The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1920-07-17
FARM TENANTS AND FARM OWNERS

in a large reduction in planted acreage especially in
wheat the fundamental food of the world Thoughtful
men recognize the fact that the matter of farm produc
ton is at least the second most serious question of
national economy assuming that the industrial labor
question is the first Putting the best possible consruc
ton upon the latest crop report from Washington which
shows condition generally better than few weeks
there is large shortage in wheat and corn the two great
staples as compared with the crop of year ago. and
this at time when the world needs every pound of food
that can be raised The explanation of this shortage is
that fewer acres are being cultivated in cereal crops due
to two things decline in available agricultural labor and
the increased cost Of everything used by the farmer in
Guiding wages There other not often pok
en- of outside agricultural circles That the great I'M
crease in tenant farming The new census will reveal
what that increase has been during the past ten years.
but it is common knowledge that it has been tremendous
It is an admitted fact that tenant farming does not pro-
duce as much owner farming, nor does it maintain
land in as highly productive condition farm improve
ments and equipment at SO high state.
Tenant farming is bad for agriculture. Any state
suffers when it represents considerable portion Of its
farming system Incidentally it responsible for much
men reared on the farm and practical farm workers who
would prefer to remain there if they could ow tarm
20 to the city and seek industrial employment OF some
kind rather than become tenant farmers. Having no
capital and the price Of land having gone up to so high
point they have other choice, unless their fathers
are able to give them start either on the home farm
or some other This the best agricultural labor we
have II is pity to lose it from farm production Ten
ant farmers on the average represent much less capable
class than these farm-reared young men, less likely or
able to cultivate according the best methods handle
the farm in busnesske way, building it up TO more
productive state Even if capable they not so likely
to expend effort and the necessary money on anothers
land as they would if the land were their own.
While practical methods of getting more farm labor
are being discussed, of checking the drain upon IT,
without much result yet this matter OF reducing ten
antry and it's evil results is being discussed by farm
organizations The one conclusion to which all have
come is that there must be provided easier way for
the skilled young farmer procure farm of his own
There is no lack of available acreage not necessarily
acres now uncutivated but farms worked poorly by
tenants Concretey this means the provision OF capital
for the purchase and equipment of such farms with
the necessary improvements, machinery and stock The
Federal Farm Loan Bank step in this direction,
but scarcely scratches the surface of the need and
does not scratch in the right place The obtaining OF
loan under that system is hedged about with re-
strictons and conditions that the skilled farm boy and
the capable tenant farmer cannot avail themselves OF
the privilege "To him that hath shall be given is the
motto Of the Farm Loan Bank The Oklahoma law rec
sJnaf nu lam fnI
the full value of the land 1t is supplemental to former
law which permitted the loanng first mortgage of al
sum eaua to half the value of the land at per cent
interest payable per cent twice year. or per cert
year for twenty years. when the loan is extinguhed
The new law permits the loanng of the remaining half
at the same rate second mortgage. Under the old
law 900 900 has been loaned from the school fund
For the second special revolving fund has been created
1t is hoped by this act that thousands of tenanworked
farms will become owner-worked farms Before the law
went into effect 5000 applications for loans were filed
The sum already loaned by the State of Oklahoma on the
first mortgage is than oneenth the total of the
Federal Farm Loan Banks loans in the whole country
and it has been limited by the available school fund
There will now be arge increase somewhat similar
law is in effect in South Dakota, where the state loans
70 farmers for the development of agriculture are very
arge much larger than the federal loans in any one
If its twelve districts composed of several states EACH
In some way there must be provided the capital to put
farming into BUSINESS condition. 1t is fundamental in
,ur national economies Increased ownership and the
increased quality which accompanies it is the business
method This calls for capital not invested by absentee
andords in mortgages of the old sort, but for own
rship under conditions where labor may repay and the
Nightmare of foreclosure visits the pillow Of the
wner and borrower-St. Louis obe-Democrat
10000 population town with eighteen-story sky
t.irn hn1rn honr,