The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-07-20
TIiE Nl-LINE PASSION


for the real estate men IN convention at chi
easo to declare their business the most vital
10 the proapcrity OF tho nation and ask a spc-
oial legislative program. We cay 1t was tho
most natural. because now and for somc years
past. when two more people mot 10 confer
ference or convention for the purpose OF con-
sldering any subject they deemed It incumbent
to seek special legislation for the special pet
in,ereot which brought them together.
Strange enough. too, It was Congressman n
Calder. himself "A member OF tho national Log
islature, who set tho Legislative program before
tho realtors for their approval. Yet Calder
must have known better than most mon Just
how embarrassing this practice has become
and what injusticcs 1t has worked In times past,
1t is n fine thing for men Of kindred voca-
ton to get together for the purpoac of advanc-
ing tho proper interests OF that vocation
through acquaintance, understanding and tho
exchange OF ideas But we think the practice
OF seeking special legslation. or the attempt
TO exert unusual and therefore very frequently
improper influence upon legislative bodies,
should cease and cease suddenly
IT is In general laws that this country finds
Its nearest approach to exact justice. never
through special laws. Ono special law simply
calls for another. because II one interest no
afforded special consideration then there Is
nothing for 1t but for all other interests to seek
a similar boon. 1t II easy to where such
tendency leads
We seem to forget that tho continent was de-
vcioped and made prosperous by men not Hpe-
ciaI legislation. Until recently poverty
state that men got themselves out OF by thrift
and industry. Is It not true that today an en-
tirciy too large number OF people look to SOW
srnment to turn that trick for thcm'
There are certain phenomena that arc dif-
ficuIt to understand and dangerous rs founda-
t,onS for conclusions Returning to the real
estate mems convention and Mr.. Caldcr's ad-
dress he declared that America In short a mil
lion homes, that tho condition constitutes ma
tional peril and therefore congress should enact
special legislation looking to It's abatement.
There Is n fallacy here which needs to he OK
posed. The idea that the country IL short n
million homes Is a phase OF the aftcr-war hys-
teria and has never had n demonsrable exist
encc In fact Up until few months ago there
was n keen demand for houses. All domlciles
were full and the shortage, notwithstanding an
unusual campaign OF construction, seemed
acute.
People wondered whore tho demand camo
from. immigration was at its lowest ebb.
there had been some hundred thousand Ameri-
lost in the war others were abroad, there
vacant houses in the country, and Yet
every urban settlement, from mere crossroads
village to the largest city, faced an apparent
home famine.
where do the people come from" a
question asked over and over. Nobody seemed
60 know; at least no intelligent answer was
ever given The demand existed. and lightning
thinkers concluded that there existed a short
age OF houses which threatened the nation. But
already conditions have changed. There Is
not an urban community in the nation now
but has more vacant honscs than Mt any other