The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 13, 1918, Page 18

Every One Else Organizes (From the Yakima Valley Farmer) Speaking of the Nonpartisan league and the at- titude of certain city newspapers toward that mili- tant organization of farmers, isn’t it surprising how much concern these papers display over the expendi- ture of a mere $16 for two years’ membership in the League, when the same papers show no apparent in- terest in plugging up other wastes that cost farmers hundreds of dollars every year? And if Uncle Sam needs this $16 so badly to carry on the war, how are we to suppose he is able to get along without all the money spent for fees and dues in all the commercial and business organizations of the country ? Seriously, we think our Uncle Samuel, being a sensible person, would approve organization in any branch of useful activity, whether it be to promote the legitimate in- terests of business men, workingmen or farmers. And surely no group of useful members of society are in greater need of organization and co-operation than farmers. HOW TO HURT AN EDITOR Andes, Mont. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I don’t belong to the League, but am going to join as soon as I get the money. Here is a copy..of a let- ter I sent an editor at Culbertson: Editor the Searchlight: Do you depend on the farmer for a living? Think it over, old man. You are knocking the workingman on whom you depend- for existence. I am for the League and all it teaches, and most of your readers are for the League and eager for the fall election so we can put the grafters out of power forever. Don’t send your sheet any more; the editorial in your last issue was all I want to see. VIGGO LARSON. AN IRRIGATION ROW Parma, Idaho. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: We are up against a hard proposition here in Idaho to irrigate our crops this season. The recla- mation service has raised the price on water and the farmers claim they can’t pay it. They are going into a big lawsuit, but that won’t be-making a big crop and help win the war. Not knowing any better way to get word to Wilson and Hoover, I am writing this notice to the Leader. We need help at once, and we think we should get water at the old price, until after the war at least. WILLIAM MOORE. Loan Sharks Try a Dirty Trick Federal Farm Loan Bank Catches Mortgage Brokers in a Lying Attempt to Discredit Uncle Sam In the rush of harvest and threshing when a farmer wants to get repairs with the least delay; or in the fall when stock is turned onto the stubble or corn, an opening like this through the fences is a great convenience. An auto can glide through at eight or nine miles an hour, but horses, cows, hogs, calves or colts can not pass. It is a cleverly designed cattle guard that is always efficient. It is per- haps 24 feet long from point to point. It is made of 2x8 or 2x10 planks set firmly on edge. The end triangles are merely fenders to guide the wheels into the ruts. The central square just fills the space between auto wheels, and is covered with barbed wire entanglements. This square stands just between the posts, about four feet on each side and animals trying to pass can not step over it or get around through the harrow space between the planks and the post. They always back up and quit trying. A plank in the rut at each side of the central square portion insures evenness of the road and prevents any striking of auto parts. If a team is used, the fence has to be opened at one side of the guard. This cattle guard is on the farm of A. K. Mills of Almena, Kan., a prominent member of the Nonpar- tisan league. FIRST MINISTER “I am in receipt of the Nonpartisan Leader and have been heartened by the reading of it. If it is representative of the spirit and aims of the League, I congratulate you on being HE federal farm loan di- rectors know much about the enemies of the farm- er. Here is a recent statement issued by them: Kansas mortgage bank- ers, in another effort to discredit the federal farm loan system, have gone to the expense of getting from ab- stractors and registers of deeds par- ticulars as to nearly 2,000 loans made in that state by the Federal Land bank of Wichita. This information in- cludes in each case the amount of the loan, the assessed valuation of land and buildings, the number of acres, - and the description of the land as to location. This list has been furnished to members of congress and to news- papers and periodicals that could be relied upon to exploit it. It indicates that the aggregate of these loans amounts to 73 per cent of the assessed valuation for purposes of taxation of the properties mort- gaged:. It is based upon the very doubtful assumption that assessments for taxation represent full value. The fact is that in Kansas. assessments of farm lands average about two-thirds of actual values. While in some cases they may represent a larger propor- tion, in many other cases they repre- sent a much smaller proportion. Out of this list of nearly 2,000 loans a Boston financial weekly has picked 18 where the loan exceeds the assess- ment, and promises to parade them in the next issue as “excessive loans” which' make “sorry sort of security for bonds.” With a fine appreciation of where such literature may be ex- pected to find a sympathetic recep- tion, it is circularizing banks and bankers supposed to be interested in selling their own farm loans, assur< ing them that “this article is certain to create a profound impression”; and that “the effect of the article can not help but be to turn the attention of eastern investors toward good farm mortgages.” The circular concludes with a statement of the terms upon which extra copies may be had in quantity. A ‘ The matter has been called to the attention of the farm loan board by the president of a bank in North Da- kota, who was the recipient of one of the circulars, and wrote to the board: “If this article were based on conditions in North Dakota, it would be extremely misleading and unjust, for the reason that assessed valua- tions here are invariably from 20 to 30 per cent of the actual value, in spite of the fact that the law says that real property shall be assessed at its full value.” As a matter of fact, there is scarce- ly a state in the Union where such a statement would not be misleading and unjust, because there are very few states where assessments of farm lands approximate market value. In some states they are a half of real values, and in other states a third, while in still other states they are so irregular that they constitute no pos- sible criterion of values. The whole matter is of interest only as showing the amount of money which private loaning agencies are " willing to spend in efforts to discredit L PAGE EIGHTEEN = - connected with an organization that is animated by such just and necessary purposes, and actively engaged in their pro- - motion.” REV. H. A. EVANS, West Park Presbyterian Church, the farm loan system, and the un- scrupulous use which they are willing to make of the material that they collect. KNOWS THE KANSAS FARMERS Navajo, Mont. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I have just got through reading the issue of the Leader with the way back political story of the farmers of Kan- sas. I've heard this story from men that went through the mill. They told of losing their farms after making all improvements and putting up fine buildings. Mr. Harmon’s story on this was fine. L. R. LONGACRE. The correspondent also encloses a clipping from the Minneapolis Tribune telling of Miss Jeanette Rankin; Mon- tana working people’s representative New York City. ‘in congress, being barred from speak- ing in_behalf of the Liberty loan. LET THE OLD GANG YELL McKenzie, N. D. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I have a pup who as soon as he was big enough began barking. I used to watch him to see what he was barking at and found that each time he started to yelp his nose was turned in a dif- ferent direction. I concluded that he was just barking because he heard some other dog’s wail. To my mind that is the way the Old Gang is act- ing, always starting in a different di- rection so as to make us believe there is something in their holler this time sure. All the Nonpartisan league has to do is to stick together and let them yell. E. M. KAFER. SECOND MINISTER “ : “The Leader is the best missionary sheet I have ever seen. It has more punch to the square inch than any other publica- tion in the country. Can’t you imagine how boys and girls will revel in the cartoons? A thing that is laughed into people often goes better than the wisdom of the wise.” REV. JAMES H. ECOB, Flushing Unitarian Church, New York City.