Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-10

and where they can make q fair living"
The remedy proposed by the commits
sioner lies in the millions OF acres OF
waste land In this country. There are
no longer enough desirable homesteads
on Government land to supply many inn
migrants. 1t viii have to be CONNER
cial proposition based on the untitled
lands in private ownership.
With hard work this land can be con-
Fverted into good. one-man farms. But
there must be hard work, because the
farmer who takes the land must begin as
the homesteader does. He probably VIII
have to build bis house and barn. He
will have to prepare the soil. But TINS
is no more than pioneers. fmmigrf nts and
native born Americans, have been doing
all over the country in the years when
1t was being developed. The lob should
be easier now. with parcel post, mail or
der systems, railroads and practical Gov
crnment assistance.
GOVERNMENT
MUST HELP.
Mr.. Husband feels that if the Govern
ment does decide to help the immigrant
get a start on q farm, the work should
be carried further and an extra effort
made to help him achieve success. That
is, he thinks the county agent and the
home demonstration branch of the De
partment of Agriculture should give the
foreign farmer and his wife special attcn-
ton. The childrens bureau can also help
him. and local and State agencies can
look out for the sanitation of his farm
and the education Of his children.
First Of all, however, Mr.. Husband
feels that the foreigner should not be
shunted off to q piece Of land where he
can only catch sight Of the smoke from
his nearest neighbours house on clear
day This isolation has been a discomfort
that many homesteaders have had to en-
dure. Isolation is especially distasteful
to the immigrant and win undoubtedly
be avoided in planning the new home
stead project Waste land can be found
in the crowded East as well as in the
West large tract of land at a con
siderable distance from existing farms
would probably, If turned over to the i'm.
migrants. be divided among number of
them. so that they would not feel shut
out from other people A whole colony
Of foreigners, however, it not so desirable
from the Americanization point of view,
as q few mixed in with American farm
ers.
People in different parts Of the country
have begun 10 write to Mr.. Husband say
ing that there is land in their localities
which would be suitable for farm de-
velopment. and offering TO cooperate with
the Government and the new settlers
Though no definite plan has been formed,
letters have come from such widely dis
tributed States as Florida, Michigan,
Utah, North Dakota, Kentucky and
Maine
A railroad official has written to say
that the railroads ought to cooperate in
such plan. An Italian hank official Of
fered to loan money TO Italian immigrants
for land investment, and other organiza-
tons have written expressing interest or
offering suggestions.
The first step contemplated is to get
together officials Of the Labor. Agricul-
ture and Interior Departments to formu-
late working plan and to see II exist
ing Government machinery is sufficient
to carry it out If not, II will be neces
sary for Congress to pass a law giving
the necessary authority, and perhaps
providing some funds. before anything
can be done.
II it is worked out as Mr.. Husband
sees it. the immigrant farm plan will be
under the general direction Of the Gov
eminent, even though it involves a com
mercial deal between the owner of the
land, the immigrant. and either a bank
or the United States Treasury.