The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-11-23
Rural Wor Bond
Record Excellent
EDMUND SECREST

that the people gladly and freely
help each other Every rural COM
munity has example after example
of the neighbors turning out ZEN
masse" to husk the corn, put in
the wheat for sick neighbor, or
even to rebuild barn after a fire.
Such help is the roblest- that man
can offer, because the giver rs
giving more of himself than is the
case when he gives money, even
to such laudable movements as the
community chest.
In rural communities, neighbor-
to-ne'ghbor help comes partly
from the real desire to help q
friend in need an partly from the
fact that farmer incomes often
do not permit the equivalent in
cash contributions. Many farmers
still have a lame1tably low income
to cover the many demands Of the
present highly commercialized
period.
With this background of COM
munity helpfulress, it is not sur
prising that the farmers have read
lily seen the need for national
helpfulness in ti's time of their
country's need. Farm boys early
were recognize1 as having the
characteristics required to make
excellent soldiers, and farm people
as a whole understood that their
boys had to take their places in
the ration's defence program. The
rural record is excellent.
SOUND INVESTMENT
Likewise, the rural record of
War Bond sales is excellent. Far
mers are patriotic. they have conn
munity pride, aud they desire to
have the quotas rlet. Although fig
ures are not available as to the
exact proportion of bond sales to
bona fide farme, ), those who have
watched previous bond campaigns
have felt that the rural response
has been very creditable. There is
no reason to expect otherwise for
the Sixth War Bond Drive.
War bonds contribute to the VIM
ming of the war and, in addition,
offer a sound Investment. Perhaps
the only safer way for farmer
to use his money would be in the
reduction of outstanding debts. In
this connection, II should be re-
cognized by urban people that ag-
riculture carries proportionately
heavy debt loau. For the entire
United States the farm real estate
mortgage amounts to some six
billion dollars, with perhaps an
equal or even larger debt in var
ious other forms such as chattel
mortgages, notes at banks, COM
modify loans, ard various other
short time obligations which must
be net out of current farm re-
ceipts
SAVE NOW FOR TOMORROW
Naturally, this debt does not rest
equally on all farmers. However,
it is a matter of regret that the
combined farm incomes make up so
small a proportioGate share of the
country's total income that many
farmers are forces to consider very
carefully what portion of their
available funds must go to guard
against the ravages of debt and
what part may ae put into War
bonds. There are other more for
tunate rural people who can and
do purchase an increased share Of
War Bonds.
1t is hoped that after the war
the nation will see to it that the
farm income comprises a suffici-
emily large pars Of the national in
come so that electricity, bathrooms,
vacations, and other 50 called nee
essities of city li'lng can be afford
ed in the count4n 1t is hoped that
these nicetie., oi life can be paid
for out of the current postwar
| farm income, but, because the fu-
ture agricultural aconomy is very
doubtful, it Is good judgement and
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