Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-23
Looker-On In Iona

OGDEN, May 23.-What follows is
drawn from talk with farmers and
business men in ten counties in central
Iowa. The hay crop will be immense
| and the pastures are now in the finest
condition. Not over SO per cent Of the
corn crop is planted on this date. More
is planted in the southern counties
than in this part of the state. Accord
ing to the business men here, it has
rained for eight days in succession,
and before the land will be fit to plaw
and plant even IL from now on we have
dry weather and sunshine, the chances
are corn will not mature before frost
comes. as much Of the corn land will
not be planted before June 10. Early
planters fear they will have to replant
as the ground is cold and wet Ordin-
arily from the Goth to the 25th OF May.
the rows of the corn can be seen. but
from the car windows rs yet no corn
is in sight. Still there are many OPP
timistic farmers who say ii we get i
In by June LIST. we're pretty sure OF
crop. Oats never looked better and
have "stooled OUT in all Of the fields
covering the ground. One would ex-
pect to see yellow patches after SO
much rain but the fields are universally
green and thriving Fruit of every kind
promises big. Apples, cherries and
pluns are now formed and 1t looks as
tho II will be necessary TO thin out the
crop for the good of trees, otherwise
many will break down. There will also
be a big yield OF strawberries and
grapes. The early potatoes will be
late as an Irishman would say. for the
wet soil and lack of heat and sunshine
is retarding their growth. Business
men are pessimiStic. more SO than
the farmers. OF course where the land
is well tiled few days of sunshine
will do wonders. but in this part Of
the state the big open bitches are run
ming over the banks and It will be sew
eral days before the tiled land will be-
gin TO drain off into the big bitches.
The farmers will appreciate this
newspaper clipping:
Today we hear a good deal about
Progressive farmers. Why not
progressive" hired man? Well We
do occasionally Not long ago a CO.
lumbia farmer was approached by a
progressive chap. who wanted TO hire
cut to him. He came In an automo-
bile. He didn't seem 10 want much.
ne asked only $40 month in cash. his
house rent, what milk and vegetables
he wanted FOR family use, what fire.
wood he needed cut and brought to the
door. a place in which to keep his
automobile, also Il horse which must
be FED and stabbed at the farmers ex
pense; then he only wanted ever
holiday and occasionally an extra day
off. He was naming the hour he
would be willing 10 get up and when
he quit work Then the FARMER tainted
When he came to the fellow and his
automobile had vanished.
Not only does the present wet spell
furnish a good roads object lesson for T.
the farmers, but in MANY towns seem
to need it. In a town this week where !
they have many miles of cement walks, |
have city water plant, an electric I
light system. fine school houses and |
other public buildings, yet the mair ,
business street is mud puddle the en- |
tire length. Dray teams only haul /
light loads and bus teams only go a |
a slow walk to the hotel. What makes
this the more noticea Die is graveled ,
condition, the farmer benis bile to haul
good loads Ill he get on the main street
Of the town. What's the matter with
the town: Simply a lack of sentiment
in favor of good roads" in town
And as the LOCKER On arrives in an I
another town he notices five good sized !
church buildings which would seat half .
Of the people in town il they all took .
4 notion TO go to church at the same
time. But for some reason only one Of !
these churches looks as tho the mem I
oers cared for external appearances.
Four of them need painting, two of |
them extensive repairs, md one has
even a rotten walk and front steps. |
All this Is not saying but what any
town has a right to have dozen ,
churches. dozen preachers and a
dozen janitors. but 10 see the nice well .
painted houses. we'll kept lawns. ce-
nent walks and general air of prosper .
ity all over the towns. and then look al /
those churches, it suggests-
In all the years this scribe has tray
eled over the state. he has never /
noticed so little political talk as at !
present. Senator Cummins' eft al plan :
for reorganizing the republican party .
hardly receives any notice or excites !
any interest There seems to be a
don't care feeling everywhere. The +
Japan war scare and good roads especi- j
ally the selection Of country roads
really is more the subject Of converse
tons. than the future Of the republican !
party. One hears every day many t
words Of commentator of the acts and (
words of President Wilson. this from !
republicans, who do not seem very
much interested in the fate and future I
Of their own party. It's a perfectly !
safe statement to make that IL a ma .
tional election was held next Tuesday
in Iowa. Woodrow Wilson fould get.
hundred thousand more votes than he .
lid last November
ap M~1~