Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-23
LAND OWNERS ARE TO BLAME
Rohdc Discusses Rotations of Tenant
To Owner.

| Editor World, Dear Sir. Discussing
| the question OF tenant i'm farming in
an editorial OF the 18Th, as the same
! Is being disclosed at a meeting being
| held by a federal commission at Dali
/ las, Texas, you say i'm closing THE
! cruN Of the situation was reached in
| Governor Ferguson's comment; THAT
/ he did not believe the land owners
generally had vet given a thought to
| the possible moral responsibility for
social conditions among their ten
ants" You then. add that this situa-
| tion not only effects the farm, but in
other places where one mans invest
ment furnishes the basis for another
mans ability to earn a living"
Now this is the real CruX OF the sit
uauon, where one man controls the
opportunity at the suffrance Of which
tho other man must labor If he labor
at all. Whether the Texas land owner
has ever given thought TO the ques-
uon of his responsibility for the moral
or financial conditions OF his tenants
is not entirely pertinent The land
lords Of Ireland have not passed sleep
less nights studying the moral or even
financial conditions of their tenants.
But social law has compelled and is
compelling Investigations into the re-
lation OF landlord and tenant; how
more than keeps pace with prosperity;
the richer we grow as a nation the
larger alushouses we maintain; the
more prosperous we are the more pow
crty and unemployment we have.
Every winter the bread line grows
longer. In the richest city Of the
world where the rental value Of a
single acre Of land mounts to the
stupendous sum Of approximately two
million dollars annually, here we
find more sQualur, more crime, more
suicide, more thieves and robbers,
more prostitution and vice than any
other place on the continent, yet in
this same city buildings, the equal of
which was never before dreamed Of,
are built and being hulded three
stories underground and forty odd
stories toward the sky, mansions for
the abode OF men, the like Of which
the world has never seen before. Not
one but many Of these modern man
sions, all the result OF labor line the
fashionable street Of this great city.
To add TO these stupendous eXpendi-
lures to satisfy the whim Of some
clumsy clown, millions more have
been spent in so-called art, ancient
and modern. The mere difference in
mems abilities cannot possibly aC-
count for the great disparity between
those who have and those who have
not The time is fast approaching,
I'm truth it is here now, mems eyes
are being opened TO these gross in
cQualiucs, the reasons are being
sought and best Of all are being
found. The men who are back of the
movement, the men who inspired this
landlord and tenant proposition have
long since seen the "Coon in the wood
pile" I'm other words, as Congress
man Mcclure said, many years ago
they see the cat they know what's
the matter with the poor illiterate
tenant They know the same system
that dcprives men Of their Just and
natural rights in Ireland or England
does the same thing to them in our
country Why do we as a people re-
serve the right TO regulate a railroad
company or a telephone company or
pipe lines. or public utilities Of any
kind? The reason Is so obvious that
TO ask such a question seems foolish? |
All OF these enterprises have to do
largely with the public welfare. No
one SO much as questions the right !
of the people to control within the |
bounds of reason any public utility. |
And vet the most vital OF things, that |
make or mar the human welfare is /
absolutely uuhridled The entering |
wedge OF a new idea in land owner /.
ship and taxation is now at work. Re |
suits are sure to follow.
w T.. ROHDE. |