The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-12-11
COOPERATION WILL GO
FAR TO CURE ILLS
OF FARMERS

timely editorial as food for thought
for both our legislators and farmers,
Come with me up to the nights
from whence together we may see
clearly the spiritual and material con-
ditions that now prevail among farm
ers. l say SPIRITUAL first, because
the spirit is the vital think. If the
spirit quickeneth enough to transform
thought into action, the result is great
deeds that shall endure. Whereas,
if one merely imagines vain things
and fails to practice what he breaches
it availeth little.
But look deeply into these millions
of farmers minds! See how eager
they are to substitute efficient action
for empty talk. Observe everywhere
the desire to work out from past mis-
takes, to profit by experience, to util
ize more fully the Northwest's re-
sources of Nature and of people.
Note how every face is toward the
| future, every eye alight with hope,
every will fired by determination,
every mind firm in the faith that the
best is yet to be for the farmer-in
agriculture and industry in economics
| and thrift, in education and civics, in
social and religious life! What you
behold is in truth the active soul of
mighty race.
Material Condition Revealed.
Looking again from our hight, you
see with bird's-eye clearness the mar
velous natural wealth of the North
west-its plains and valleys, noun
tains and rivers. You see also how
the soil has been robbed, how farm
ers and tenants have been skinned"
yet how feebly other classes have ben
Gifted by the wasteful economics
heretofore in use.
Penetrating still further, you see
that waste has caused want, that Ma
ture is so provident she has made
too many of our people improvident.
They now realize this themselves, and
are ready to go forward united for
greater efficiency.
So it is that now thrift seeks to sup
plant extravaganza, knowledge aims
at displacinG ignorance. Cooperation
would bind the relatively feeble pow
er of separate individuals into the
mighty force of associated effort
Enable the people to carry out their
aspirations, and it will be feasible for
| agriculture to make as much real pro-
gress during 1915 as it has during the
| past quarter of a century. Your state
can leap forward Is years in ONE
year.
Just What to Do.
Reform the system of barter, which
holds in subsection both landlord and
tenant, merchant and banker. Pool
your cash, credits and cooperation
| through a system that will promote
thrift, pay and transform poor ten
ants into rich yoemanry.
One trouble in many sections is the
| difficulty of obtaining short-term or
| seasonal loans upon reasonable terms,
with which the farmer may finance
the years operations upon the econo-
mical basis of spot cash payments in
place of the present costly system of
buying on long time.
Another trouble is the absense of
means for placing long-term loans Sc
cured by farm mortgages, in way
that shall be economical to the Dor
rover but attractive to the lender. By
the plan | advocate, each $1,000 of
such long-term mortgages may be
wiped out, both interest and pricipal
in full, by the payment of only $35
every six months for 80 years! this
seems incredible, but it is gloriously
true, and wholly feasible.
To begin with, each legislature
should do these things forthwith:
Land Titles.
l. Codify, simplify and improve
the land laws. Provide a method of
title insurance and transfer that shall
be perfect, clear, simple-the Torrens
system or something like it. Thus
make real estate titles incontestable
and safe without great expense to
owners, borrowers or lenders.
Cooperative Farm Finance.
2. Enact the standard bill for farm
finance under state law. Its Part
One enables the people of most mod
est means to have their own little
neighborhood banks in which to gath
er their petty savings and use same as
a basis for collective credits, thus
gradually becoming able to pay cash,
get out of debt and accumulate a COM
potency.
Part Two of the standard bill pro-
vides for one or more farm mortgage
banks in each state to furnish money
on long time and easv annual repay
ments at low rates of interest. This
standard bill, with suggestions for
securing its prompt enactment by
your legislature, is pamphlet which
will be mailed free of cost to any per-
son who writes for it to Orange Judd
Northwest FarmStead, Minneapolis,
MINI. This standard bill is already a
law, partly or wholly, in several
states.
Justice in Taxation.
;. Exempt from taxation mort
cages bearing not to exceed per cent
interest, instead of making the land
bear the double burden of tax on
itself and also upon the mortgage.
Tax the property within this state
of all corporations. Exempt the
shares of corporations incorporated
in this state, but register the shares
of other corporations. Thus encour-
age capital to invest within this state.
while simplifying the states supervis-
ion of corporate interests.
Other Laws.
4. Where no adequate law exists
for cooperative enterprises, adapt
the Wisconsin law to incorporate CO.
T.