possession of farms of their own. So
you see they don't stop with me-"
There is no occupation that affords
better opportunities for the man with
little capital than that of being a ten
ant farmer. That is, under favorable
circumstances. There are very few 9th
er occupations that give man
chance to work on profit sharing ba-
sis with the employer.
II the landlord mentioned above had
remained on his farm and had not CIV
en- those other men opportunities to
use his land, and brains, and capital,
there would. no doubt. be six less land
owners today. Looking at the landlord
and tenant subject from this stand
point, there seems to be considerable
virtue in the system.
THE greatest mistake that most
landlords make" said the landlord of
whom We have just been speaking.
rs to give the tenant the impression
that you think he is more of a slave
than a man who Is his own master.
Such an attitude. find. will not bring
out the best qualities Of man in any
line of endeavor.
Il aim to provide my tenants with
living quarters that will not cause
them to lose their self respect. In fact.