Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-07
MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE APP
PROVES PLANS FOR STATE
LOAN ASSOCIATION.
WOULD EXTEND SYSTEM
TO PURCHASE OF FARMS
Suggests Long Time Loans to Present
Tenants Who Would Buy, Occupy
and Cultivate Farms-Greater Iowa
Association to Present Bill to Lesis-

Clinton. Jan. THE suggestion OF
coming legislature should give consid-
Grafton TO the establishment of a State
Building and Loan Association, is
causing comment all over Iowa. That
bill will be introduced seems GER
tain.
Claus l.. Anderson, of Stanton, who
will represent Montgomery county in
the house of representatives during the
, Thirty sixth general assembly, is very
much in favor of the suggestion. but
wants to enlarge the scope so as to
eliminate short term tenancies on Iowa
farms. and offer to he farmer who
wants to buy farm the same state
help that is contemplated offering to
the workman who wants 10 build for
himself a home.
The idea OF building and loan as
socia ton says Mr.. Anderson. meets
with my hearty approval, as l firmly
believe that when homes are owned by
their occupants. better and higher
higher ideals are obtained than where
the tenant system prevails.
Rural Iowa Needs Help.
LAS l understand your measure. il is
meant to benefit urban residents only.
wish | could influence the Greater
Iowa Association 10 help rural Iowa
along similar lines. The tenant prob
lem is serious. a large and inCreds-
ing per cent Of Iowa farms are oper-
ated BY tenants. the larger part Of
whom remain but one year on one
farm. The system IS had for the land
lord. worse for the tenant and worst
for the land. Schools, roads, the So
cial and economical welfare of the
entire community suffer. when one half
Of the population is nomadic. The
ideal condition would be when the
farms We're owned and operated by the
occupants. The owner who lives on
the farm is interested in the advance
ment OF his community intellectually.
morally and socially. At the present
prices for land and prevailing interest
rates, it is well nigh impossible for
the young man starting in life to ever
own farm.
1T is my belief that much could be
accomplished by bringing the home
stead system down to fit present con-
could be loaned on not to exceed 100
acres Of Land, occupied and operated
by the owner at low rate of interest
or the amortization plan long step
in the right direction would be made.
Favors Homestead Plan.
Il favor the homestead plan, be-
cause if money would be loaned in
Discriminatory on not 10 exceed $50
acres of land occupied and operated
by the owner, at a low rate of interest
the result would be that land values
would advance and the benefits lost to
the man who really needs assistance.
and the only one helped would be the
present land owner and the land
Spectator
"A Greater Iowa depends funda-
moral and financial welfare of the peo-
PIE who till its soil. Prosperous tho
we are. It does not require the vision
Of seer to see that the future of
rural Iowa is dismal indeed, If more
than half Of its population spends it's
winter months in the wasteful and
foolish toll of moving crops, livestock,
implements and household goods thru
snow or mud. utilizing the energy Of
man and beast in unremunera tive toll
that should and could be used in SOW
ing the problem Of better farms, better
schools, better roads and ultima tely a
better commonwealth"