Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-22


servers OF Iowa struck with the somewhat run
down Of its public and social life The decadence
OF the church the detected tenants Of the land the
low state Of railroad politics. impressed behoders
Prosperity and the fighting edge Of the splendid Cum
minis group Of political progressves have changed ell
that and prosperity is entitled 10 much credit Corn
and hogs at the bottom OF moral progress IN Iowa
The growing demand for the chief commodities which
the state produces the rise in price OF these food
supplies. have in various ways profoundly benefited
the state
Prosperity has quickened the social spirit In the
place OF the old ndvidualistc and decadent churches
the eenters OF religion IN the agricultural districts
socially concerned with the happiness and con-
tentment OF all the people here and nov. The Joys
and comforts OF prosperity have opened the eyes OF
tho people their soil Is their chief asset.
and that their land policy should a first a
commission OF qualified has been looking into the
system of tenantry that has grown up in Iowa They
find that 20 per cent OF the farms occupied
by tenants. and most Of the leases for only ono
The tendency OF this lie towards the mpoverish-
ment OF the land There lie incentive for the tenant
to replensh land improve the fertility OF the
soil lie works IL 10 it's limit and moves out OF
the state for Iowa has decreased somewhat in popula
ton in the last ten in spite OF her prosperity
The skimmng, tripping habit has got into the blood,
and certain proportion Of the tenant farmers have
moved towards the coast or into the Canadian
northwest Governor Clarke OF Iowa in message
this which lie full OF human interest declares II
10 be the first duty Of Iowa to preserve its soil
and TO exercise its sovereignty through law relating
10 landlord and teant The fixing OF the conditions
OF tenantry, ong-term leases. compensation 10 the
occuper for improvements and fertility added TO the
land by him. cooperative system OF distribution 30
that the agriculturist may realize from his
productive TOLL the development OF rural credit under
the fostering OF the state that safe loans for
Improvement purposes be obtained by the farmer
readily by the manufacturerthese the great
social ideas which revolving in the minds Of the
people Of Iowa.
Lest sive the impression that Iowa is a Utopia.
let me say that am speaking OF the dominant trend
Off he NJ md NJ
tude OF mind OF the people which prevails after thing
IL talked out II would be possible to point
to than Instance Of narrowness and tempor
airy blindness on the part OF the electorate Only this
year wave OF public retrenchment and financial re-
FORM which fortunately is sweeping the country,
struck Iowa Iowa has stately capitol building and
beautiful monument to the soldiers Of the great war.
standing upon what might be recommending slope.
But, from distance you only the peak of
the capitol because of motley collection Of shacks
and sheds which surround e. At the last session of
the legislature an appropriation OF nearly million
dollars authorized for the purpose Of purchasing
and clearing away this circle OF ugliness The con-
that the voters turned the legislators
and three-quarters OF the lower house defeated
for reelection this issue But the greatly needed
Improvement VIII soon have the commendation of
everybody All OF which illustrates the precarous
nature Of public service in democracy
Another instance of the limitations OF Iowa demo-
cracy is seen In the attitude of the people towards
their splendid University of Iowa. The College OF Agri-
culture is disconnected from IT, better supported ami
in better favor than the university proper Some day
the power Of the university in developing honest
intelligent and efficient leadership in free will
dawn on the farmers Of Iowa. and then they will
realize. as they do not fully now the tremendously
useful and self sacrificing work which is being done
Iowa City. powerful college OF applied political
social science, for example in connection with the
university. would yield returns in public
that would lift Iowa every other state in the
union to higher level
Increasing prosperity in Iowa has produced favor
nhl I4elN -
railways OF Iowa were the government. Through the
lavish distribution OF passes judges and editors
and politicians and merchants. railway machine
which bore not the slightest resemblance to the in
strumens Of popular government long perpetuated
Il the farmers had remained poor and mortgaged
thai control might have continued weIl-distrbutcd
prosperity is prerequisite to cautiously advancing
democracy. Poverty and injustice and tyranny lead
to advance by revolution But there is a better way.
The man who introduced the first anti-pass bill into
the Iowa legislature was laughed at Now he is very
greatly respected. and some day they will build a
monument 10 him!
Iowa has never ben a radical state. like Kansas
or Nebraska. IL Is about the best example have
of cautiously progressive state never needed the
progressive party II was we'll on the way towards
Its goal before 1912 The fight for the freedom and prog
OF the state about the breaking OF the
shsees OF railway control and the securing OF the
direct primary. 80 that the people might have some
show at nominating their candidates for office
This was all over by 1907 The growth IN unity be-
tween northern and southern Iowa is interesting to
observe Northern Iowa has a strong strain OF the
New England stock and has always been enterprsing
vigorous. and conscientious. Southern Iowa was
settled from nearby states its border is OF stock
at first not so enterprising and inclined be con-
sentative. The power Of the railways pass soaked
into southern Iowa much deeper than into central or
northern Iowa. and II took long to break the domino
ton OF the machine there Northern is furnish
ing the leadership OF United States Senators
Cumniins and Kenyon and Governor ClarSa are from
the north country But the unity the two sections
Is becoming more and more pronounced, and gem
orally speaking It would be hard to point to the mind
Of commonwealth in the union which is working
out more sobsrly into the long Of sef-govern
ment
The inscriptions In the state house carved there
during the governoTship Of United States Senator Cum
minis, express well the temper OF Iowa. They all
breathe the New England OF duty as we'll as
the national spirit Nothing is politically right when
is morally wrong "lowa-the affections OF its people
like the rivers OF its borders flow an inseparable
union And beneath the stands colors OF the in
fantry. the cavalry, and the artillery OF the cvi war
He hath loosed the fatef ghtnings OF his terrible
SWIFT sword, His truth Is marching on; Lord God
OF Hosts. be with yet lest forget lest We for
GET The tndgments OF the Lord are true and rghte-
GUS altogether' The Iowa brand OF progress Is a