Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-12-15
MiTTY'S ARTICLE
+ CONVERTS WAlDPORTER

In the last issue of the Leader
l saw an article that caused me
to be very much peeved. | OBJ
ject to being called a parasite.
or course the shaft was directed
at me along with all the other
residents Of Lincoln County but
then the force of the blow is
again contracted when the gen.
tleman from Marion County tells
us that we comprise less than
one-fOurth of the taxpayers of
the county. Webster says that
a louise is parasite. Swift des-
cribes the enormous lice he
found in Brobdingnag as animals
something like pigs and having
snouts with which they rooted
over the bodies of those who
were infested with them.
Let us define Mr.. Mitty's re-
lat!on to Lincoln County. Un-
less he is an exception of which
there are few, he is one who
OWLS property here which he
hopes.to be able TO sell at prof
it when We fifteen per cent have
developed the county. OF course
he is perfectly willing for the
fifteen per cent (the parasites,
If you please) to build roads by
donation, ford streams or pay
ferry fees, build schoo.houses,
make other improvements and
otherwise enhance the value of
his land at no cost to him.. ]
would never be so ungentle''
marry as to apply any but an
honorable appeiation to the gen
tleman from Salem who hopes
to receive a gain as the result
Of the Iebors Of us parasites.
But never fear, my friend, we'll
make you dig 10 get it. You will
find that our rl;in is thick.
/ 10 not deny that much tax
money has been squandered in
Linco,n County, some foolishly,
some carelessly and some even
c~iminally; but it gives me a
tiry1 4 feeling to hear our county
couls continually knocked by
those who cannot give any
Suggestions as how the county
af,.irs can be managed better.
il is easy enough to criticize
even II we cannot do any better
ourselves. Give me a sledge and
l can soon ruin the finest piece
of statuary man ever made. Any
baby can cry for milk but il
takes a man to provide the
wherewith to buy the fluid at
ten cents per quart.
The only encouragement that
Mr.. NIFTY gives any farmer to
settle in Lincoln County is the
statement that mot any prop
city OF those engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits were adver-
tised to he sold by the sheriff"
The less ! say in reply to this the
more favorable it appears for
Lincoln County.
Heretofor ! have not been en-
thusiastic about the establish
ment OF the Office of county
eericulturist because i did not
believe that such an officer could
be of much benefit to the county
until q ma ajority of the farmers
themselves were willing to CO.
operate with him. But our in
telligent friend has given me
some new ideas and | am now
heartily in favor of hiring a
county agriculturist and OF do
hg everything we can to devel-
~ the county so that Mr.. Nit
" can sell his land to someone
who will come here and help cut
down the eighty-five per cent OF
nonresident taxpayers. / be-
lieve that | can give few rea-
sons why Lincoln County Is
more in need Of a county agent
than our neighbor Polk. 1st-
Polk is nearer the markets and
the need for organization and
cooperation is not so great
2nd-Our lack of proper trans
portation facilities makes or
ganizatlon and cooperation
more necessary. Without some
authorized head, organization |!
seldom enective among farmers
3rd-NIany persons who hav'
not made a success elswhere OF
account Of poor management O.
poor methods have been attract
ed to this county on account o
cheap land. An agriculture
advisor could be OF great assist
ance to them. ~"
mo doubt, Mr.. NIFTY, your let
ter HAS had the influence whicl
YOU wished, SO come again; ~
like another slap at you. '' e.'
zone who objects to being call
~ r ed a PARASITE. 80 .