The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-03

LEGAL REGULATION or RENT.

LEGAL REGULATION OF RENT.
On the issue OF curbing landlordisus
J=meB e. Fefguson won the Democrats
nomination for governor Of Texas a& the
statewide direct primary ON July -
This II the first time the land question
has been An issue between the leading
candidates in state OF the United
States. This primary had AL the force
OF a general election since in Texas the
Democratic nomination il equivalent to
election. Ferguson's opponent. Thoo. n.
BAH. supported by landlord and corpor-
alton interests, tried to divert the at
tention Of voters By championing y
scheme Of state ioaas to enable farm
tenants to buy farms and pay interest
on a mortgage instead OF rent. But the
voters refused to be diverted. 'Ball Of
fers to lend the tenant farmers 8, 900 80
year out Of the permanent school
FUND. that they may buy their homes"
said the Lockhart Register and then
continued: That II less than s. for
each tenant. Jim Ferguson offers to
save them @10,0o0.000 q yoar IN farm
rents. That win amount to nearly $50
for each tenant. which II the better. to
borrow IS or to save $50?" Fergusonis
which proposition was most attractive
to the voters. It means that the people
OF Texas realize the evil OF landlordsSut
and want to put q stop to II. It w0old
be pleasing to record also that they
have decided to 70 about the matter In
an effective. practical and business-lilks
way. But unfortunately, such = not the
case. Fergus0n's plan 10 to enact legis-
lation arbitrarily limiting rent. He
| would put in the Same class with
usurious interest all rent In excess OF
one-third Of the crop OF tenant farm
his constituents that such legislation
will accomplish its purpose. 1t can not
do that. But 1t will take experience to
teach Ferguson and the Texas voters
| and then they will be more willing to
consider q practical method. ono that
will be benefit not only to tenant
| farmers, but to the owners Of farms
who cultivate what they own. al we'll
as to all other users OF land. Governor
| elect Ferguson must sooner or later
consider what to do about the land
owner who will neither improve his land
himself nor let others. He must reach
these owners in order to succeed in his
promise Of benefiting the tenants. He
can get an idea Of how to do SO by in
vestigating the method of taxation In
force in Houston, where land values arc
the principal source of local revenue.
The Houston plan, IL applied through
out the state would make the withhold
ing of land from use too expensive q
luxury to be INDUCED IN generally. Tex
ans must resort to that measure tc end
Observation-Disclosures Gazette.
NONPARTTSAN NEUTRALITY.
1, Every good American citizen cheer
fully admits that the least America
can do Is to remain strictly neutral
during the present conflict in Europe.
All of US agree to this in our sane and
sober moments but way back there in
the ancestral cavities Of our mental
organism partisan impulses are fight
ing for expression and in the heat OF
conversation tho lid pops off and pres.
to. we have forgotten all about our
solemn pledge to remain on the neu-
trality band wagon. If the United
States is to keep out of the war her
citizens must maintain q scrupuloue
lnonparttsan neutrality. Here Is q
splendid chance for the advocates 81
the nonpartiean movement to get n
some fizess swo9k.-Atchis6&
iChampion.