Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-06
BEIGIAES IN THE CORN BELT
Practical Way Of succoring Unfor-
inmate Victims Of War.
EMPLOYMENT AS FARM HELP
a Plan More Feasible Than CoIonsr-
ihg--scxpersenee In American
Farm Methods the first
Essential.

Farm Methods the First
Essential.
Referring to- articles IN Tho Bee in re
gard to bringing Belgian farmers onto
Nebraska lands. let me say I am In full
accord with this sentiment; in fact, !
called the matter 20 the attention Of the
president Of the Real Estate exchange
some weeks ago. am not. however, in
sympathy with tho suggestion 70 colonlze
these people. The Belgian peasant. ten
miles from his domiciie. feels farther
from home than the American farmer
1900 miles from his. Having for genera
tious lived In the same spot. followed the
same customs. and usually directed by
someone whom he. at least. thinks his
superior, with new SURROUNDINGS and
changed conditionA. no is practically help
less To colonize q band OF these people
strangers 20 our soil, climate. crop con-
dltious ana iangaago-would be an act Of
cruelty. stN
On the other hand. " these peasants
could be scattered among the farmers OF
the corn belt. they would not only find
ready employment at liberal wages from
the start, but as soon as their experience
justified IL. would have no trouble In
arranging 20 lease land. the rental Of
which would be about one-half OF a rea-
sonable interest charge on the selling
price OF the land. II IL shown by report
OF recent Investigation made by our fed
cral authorities that the renter. with one
twelfth the amount OF capital. IL receiv-
ing moro I'm return for his labor than the
owner OF the land. SO. without under
ts.rf 10 an
lated colony. the Belgian immigrant, and
IN many localities the members OF hls
family. would find employment AZ good
wages, with good housing and plenty OF
food from the start. and would thus be-
come tho owner Of an unencumbered farm
sooner and more easily than n colonized
on western lands AZ has been suggested;
and. perhaps best OF all. these people
would become assimiiated. and while their
industry and thrift would by contagion
benefit the community, they would be
benefited by learning not only our Ian
gUage. bot ourfcnstoms. ana thus become
real Americau citizens.
Periia of settlement En- Maase.
The worst thing about immigration into
this country during the last fifteen years
has been this settling OF foreigners en-
masse. as has been done IN such places
as Patterson y. j.; Lynn. Fall River,
Lawrence. etc Assimilation under such
conditions Is impossible. and their failure
20 assIinilatc and become Americanized
Il causing constant trouble Examples OF
this were had in recent labor troubles at
Lawrence. Mass. the copper mines Of
Minnesota and the coal fields OF col0-'
RADIO. According 10 PRESS dispatches. Il
required interpreters IN from four to six
languages at each place to translate or
doris given by the police IN their efforts
10 check riotlng Labor and other troubles
win Increase and, multiply 50 long az
these communities are unable to speak
and understand our language. and hence
unable 20 comprehend and appreciate our
institutions On the other hand, nothing
Is 80 sorely needed In this country today
as more efficient labor upon the farms.
Because OF the lack Of it our farms in
the best sectlonn OF tho corn belt are not
producing more than 20 per cent OF their
capacity Price OF foodsiuffs has all
ready reached point THAI Ii almost
prohihitlye % certain nlnaseS We cannot
reasonably expect 4 permanent further
advance in price OF farm products. II.
however, our farms can be made 10 pro-
duco % per cent instead OF 20 per cent
~ capacitys we can afford 10 sell these
prodgots at lower prices and stili make =
profit. This can easily be done n conn
petent labor can be secured The fact
that farm laborern IN sufficient numbers
are unavailable Il not TIE only bad feature
IN the situation. Perhaps the worst OF All
IS the low efficiency Of these laborers
They are not all iFainpr by any means,
but they lack exporience. knowledge OF
and interest In the work. They are from
necessity doing H. temporarily. They do
not intend 70 make agriculture . perma-.
nent vocation. but plan 10 return 20 other
occupations as soon as conditions make
81 possible. Hence their efficiency Is at
tte minimum. A successful farmer, or
farm iaborcr. must be to the rnaner
born" grown near to ths soil: be 20 in
love with nature that he not only enjoys
Gods outdoors IN the sunshine. but even
IN storms; and counts II not isolation to
be near to natures heart" nor mis-
fortune 10 be removed from great cities
those soiltndes where men build fires
In which TO burn their own souls.T
Rsdactiea OF RarsI Population.
Few people seem to realize the tre-
Inendous reduction ia rural population
even IN the best portions Ct the corn belt.
A line drawn from the northeast corner
~ Madison county 70 the southwest cor
nor OF Red Willow county. Nebraska.
VII leave south and east OF Il only four
counties which cid not lose In rural
population between tho ccnsus Of 1900
and the census OF 1910 There was but
= very small percentage Of increase IN
these four-mostly truck gardeners and
the like, near cities. II the comparison
- made between the census OF 1890 and
that Of 1910. the Tine above referred "a
would move much farther west This
unfortunate condition obtains 10 a much
sreater extent IN Illinois. Iowa. and IN.
older states. Few seem 20 realise whal
this constant reduction In the rura.
population means 70 the cities OF IN.
west and especially TO the development
and permanent prosperity Of Omaha
whose territory h more exclusively aRri
cultural than that OF any city In IN.
country. depression In Agriculture /,
AZ once reflected BY corresponding de
preston In the business Of Omaha. Ar