The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-25
PEOPLE MUST Be
GIVEN CHANCE TO
OWN THEIR HOMES
Governors of Tennessee and
Arkansas Agree That SOL
der Land Bill Is Step in I'M
portant National Movement

II regard the movement to have more
Of our people live in homes that they
own as the most important now before
the people of the United States" said
Gov. A. II. Roberts Monday morning
The plan to have the general govern
ment buy largo bodies Of land, TO be
improved and sold on long terms OF re-
payment to our soldiers recently mus
tered out Of the service, Is a part Of
that movement, l am heartily Ia favor
Of giving every possible cooperation on
the part Of Tennessee and our other
Southern states in this plan, so soon as
It has been decided just what laws are
to be enacted,
THE back-to-the-land movement, and
the back-to-the-homc movement viii,
IN my opinion. do more to offset the
dangerous Bolsheviki propaganda than
any other n thing, Men who own
their oWn homes, are better ana more
loyal citizens and win take no part In
agitation against their government"
Home Owners Needed.
Gov. Roberts is in Memphis for a con-
ference with representatives of other
Southern states and with the local sol
der land committee on the provisions
Of the bill o pending in congress.
At noon the only other Southern gov
ernor who had arrived was Gov, G. H.
Brough. Of Arkansas, who, after break
fasting with Gov. Roberts, said that he
cordially agreed with him in his view
as TO the Importance Of locating more
people In their own homes, particularly
In the farming sections Of the South,
Not more than 60 per cent of the
people In the whole United States W
their " homes" said Gov, Brough,
- l.. 800. Et-.Nl.-. -4.Aaa tLa aE,VAr
tion, | believe, is far less than that,
The remedy lies In some such measures
as the Mondell bill, which we are here
today to discuss, providing for allotting
lands to former soldiers,
THE farm loan bank system N ac-
comprising much In aiding farmers 70
borrow money for improvements, but n
man first must own a farm before he
can borrow, We need more small farms
all through this section, farmed by their
owners"
Arkansas, Gov, Brough said, was
ready 10 offer to the general govern.
ment, when necessary legislation shall
have been enacted, more than 100000
acres OF good land, much OF It rich cut
over land, which is priced at rom W To
tennessee has about 100000 acres
ready TO offer, Gov, Roberts said,
Monden Act Favored.
Gov. Roberts believes that the law.
when enacted by the congress, should
provide that the general government
furnish the money TO buy the lands anc
handle all the details Of settlement
thereon, the states 10 cooperate in thu
building of roads and opening the trnct'
10 be purchased, and 20 take care o
such other details, possibly condemns
tion of some portions OF tracts tina
might be needed. He believes such
plan would be preferable to having III
states furnish any OF the funds for tn
purchase OF the lands.
The conference began late Monda
afternoon at the Chamber Of Commerce
A committee from the local post {
the American Legion waited on III
governors Monday, pledging support {
the legion Of the Mondell act for n
reclamation Of arid and swamp land
for homesteads for soldiers,
The legion fought for tho bll iron
the first, and still Is fighting, accordin
10 William NJ. StantonA head OF the locS
most. The committee was composed 0
the following; w J. Bacon Roam
Warning. W. L. Terry and William y
Stanton,