Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-22
SECRETARY Lane
STARTS BACK-TO-
FARM MOVEMENT
Will Try to Provide Places tor
Returned Soldiers Who
Wish to Go On
Farms.

Secretary of the Interior Lane is
already looking forward to the glad
time when the soldiers and sailors
will be coming home, and he is urg-
ing congress to Immediately take UP
the matter of providing farm oppor-
tunit:es for them, and for the hun
dreds of thousands OF workers in
the munitions factories who will lose
their jobs when the war ends. The
Nebraska department of publicity
has been asked to give the widest
possible publicity to the following
statement from Secretary Lane:
1.-THE committee on public lands
of the senate has unanimously re-
ported in favor of a bill appropri-
ating 100000 to make surveys OF
farms for returning soldiers. In its
report the committee says the pro-
posed legislation is for the purpose
of providing an opportunity to pro-
cure homes for those OF our re-
turning soldiers and sailors who
may wish them upon their return
from the war, as we'll as giving
like opportunity to thousands OF
workers in munitions factories and
other war industries, who. at the
conclusion of the war. will be out OF
employment.
Back to the Land.
ut Is intended to promote, as
nothing else ever has been. the back
to the land spirit. 1t is recognized
that one of the great evils OF the
times in our country is the over
crowding and congestion OF the
people in the cities, many of whom
are untitled for city life and not
adapted to the avocations' thereof.
After the war this undesirable con-
dition will be greatly intensified.
Further, there will be hundreds OF
thousands of young men who will
have returned from service in our
army and navy who will be out OF
employment and for whom there
will be no positions. In addition,
there will be thousands and thou
sands of men and women, now en-
ployed in munitions factories and
other war industries which will have
to close at the end of the war, who
will be out of employment.
"Many of the men will have some
means which they have saved at
their employment and with which
they could locate upon and improve
land and engage in agriculture, hor-
ticulture or live stock raising. All
of the above described classes OF
people will be needed on the land.
The land will need them and they
will need the land. 1t should be the
object of the government, and it is
the object of this proposed legisla-
ton, to provide them with the OPP
portunity of getting on the land.
Furthermore, the undertaking which
the proposed legislation contem-
plates, If embarked Upon by the gov
eminent, would afford employment
to thousands of men who will be
out of employment at the close oil
the war, when there will be scar
city of employment in this country.
Economic Program.
This bill is in line with legisla-
ton proposed by the secretary OF
the interior, and the senate commits
tee believes it is of great inn
portance. The committee further
more believes that it should be at-
tended to in ample time. The war
may end in another year and if this
scheme is to be embarked upon at
all no time should be lost in doing
so. The committee believes the
proposed legislation to be of great
and vital importance to the country
and great and valuable economic
program"