Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-13
cHGGWWc!Me TIE CITIES

Ine warning issued by the labor
unions of Portland and vicinity to pros
pective immigrants made the assertion
that Of Oregon's 100000 population
100000. or nearly half the residents of
Oregon, are crowded into the city of
Portland Al FIRST glance this appears
to be an astonishing proportion OF
consumers Of primary products against
primary producers.
But population figures put Illinois in
about the same predicament as Oregon.
Chicago Is nearly half Illinois in popu-
lation and two-thirds of the state in
government. New York city contains
more than half the population Of New
York. In these two states compilation
OF the population figures Of cities Of
twenty thousand or more against the
remainder Of population would make
a showing as astonishing in this agri-
cultural country as the English figures
OF so per cent Of population within
English cities Of over 10000 is when
applied to that island. The population
of almost every civilized country is be-
ing absorbed by the cities which are
growing rapidly In France the popula-
ton outside the fifteen largest cities
actually decreased during the past five
years. Outside Of the leading cities of
Australia, the population increased but
60 ~, - mildly
And yet, let it be observed that in
none Of these countries where this
rapid increase Of city population is
making has agriculture been less than
prosperous In the United States the
ten years Of largest city growth have
been especially fat years for the farm
er. Iowa's loss Of per cent outside her
cities has not affected the prosperity
Of the farms, despite the mendacious
attempt to bull Iowa land prices out
side the state for a purpose best known
to those who made the attempt More
over they have been prosperous years
for aggregated labor and for internal
commerce.
One reason why the cities have
grown is that organized effort has been
always toward q bigger city. With all
the cry Of back to the land there is a
tract men to the cities. Men seek sue
cess and sudden success lies mainly
cityward for the man who has service
to sell and has not means to buy land.
The weakest fail and are crushed. So
the weakest fail and drop out Of sight
outside the cities. The farmer of today
is successful because he conQuers sue
cess. The country is beginning TO de-
nand what the city demands. capacity,
willingness, and special knowledge. He
must be owner or servant and as il
servants than be one servant among
owners the country failures trend city
ward to sell cheap service in the high
est market and under the same impulse
which carries the specialist there 10
sell his special knowledge where the
highest prices are paid.
There is not likely to take place any
great change in the movement to the
cities. The reason for it is plain. OPP
portunity beckons from the city to the
man without capital except days work
and ability and to the man with large
CAPITA! who desires to double ii quick
Iv The country asks first for capital
and demands ability after investment
The big chances for wealth and prom
inence and the opportunity for rapid
advancement lie in the city. And While
thew exist men will seek them as min
ens rush to the gold strikes.