FOREWORD 



" When one aims at an error there be those who cry 

 out, ' He is trying to bring down truth' " 



I realize that when one states facts that run counter 

 to prejudices or preconceived notions, he is likely to 

 be characterized as academic, inexperienced, impracti- 

 cal or visionary. Hence, not to interest the reader in 

 my personality, but as " a reason for the faith that is 

 in me," I will indulge in a bit of apparent egotism. 



I was born on a prairie farm, where as a manual 

 laborer I worked for my father until twenty-one years 

 of age. Later, after working my way for four years 

 in one of the best Agricultural Universities, specializ- 

 ing in mathematics and agricultural chemistry, ill 

 health compelled me to abandon all thought of literary 

 or scientific pursuits. So for more than forty years 

 I have been actively engaged in the farm mortgage 

 business. 



By accident, my first employer was the state agent 

 for Illinois of the Equitable Loan & Trust Company 

 of New London, Connecticut the first company in- 

 corporated to do a farm mortgage business; at least 

 the first to enter into active operation. That com- 

 pany failed, and it is a significant fact that practically 

 all other companies incorporated for that purpose, 

 prior to 1896, failed. Must there not be some inher- 

 ent weakness in an industry, in which, after giving the 



