New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-09
credits needed to practice the best
methods of diversified IF rming.
Personal Credit .or Men

40
"We also favor the authorization of
| associations to prcNide the necessary
machinery to furnish personal credit
to the man, whether land owner or
tenant. who is hampered for lack of
working capital. The highest type Of
rural civilization is that in which the
land Is farmed by the men who own it.
unfortunately, as land increases in
value, tenancy also increases.
This has been true throughout hisI
tory. At the present time probably one
half Of the high-priced land in the corn
belt states is farnied by men who, be-
cause Of lack Of capital, find it neces-
sary to rent. This increase in tenancy
brings with it evils which are real
menace to national welfare. The land
owner, especially if he be a Spectator
who is holding for profit through an
advance in value, is concerned chiefly in
securing the highest possible rent. The
tenant who lacks sufficient working cap
ita!, and who too often is working under
a short time lease, is forced to farm the
land to the limit ard rob it Of its fer
tility in order to pay the rent Thus
we have sort of conspiracy between
the landlord and tenant to rob the soil
upon which our national wellbeing and
indeed our very existence depend. Amid
such conditions we have inefficient
schools, broken down churches, and
sadly limited social life. We should,
therefore, concern ourselves not only
in helping men to secure farms of their
own, and in helping the tenant secure
the working capital he needs to carry
on the lest methods of diversified
farming, but we should work out a sys-
tenn of land leasing which, while doing
full justice to both landlord and tenant,
will at the same time conserve the fer
tility Of the soil.
Slxth-We do not longer recognize
the right to speculative profit in the
operation of our transportation sys-
tens, but we are pledged to restore
them to the highest state of efficiency
as quickly as possible. Agriculture has
suffered more severely than any other
industry through the inefficient railroad
service of the last two years. Many
farmers have incurred disastrous losses
through inability to market their grain
and livestock. Such condition must
not be permitted to continue. We must
bring about conditions which will give
US prompt service at the lowest pos
sible rates.
Seventh are pledged to the re-
vision of the tariff as soon as condi-
items shall make it necessary for the
preservation of the home market for
American labor, American agriculture
and American industry. For a pe-ma-
rent good fortune all must have a COM
mon interest If we are to build up
self-sustaining agriculture here at
home, the farmer must be protected
from unfair competition from those
countries where agriculture is still
being exploited and where tie stand
ards of living on the farm are much
lower than here. We have asked for
higher American standards let US
maintain them.
"The farmers Of the corn belt, for
example, are already threatened with
unfair competition from the Argentine.
whose rich soil is being expoited in
needless fashion, and where the rent
ers who farm it are living under con-
ditions more miserable than the poor
est tenants in the United States. In
times past duties on agricultural prod
ucts were largely in the nature of
paper tariffs, for we were great
surplus producing nation. Now that
consumption at home is so nearly
reaching normal proc uction the Amer
lean farmer has a right to insist that
in our trade relations with other coun-
tries he shall have the same considera-
ton that is accorded to other indus
tries, and We mean to protect them all.
$50 long as America can produce the
foods we need | am in favor Of buyinp
from America first. 1t is this very
preference which impels DEVELOPMENT