Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-22

The Farmers Position To-day

The Farmer Position To-day.
The farmers rewards for labor are gen.
orally slow. Nature is good paymaster,
but her pay days, like her processes are long
in maturing.
Few who are not thoroughly acquainted
with the work and rewards of the farmers
| business are not aware how moderately these
processes 20 on and what world of patience
is required to follow them.
Consider for a moment that, at the brief
est, it takes an entire year for the
farmer to realize in cash the re-
turns for his labor-eyen in a
prosperous season." as it is called, for
farmers, and when all conditions and environ
ments are favorable. The time required to
produce an apple, kernel of wheat, crop
of potatoes, or any cereal, compasses a
twelve month. And that is all which is done
in year In our latitude Nature produces
but one apple, one yield of corn, one clip of
wool for the year. Then there must be
period of rest; a cessation from activities a
reinforcement of ability. Nature
cannot be forced. Two blades of grass,
may. by diligent culture, be made to grow
where but one grew before, but only one in
a season. Production may be extended;
but two crops a year, save of a new divers
kinds of rapidly maturing esculents, cannot
be forced from the same spot of mother
earth in a single summer.
The capitalist on the contrary clips his
bonds every quarter often more frequently
The merchant turns over the nimble shilling
and makes it lively in its buyings and its
earnings. But while these men are boarding
their gains in their safes and vaults alb
tine poor farmer, VIVA, is he doing?
Waiting till his lambs grow; waiting for
the hens to lay waiting for spring chickens
to mature for summer boarders; waiting for
fall to come waiting till he sells his wool
waiting to get pay for his sweet corn; cut
ting cord wood to meet taxes ard doctors
bills
"A doleful picture" do you say9 1t may
be; but every shade and line the Gospel
truth We have been there
Well, if it is unfair to compare the average
farmer with the capitalist, how would it do
to compare him with mechanics and laborers
of one kind and another in city and manu-
featuring towns?
Let us see.
The law may require corporations TO pay
their employees fortnightly. By some large
concerns weekly payments are made. In
others the payments are made monthly; in
few, quarterly. But these last named periods
are the exceptions. Generally throughout
Maine when Saturday or Monday comes
round the workmen trudge home with their
weeks pay tucked away in snug pocket for
the payment of the family bills. What hap
p.ness comes to the home when in the bottom
of the dinner pail. it may be, is brought the
weeks paw.
What would these workmeD think il they
had to wait three months. six onths, year,
for their pay?
This is the case of the farmer today. Now
remember, that while we believe in the farm
and in the safet, of the farmers business,
we are stating things as they are.
How was it last fall? The labor of year
had been given to the soil and its crops.
Did pay day come? No. The frost cut off
the corn. The large crops of apples are un-
sold day; or sold at the mere cost of rails
ing them Beef is low. The colt, maybe
has been sold, but it takes three years on an
average for the colt pay day to come round.
The self denying housewife has sold few
eggs and few pounds of butter,
Have taxes stopped? Are there not all
sorts of living expenses to meet, even if the
favorite colt has been sold to the city banker,
Real estate bears the heaviest burden Of
taxation. Three ffths, so says State Master
R5bie in one of his annual messages to the
State Grange, of all taxation is borne by real
estate The farmers are burdened as is 10
other class And what means have the ma
jori,y of farmers for meeting this sore bur
den in such a period as this, when they must
wal, two years for returns of chief crops?
/ Eggs. cord wood, and a little butter, ped
died out a, the village. Is the picture false
" colored? A thousand, yea, ten thousand
circular letters" would answer mo. Let
tiers from good Maine towns and from we'll
TODD. intelligent men, too.
And yet in such a condition of things
there is talk in Maine of building new
State House
Are the representatives of the farmers OF
Maine ready for the question? Do the,
want to force this burden of taxation upor
our Maine farmers Do their constituents
ask it? Can they meet them in peace shoulc
they do so?
Are not these things worth thinking about