ADVOCATE AND GUIDE. 45 



to require of owners a standardized set of modernized im- 

 provements for different sized farms, and of the renters a 

 standardized amount of work on crops and care of farm and 

 improvements. This would aid greatly in building up and 

 making attractive many rented farms to the mutual benefit 

 of owner and renter. Labor unions generally require a 

 certain amount and quality of labor performed by their 

 members, and farm unions might find it advisable also. 



Division Between Renter and Land Owner. 



There are often disagreeable disputes between renters 

 and owners that are settled by law to the dissatisfaction of 

 all except the lawyers, and some believe their interests not 

 the same. But that is all wrong, as co-operating and union- 

 izing would demonstrate. The union might find it agreeable 

 to both owner and renter to prepare a standardized lease 

 prepared by a commission selected by owners and renters of 

 wheat farms to do justice to both parties. Arbitration 

 courts could also be provided to settle all such disagreements 

 between members of the union. While the union should 

 not be made a social or society affair, there would be many 

 good acts it could do to aid the wheat growers locally and 

 generally. 



As a general proposition the owner should have out of 'the 

 wheat price a good interest on the value of the land and im- 

 provements, taxes, insurance, per cent of depreciation of 

 improvements and soil fertility. The renter should have 

 the same rate of interest on all investments for farming 

 equipment, depreciation of same, seed, feed, fertilizer, skilled 

 union labor wages for himself and any members of his family 

 aiding, or others employed, and all expenses for harvesting, 

 threshing and marketing, etc. 



Both landowner and renter should unite in the wheat 

 producers' union to aid in maintaining a minimum wheat 

 price that will pay all these just and proper expenses. , 





