The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-08

4 tional opportunities 10 add 10 their ex-
actions, while they add TO the uncer-
tninty and encouragement nnder which
tho farmer In laborlng during this period
OF reimbursement,
Fifth. we favor the administration OF
the farm loan act so as to help men
| who farm to secure farms OF their own,
and TO give TO them long time credits
needed TO practice the best methods OF
diversified farming,
| We also favor the authorization of
associations to provide the necessary
machinery to furnish personal credit TO
tina man. whether land owner or ten
ant who Is hampered for lack OF work,
| ing capital The highest type OF rural
civilization Ia that in which the land is
farmed by the men who own It. I'M
fortunately as land increases In value,
tenancy also increases,
An Increasing EVIL.
This has been true throughout his
tory, AT the present time probably one
half OF the high priced land In the corn
belt states In farmed by men, who, be-
| cause OF lack OF capital. ind Il neces-
sary to rent, This increase In tenancy
brings with II evils which are a real
menace to national welfare. The land
owner. especially II he be a Spectator
who Is holding for a profit through an
advance In value. II concerned chiefly
In securing the highest possible rent.
The tenant who lacks sufficient working
capital and who too often il working
under a short -tlme lease. IL forced to
farm the land to the limit and rob II of
its fertility In order to pay the rent.
Thus we have sort OF conspiracy be-
tween the landlord and tenant 10 rob
the soil upon which our national we'll
being and indeed our very existence de-
pend Amid such conditions, we
have inefficient schools, broken down
churches, and n 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 best methods OF diversified
farming, but we should work out q sys-
tenn OF land leasing which, while doing
fun Justice TO both landlord and ten
ant, will at the same time conserve the
fertility OF the soil
Transportation systems.
Sixth. We do not longer recognise the
| right to speculative profit In the opera
ton Of our transportation aystems, but
We are pledged to restore them TO tho
highest state OF efficiency as quickly
| as possible. Agriculture has suffered
more severely than any other industry
through tho inefficient railroad service
OF the last two years. Many farmers
have incurred disastrous losses through
Inability to market their grain and
| live stock. Such a condition must
not be permitted to continue. We must
bring about conditions which will give
US prompt service ut the lowest pos
| sible rates.
Seventh, We are pledged TO the re-
vision OF the tariff as soon as condi-
tons shall make II necessary for the
preservation OF the homo market for
and American industry. For pertinent
and American industy. Fo n permanent
good fortune all must have common
interest. II we are 20 build up a self
sustaining agriculture here at home.
the farmer must be protected from un-
fair competition from those countries
where agriculture is still being ex-
plotted and where the standards OF liv-
Ing on the farm are much lower than
here, We have asked for higher Amer
lean standards. let MS maintain them.
To Protect All.
The farmers OF the corn belt, foT
example. are already threatened with
unfair competition from the Argentine
whose rich soil Is being exploited In
needless fashion, and where tho renters
who farm II are living under conditions
more miserable than the poorest ten
ants In the United States. In times
past, duties on agricultural products
were largely In the nature Of paper
tariffs, for We were great surplus
producing. nation, Now that consump-
tlon at homo Ia 40 nearly reaching
normal production. the American
farmer has right TO insist that In our