The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-06
GOV. LONDEN
REAL FRIEND
or FARMER
Record In Offices Proves His In
s., terest in Measures to
Benefit Agriculture
MANAGES HIS own FARM
Illinois Governor Is Cotton Planter,
Stock Raiser and General Farmer
Fosters Bills to Make Rural
Life More Attractive.

Gov. Frank o. Lowden of Illinois.
one of the leading candidates for the
Republican nomination for president,
KS a practical and successful farmer.
Born on farm near Sunrise, Minn., of
sturdy American parentage, he moved
20 Hardin county, Iowa, when he was
Z years old, where he worked his way
through school later by teaching.
When he came to Chicago, he pur-
chased large farm near Oregon, ILL.,,
which he now calls his home.
This farm is one Of the finest in ILL
nois. In addition to this he owns and
operates two cotton plantations in Ar
kansas and has extensive stock breed
ing interests in Texas. Although he
has been successful as a teacher, law
yer, business man and statesman,
Lowden prefers to be known as
farmer. He has way Of succeeding
in everything he undertakes and his
experience as a farmer is no exception
to this rule.
The governors interest In farming
has at no time been more forcibly
shown than during the four years he
has governed Illinois. In his inaugural
address he laid out broad policy
which he has consistently followed for
fostering every phase of agriculture.
He said, on taking office:
Agriculture is our most important
industry. 1t Is the source of our
greatness. IT'S continued success is
the condition of any permanent pros
perity within our borders. The con-
servatlon movement must concern It.
self with the soil, for even our brief
history shows that fertile fields may
become abandoned farms through
other causes than lack of rainfall.
The raising OF live stock seems Seces-
sary If we are to preserve the fertility
of the soil. We should foster this in
dustry in every way we can.
1--WE should encourage cooperative
farming. 'Wherever you find agricul-
ture in its highest state you find that
cooperation has made It's greatest ad-
vance"
One Of the most notable measures
taken by Gov. Lowden to foster agri-
culture was the civil administrative
code. This act consolidated In the
state department of agriculture varl-
Gus commissions and bureaus, created
from time to time to aid the farming
interests. The efficiency of admins
tration was vastly enhanced by this
Capitalization Of responsibility, and
the benefits to the rural population
have been increasingly evident during
the two years since the code was
adopted.
Moreover, through Gov. Lowden's
active interest, number of bills have
been put through the legislature d.
rectly bearing on the farmers lot.
These include the bill for establishing
a tenancy commission, for regulating
commission merchants, the pure seed
law, the revised dog law, compensa-
ton for the slaughter of tubercular
cattle, appropriation Of $125, 700 for n
limestone plant. appropriation for
live stock biological laboratory, estab-
fishing veterinary college, and regu-
Iat1ng the spread Of plant disease.
The governor likes not only farms
but farmers. In speech recently he
said:
"In these troublesome times l often
wish were governor of a state whose
only citizens were farmers. The
farmer is the greatest stabilizer in the
country and If 1t were not for our
100000 farmers would despair of
the future Of America"