By Clarence Poe, in The Progressive Farmer
And here are some of the needed issues for a crusade against poverty:
1. Better school an compulsory attendance.—Every Southern state must provide longer school terms and compel every indifferent parent to send his children—no matter how high we hang or how deep we bury what was in this case the ancient fraud and fetch of “personal liberty.” And the schools must also teach the things that will help in doing farm work and housework and keeping one’s health, no matter what happens to the other ancient fetch of “polish” and “culture” standing apart from life. And we must also have thorough-going demonstration work, extension work, and every other practicable educational agency for carrying science, skill and efficiency into the lives of grown men and women.
2. Usury and Crop Liens. —Usury and all extortion in dealing with God’s poor, must be denounced and prohibited no matter under what name it appears. The crop lien (“time prices” under it averaging 70 per cent per annum) is the most fruitful source of usury in the South and it must either be repealed outright—or if practicable—time-price interest limited to 1 per cent a month. And it will be better both for honest merchants and tenants that all gambling on larger profits be prohibited.
3. Public Health.—Not only must we reform our pubic school curriculum so as to give adequate attention to health, but there should be a medical inspection of school children, a public campaign against typhoid, malaria, hookworm and tuberculosis. And sooner or later some plan must be worked out by which the stricken child of the poor may have as good medical and hospital attention—as fair a chance to win back life and health and strength—as the stricken child of the rich. And if this be “socialism,” make the most of it.
4. Old Age Pensions.—It may also be dismissed as “socialism,” but the time is coming when some form of old age pensions will be inaugurated in every state—such a system as already in England gladdens each week the heart of every poor old man or woman past the age of 70—and every man of generous spirit should wish to do something to hasten the coming of that day.
5. A just System of Taxation.—In nearly every state the poor man is assessed at more nearly the full value of his holdings than the rich man. “You don’t find a $150 mules assessed at $30 but you will find a $15,000 house assessed at $3,000,” as has been said. And we must repeat again Mr. R.F. Beasley’s illustration—that horses were assessed in his county at $200, cows at $50 and corn and wheat at $1 per bushel—full value—while land was assessed at probably one third of its real value. Large holdings also are usually taxed at a lower rate per acre than small holdings, whereas the reverse should be true. Provision should e made for publishing the rate per acre at which farm lands in each school district are assessed, and the rate per front food at which the land on each street is assessed. This will destroy favoritism and inequality of assessment. And this still more fundamental matter must be constantly emphasized—that more and more of the tax burden must be put on incomes and inheritances, especially inheritances.
6. Encourage Home-ownership.—Then we should also have either some form of graduated land tax or else provision should be made for taxing a resident’s first $1,000 of real estate at only half the rate at which holdings beyond $1,000 are taxed. This will tend to discourage large holdings and encourage small holdings. Better provision should also be made (as in Denmark) for helping tenants buy land.
From page 2, the editorial page, of the Tri-City Daily Gazette, Leaksville, N.C., Sept. 27, 1924. Poe was editor of The Progressive Farmer for 65 years.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068453/1924-09-27/ed-1/seq-2/#words=SEPTEMBER+27%2C+1924
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