East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-16
FROM THE PEOPLE
URGES RURAL CREDIT LAW.

w ANAn WIN NNuI
article on farm credits found in the
E. o. OF January ~. especially these
two paragraphs. zone point that will
have TO be considered Will be the
question as to whether under the
proposed plan the benefits would go
TO the farmer or would be abhorbed
by the spectators and present land
owners" Then comes your other
thought. THE matter OF a special ru
raj credit law involves deeper ques-
tions than some people realize"
You have thus opened up a field OF I,
thought almost unlimited. We be-
lieve that under our present social
and economical conditions a rural
credit system with the establishment
and extension OF the rural home as
the fundamental principle and cen
tral thought would carry with 1t an
influence for good almost beyond our
comprehension.
The best thought OF the world to-
day is agreed that the Industrial home !
where father. mother and children
dwell together in peace and moder |
ate plenty under their own roof and
upon their own foundation is a coun- |
try's greatest tower and lever OF
strength. This ideal home Is the
greatest need OF our country today.
The wise men and profound think
ers OF our own land keep continually |
preaching TO us the doctrine OF Back !
to the farm; back to the rural home"
but the rush to our cities keeps in |
creasing at a tremendous and dan
gerous rate
In 1850 We had in continental
United States a total population am |
ounting to $4,000. 600 in round num-
bers, with 5000. 600 in our cities,
towns and incorporated places and
5000, 600 in our rural districts.
Today we have a total population
In the same territory of 100, 900, 600, |
with approximately $1,000, 900 in our
cities, towns and incorporated places
and 100000 in our rural districts. |
Can We. see danger ahead by a
study Of these statistics?
Had YOU lived in Rome in the day
OF her apparent great strength and
power and publicly announced to the
loyal Roman that the DAYS OF his
empire were then being numbered, |
you would have paid the penalty of
that day and your head would have
dropped on one side the block and
your body on the other. but the wise |
men OF Rome did see danger ahead
and tried by force to drive the idle
and vicious population from her over
crowded cities into useful callings and
Industrial homes.
But the time for his had passed and
the pOpulace already gone mad for
pleasure. cried with almost one voice.
Let the dance go on. Revelry must
reign" and soon the rise and fall Of
the Roman empire was a matter of
we'll known history.
II was but yesterday when all the |
world was preaching universal peace
and disarmament. Today the whole
of Europe is engaged in the most cru
ell, barbarous and destructive war
the world has ever known. 1t came
almost like a thunderbolt from a clear
sky.
Should our own population increase
in the same ratio and in like man
ner within the next thirty four years
as II has within the past thirty-four
We would then have a total popula
tlon of 200. 10000 with something
near 3O.OOO,0O0 in our cities, towns in
corporated places and 7O,000,OOO in
our rural districts and should the
present pleasure. extravagant and
criminal pace of our cities increase
during the next thirty-four years as
It has in the past "a would not the
very foundations OF our government
then be trembling and in the balance
The great city of New York with
her 100000 of people, has a public
Indebtedness of over billion of dol
lars. our own little city of Pendleton |
has an Indebtedness Of various kinds
amounting TO almost $500 for every |
home we have in the city and the
cost Of living keeps going higher and
higher for it is through the channels
of trade that these city expenditures
must be cared for, but II seems that
revelry must reign and the dance
must go on.
Our cities with their present social
and commercial systems are attracting /
the vicious and criminal elements /
from all over the world and 1t is here 1
in the crowded street at the playhouse /
and in the dance hall where its most 4
convenient for the hand that withers
to touch the youth Of our own land. !
With our fast increasing tendency |
away from the Industrial pursuits of
life will ii be possible for us to stop
in time to overcome the dangers that
seem almost sure TO meet us?
We surely need another Phil Sher-
idan at this time to meet us with
that smiling command, Turn about
boys, we are going the other way"
Twenty year bonds at a low rate |
OF interest for public improvements
which soon become useless by wear
and lack OF up to-date convenlences
are eagerly sought by capital.
In Umatilla county alone, from the
Blue mountains on the south to the
great Columbia on our north. we have
ample room and opportunities for
5000 new and prosperous rural
homes
Through the helpful and successful
efforts OF the government in the way
Of redeeming our desert lands this
demand for rural homes is being met
in a small measure while in our
midst thousands Of our fertile acres
blessed with abundant sunshine and
natural rain from above Is continu-
alIy begging for the capable, industri-