



ADVOCATE AND GUIDE. 99 



"Soon after he has invested his all in one of these farms, his dis- 

 couraging experience in attempting to live on it, prompts him to list 

 it for sale with the same real estate man from whom he bought and after 

 paying his agent a liberal commission, he unloads it on another victim 

 to the financial loss of all parties concerned except the real estate man, 

 who always gets his commission." 



Government Receivership of Farms Suggested. 



As a remedy for the foregoing predicament of farmers, 

 Mr. Ingram suggests a government receivership for farms as 

 bankrupt railroads are taken over temporarily and rehabili- 

 tated. Some of his reasons for this course are : 



"There is something serious the matter with farming as an industry. 

 It is a vital industry. The farmer does the best he can, but he has got- 

 ten into a situation which, when reached in other industries of such vital 

 importance, becomes a matter of governmental concern ; a receiver is 

 appointed and the industry under governmental operation is reorganized 

 and revitalized for the common good. . . . 



"Farming should be put in the hands of a receiver and the receiver 

 should be the President. Not all farms or all farming, but enough and 

 in different sections so that the authorities may determine and remove 

 the causes that so seriously interfere with food production. 



"Why, the price of some foods is so high in the cities that only a few 

 can buy them, while at the same time the price the farmer gets is so low 

 he can't afford to raise them. 



"The government as receiver for the farms it takes over should allow 

 the owner a fair return on his investment in improvements, machinery 

 and live stock, and allow for depreciation. If the owner is a practical 

 and industrious farmer, pay him a salary for superintendence. Fur- 

 nish him with or finance him for, the necessary fertilizer, seed and other 

 necessities of the business. Permit him to pay the wages that will 

 attract the necessary labor. Oblige him to account for everything. 

 Take the farm products at the cost shown, to supply the government's 

 and our Allies' needs and have the balance, not needed locally, trans- 

 ported by the government-operated railroads to government ware- 

 houses in the cities where all, dealers or consumers, can go and get it 

 by paying its actual cost delivered at that warehouse." 



Comments : Mr. Ingram's plan leaves out interest to the 

 owner on the cost, or value, of his land which could not be 

 permitted in justice to other farmers. With that added I 



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