The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-16

the farmer needs. They merely pro-
long the agony.
the undoing Of Russia, and the COM
pleteness of the wreck is ghastly wit
ness of the iniquity Of the system.
Feasible Plan
The farming Of lands under annual
contract between landlords mindful
first and last OF the immediate income
of the season, and tenants perpetually
on the move, and whose total interest
in the transaction is also the season $
returns,-such a policy can only curse
all who are parties to it. The only
feasible alternatives are either that
land owners shall themselves turn
farmer and directly supervise through
wage labor the tilling of the soil. or
else that the soil shall pass in small
holdings into the ownership Of those
who till il. The former is doubtless
feasible and might conceivably be
worked as community program, but
the latter is considered by most So
cial scientists as much preferable, If
not the only alternative practicable
and sure. Absentee ownership and con-
troll is the bane of all industry, and
agriculture is peculiarly susceptible to
its blight.
Second Pioneer Stage
ANY observer must be conscious that
the region about Ardmore Is incapable
of being handled ideally right now.
The large percentage Of the land still
untaxed is not the only difficulty TO
be faced. The community is only now
passing out Of the pioneer stage, or
what is sometimes called the second
pioneer stage. The first stage showed
little or nc order. The second has es-
tabished the semblance of system in
handling the land; tilling Of the soil
has yielded to some of requirements
of modern science. The third stage,
upon which the community is now en-
tering, is critical indeed. The ten
ant.landlord program may be neces'
sary as a temporary makeshift, but
If il is allowed TO become confirmed,
even in the minds of those who are
direct parties to it, the results are
sure to be serious for the entire COM
munity.
The scattered untaxed lands may
prove the saving Of the situation al
ter all. They make it impossible al
once for land to be acquired in very
large and solid blocks by single own
ers. BY the time these tracts are on
the market and come under taxation,
il may be hoped that the general in
telligence of the community shall have
been so aroused that no citizen will
wish to be a monoplist of agricultural
lands. nor will any self-respectins
farmer be content TO permanent class
ification as a tenant.
Sound Common Mind
General intelligence throughout the
community will solve this problem,
and guarantee a healthy agricultural
himself, either as landlord or as ten
ant a menace 10 the common good
The few whom greed and shiftless
ness wed TO the system can be effect
ually shamed out Of their viciou:
methods by enlightened and active pub
lie opinion. II should be cultivated
now before permanent mischief IL
done by mistaken policies. If the com
munity can guide the next steps In
agricultural development intelligently
otherwise disastrous mistakes may b'
avoided .and the community be saved
from years Of loss and retrogression.
Need of Systematic Study
Systematic study will do the bust
ness. Land policies might well be Civ
en- a place in the schools. The various
civic clubs might devote numerous
meetings TO their discussion, callinf
in expert sociologists from the OUTSIDE
and utilizing the good brains and higl
intelligence OF Ardmore's citizens whit
are directly related TO the problems in
volved: All public discussion, wheth
er by voice or In print, win be Z
the good. will enable the rank ant
file Of citizenship TO think through
and will compel all to take the com
munity view OF this vital social prof.
lem, rather than remain content witt
conceptions which base the busines
upon questions Of personal profi'
Land owners and farmers more thal
any other individuals, stand TO gail
by q wise policy. The common intell
gence OF the citizenship will help then
TO see their own interests In the lgh
OF those OF the community. 10 th
benefit OF all concerned.