The nonpartisan leader. [volume], October 28, 1915, Image 11

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
ifexx
.. There is a vast diflterence between
the'stories told by the-subsidized
press and the United. States Census
Bureau regarding the increase of farm
mortgages in this Country. Leaving
out all the rant and billingsgate that
is thrown to the public at large, in
an effort to be-ftiddle and fool the
public mind, and considering only the
cold facta as set forth in that report,
we find things startling enough to
warrant those who are interested, in
their attempt to be-little and de
tract from it ..\
$ There is an old truism that says,
^where there is smoke there is fire,"
and always it is true that where a
certain coterie of men seek to lead
the public mind and make it believe
against its own better judgment in
thing or things, there is a reason.
HE marvel of the European war has been the wonderful in
conomic staying qualities of Germany. According to all
predictions Germany should today be starving, her indus
tries should be palsied and her armies should be out of action for
lack of ammunition. All the rules of yesterday indicate that these
facts should exist today. But they do not. Indeed the opposite
of these facts exist.
Several investigators and writers have been trying to figure
out the reason for this. One of the most illuminating treatises
on this subject is the recent book, "Socialized Germany," by
Fredric C. Howe, published by Scribner's Sons, New York.
This book was written before the great war broke out, and
the manuscript was laid aside at that time to await develop
ments. But, Mr. Howe explains, "as the contest wore on and
the extraordinary resources of Germany were disclosed, it seemed
to me the 'book should be published."
This is because the Work not only explains German efficiency
in war, but also suggests and expounds the latter-day social
statesmanship—which, says the author, "our own as well as other
countries must take into consideration, if they are to be prepared
to meet Germany, which, in victory or defeat, emerges from the
war."
Mr. Howe observes that Germany had just reached the be
ginning of her greatest achievements and tfar or no war, the next
generation will see her bestriding the narrow industrial world like
a colossus. The malestorm, he asserts, is ahead of the nations
in their blind course, and over it the author raises this beacon
of warning.
Vast reforms, he affirms, are necessary before we can cope
with the fatherland on even terms. We have got to do things
differently, and a great deal better than ever before.
"There must be a wide extension of public ownership, a
greater control of the aggression of privilege and property, a big
program of social legislation, a change mi our system of education,
and the exclusion of privileged and business interests from the
long ascendancy which they have enjoyed in our political life."
Mr. Howe's book treats informingly of the many,points of in
dustrial, economic and social superiority, to be found in great Ger
man communities. The roster of achievements is imposing, the
vista of state collectivism in alliance with feudalism impressive,
albeit somewhat confusing. The author really doesn't want all
men everywhere to follow this Teutonic pattern of big sausage
and little, all on the same model, and all stuffed with fat meat.
Of special interest and practical value are the author's chap
ters on municipalities, their governments and their relation to the
state.
In Germany, notes the writer, the city is viewed, not as a po
litical, but as asocial agency. The former is incidental. The main
purpose is to promote the common welfare in every possible way
•—the state aids rather than hinders in this.
It encourages new .projects involving land purchase, dock
building, promotion of education, even theatre and market con
struction. Experts from all over the empire hold frequent con
ferences from promoting town-planning and the expansion of mu
nicipal functions.
"City administration in Germany," observes the author, "is
not the plaything of politics it is the most serious problem of
statescpaft, and it commands the best thought of the empire."
Not attempting.-to give .the teason
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Is the State of North Dakota
THE NONPARTISAN LEADER
By Orange Wright
in this particular instance, but let
ting each draw his own conclusions,
we give here a brief summary of that
report for the States* of Montana,
North Dakota and Wisconsin:
In the year 1890, only 15.G per cent
of the farm lands of Montana carried
a mortgage, leaving 84.4 per cent
free of encumbrance. However, twen
ty years later,' in 1910, farm mort
gages had increased over 33 per cent.
The number of mortgaged farms had
grown by- one-third, and the farmer
in Montana began to find himself on
the wrang side of the ledger to his
banker
In Wisconsin, and by the way* Wis
consin is some older than Montana as
an agricultural State, and the farm
ers had been at it longer, conditions
were even worse. The Wisconsin
farmer wa» so far over in the red
of his Banker's ledger that the won
der of it is he didn't .then and there
offer his body and soul as additional
security for his right to live to the
men who were' skimming the cream
of his manhocd.
This is what the U. S. Census Bu
reau says of farm mortgages in Wis
consin, other reports to the contrary:
In 'lS90 42.9 per cent of Wisconsin's
farms were mortgaged, 57.1 per cent
free of .encumbrance, slightly over
one-half of her farms being free/
By 1900 .Wisconsin farmers had
progressed sufficiently to have 45.8
per cent of their farms in hock.
Their mortgages had increased over
6 per" cent and their unencumbered
land had decreased from 57.1 per
cent in
Staying Qualities
These cities sprawl around among many activities unknown to
city administrations in other lands. They own and operate quar
ries, and breweries, wine factories and slaughter houses, bakeries
and printing offices. Nuremberg owns a big orchard, and all the
fruit it produces. Dusseldorf speculates in outlying lands and
owns an interrurban railway as an annex of this original specula
tive enterprise.
These were the conditions that obtained in Germany before
war started. Upon the declaration of war, at the outside, not
later than ten days after, the authorities begun to seize and con
trol practically all industries. Not only so but they set the prices
of food stuffs. Already owning her railroads Germany was then
in a good position to make a hard fight. And she has done so.
And it is not due to the superiority of her soldiers, the deadly
accuracy of her gunners nor the superior quality of her strategy.
British soldiers are just as brave, French gunners are just as good
marksmen and Russian infantrymen are just as hard fighters.
Germany's marvelous success, rests with her ability to go
right on feeding herself, clothing herself and supplying herself
from within the iron ring that surrounds her.
this because private greed was eliminated and production was
carried on for use and not for profit.
This lesson is not cited to encourage "preparedness" for wai.
It is cited to demonstrate the superiority of the sure-fire methods
over the hit and miss methods of other countries. Such a sys
tem has proven a success to Germany in times of war. And the
question arises and will not down—not even after the war is
over if what was good for Germany in times of war is not good
in times of peace, why not?
Henry Ford declares he will not join the civilian soldier
training camp at Ft. Sheridan. He doesn't want to fight, he says.
Neither do the other businessmen who
We are .often told that what helps the business-man also
helps the farmer. But what the farmer is interested in is a prop
osition that will help the farmer first. Helps him to help
himself.
The~ man who milks the cows gets the skimmed, milk and
the man who milks the man who milks the cows gets the cream—
and the cows.4
ten
In 1910 the balance had again shift­
PAGE ELEVEN
She was able to do
are
are simply acting as "decoys" for the purpose of baiting a lot
of fool workingmen into entering into seriously what these busi
nessmen are "playing at."
A large consignment of cork and wooden legs have been
shipped from this country to Europe. We sell 'em the shot and
sharpnel to shoot away their flesh and bone legs and then sell
'em cork and wooden legs to take the place of those
flesh and bone ones. Those latter can be shot away with less
pain, you know. And besides, "business is business."
There are men who think, and then there are men who think
as the men who think, think they ought to think. The 'results
are that the men who think rule the world and the men who
think as the men who think they ought to think are ruled bv
the men who think.
taking training. They
ordinary
ed in favor of the Bankers. Farm
mortgages had increased another 11
per cent and cl.4 per cent of Wis
consin's farms were tie dup and right
here the number of unencumbered
farm in Wisconsin fell below tiie 50
per cent" mark. Still the Wisconsin
Bankers and newspapers talked pros
perity.
In this our own State, North Da
kota, in 1910 only 34.4 ppr cent oc
the farms were mortgaged. Int 1910
just ten years afterward farms carry
ing mortgages had increased to 50 9
percent. Over half the entire State
acreage was mortgaged, an increase
of 63 per cent in one decade. Only'
49.1 per cent of the-lands-of'North
Dakota were free of encumbj^nefe^
and still the p,ress of bur
preached to" us the wonderful ag{*i
cultural prosperity that was oursf^
Si
JZ&
state
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