The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-01-16


ture. The first named organization
would combine every existing depart
ment which deals with the relation
between capital and labor.
The same reasons advanced for the
consolidation of The labor depart
ments apply with equal force to the
same arrangement in behalf Of a de
partment OF agriculture.
Farm Credits.
The subject OF farm credits is claim.
ing the attention OF all civilized pow.
ers. They all recognize that the
movement from the farm to the city
continues In such increased proper.
tion as to create a distinct and per.
picking problem. At the conference OF
the governors held at Richmond, Va,
Ambassador Myron T. Herrick, now
located at the French capital, and an
ex-governor of this state, made this
observation:
THE drift Of the population to the
city has not yet been stayed. Over 10
per cent has been added to the ratio
OF urban population in the last two
decades. In 1900 there was one farm
for every 1872 persons; in 1910 there
was one farm for every 14.5 persons.
On the average, therefore, each farm
has to furnish food for more than one
more persons than in 1900. Under the
circumstances, it is not altogether
surprising that in the last 20 years the
price of cattle has advanced nearly
81 per cent, of hogs SO per cent, of
cotton 2S per cent, of wheat 81 per
cent. of corn 200 per cent, and of po.
tatoes 2S8 per cent, and that the
prices Of other farm products have
steadily advanced"
Rural opportunity is the thing to
be considered. Good roads and a
modern common school system will
do much toward increasing the ad,
vantages of country life, but the fact
remains that there must be more till
ers of the soil. The question Of farm
credits in the opinion of experts on
the subject must be solved in the
first instance through state rather
than national legislation. Farmers
need two sorts of credit: Long time
credit for the purchase of land and
the making of permanent improve.
ments, and short time credit for
the operation of their property, pur-
chase of stock, fertilizer, financing
their crops, etc. In both Of these re.
spects facilities are very insufficient
in the United States. 1t is the recon.
that your body provide for
the selection Of special commission
for the purpose of making an investi-
cation with respect to the exact
needs of Ohio farmers for credit, and
the credit facilities that are now af,
forded. There is such lively inter
est taken in this subject that l am
convinced the commission would
serve without compensation.
Minimum Wage.
The newly amended constitution
gives to the state the right to adoIA
the minimum wage, and to pass laws
for the general welfare of the EN-.
ploye. There should be a common un-
derstanding of this subject as de-
veloped by survey of the wage ques,
ton. am convinced there should be
no law passed until after this is ac-
except to provide for
obviously unjust conditions affecting
the wages Of women and children. The
labor departments or the industrial
If it Is established, could
doubtless make this survey without
adding to the public expense. 1t is a
question of live concern, and l regret
that the information is not at hand so
that legislative remedy might be ap-
piled without delay. 1t is recommend.
ed that your body pass a resolution
such agency as, in your
seems best to make the in
vestigation.
Widows Relief Bill.
The commission appointed by Gov.
Harmon to codify all subjects which
relate to the child, has developed
many interesting aspects, and l am
convinced that it's suggestions can
)rofitably claim the most careful con-
'ideration of your body. The ablest
Juvenile officials of the state have
in cooperative service in
l very patriotic way, and the measure
If information which has been ad-
luced on child life will be of distinct
We benefit to our people. The COM
mission takes up the vital subject of
he widows relief bill, and while it
las not unanimously agreed as to the
lesirability of such a law, it is con-
,eded that should any be passed, it
should provide:
For the partial support of women
whose husbands are dead or become
disabled for work by rea-
ons of physical or mental infirmity,
IT whose husbands are prisoners,
vhen such women are poor, and are
he mothers of children under the age
# IA years, and such mothers and
hildren as have legal residence in
my county of the state"
The order making an allowance
hall not be effective for a longer
'eriod than six months, but, upon ex-
'iration, the time can be extended,
'rovided the home has first been Wis
ted and conditions investigated. The
hild or children must be living with
he mother The allowance should be
made only when in the absence of it
he mother would be required to work
egularly away from her home and
The mother must be a
roper person, morally, physically and
nentally, for the bringing up of the