The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-01-16

as q novelist, but as matter of fact
there are few men writing English
whose books on vital sociological ques
tions are of such value as his, and
hardly one among this small num-
Der who has grasped as he has grasp
ed the dangers that beset the future
of the English speaking people, and
the way these dangers can best be
met Theodore Roosevelt in The
Outlook
| have just had Il remarkable inter
view with the man of whom the above
was written. In the library of his Nor
folk home. buckingham House, dc.
liberately and with great earnestness
he told me of what he called "The
greatest problem now confronting
civilization" He told me of the flocN-
Ing of the people from the county to
the cities and predicted the ultimate
ruin of not only the English spe ,king
races but of all white races H., So
the tendency was checked.
Elder Haggard Is great, pow 3rlul,
fighting type of man with mass
of brown hair and pointed beard
For years and in many parts of the
world he has made a close study of
land questions and agriculture, espe-
cially from the viewpoint Of the small
man. believe am not overstating
his qualifications TO speak with an
authoritivc voice when I say that
probably no other man In the world
knows the subject so well. He is him
self landowner and at Buckingham
he farms about 500 acres. keeps y
large herd of cows and sends milk 10
the London market daily. Coming from
old squire stock he has always been
connected with the land and ,ha
practical experiences derived from his
Norfolk life has been forfeited by in
yestigations in Denmark the United
States and Canada, and South Africa.
We talked in the beautiful library
of buckingham House, great room
running the full width of the righ,
wing of the manor. The walls are
covered with the original illustrations
Of Mr. Haggard's many books and ne.
mentoes of his almost incessant globe
trottng. Rider Haggard stood in front
Of the big fire place or lolled in IN
armchair weighing each word before
he spoke e.
Menace OF the Cities.
The drift of country population ru
the towns and cities. with their many
amusemcnts, indulgencies of vices ana
higher wages said Mr. llaggard. IS
sapping the strength Of not only the
English but of every white race. It Is
true that higher wages are to be oh.
tanned in the towns by the altogether
fit and strong, but on the other hand
how many utterly fail and end with
their families in complete misery ,
There certainly is not employment for
everybody and the surroundings are
far from healthy,
This flocking to the towns means
the ultimate destruction OF the white
race IL il continues unchecked. We see
it now turning the race into a set Of
neurotic creatures, unfit, ut any rate
in the second and third generation, 20
face the realities of existence. II Is fin
ing the poor houses, the asylums ana
the hospitals, | say, heaven help the
people who mainly dwell in great
cities without access to the land. 70
remain great a people must be rooted
in the land. That Is why all wise
statesmen, all people who can think
and see things in their true prop ~.
lions should cndeavor AT any cost %
preserve or re.crcate a large aud
healthy rural population.
"ln my opinion this is the most i'm.
portant question of the age. The florl..
ing OF the landborn 10 the city has al
ways been preliminary 10 the destru >.
ton Of nations. There Is not the
slightest reason TO suppose nature
vii! change her decree in this matter.
Although my knowledge of the United
States is limited to the first.hand ex.
periences of traveller who has visite
II twice, once as a private person ami
once in an official capacity, and the
secondhand information OF one who
hastalked with many OF It's lntelli-
gent men, say that conditions ure
Just as bad in this respect there rs
they are here,
Denmark an Object Lesson.
England, the United States and
the rest of the world should turn 10