Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-12-10
(CONTINUED.)

NN\K town and farm realize
WV that at bottom the same
serious problems of life
confront them all, they
will, it seems to me, cultivate kindly
spirit toward each other, and be
pleased to study in detail the ways in
which town and farm are interdepen-
dent or may be mutually helpful. Let
us very briefly consider a few points
of contact between farm and town,
with a view to promoting plans for
the benefit of both.
From the farm the city largely gets
the fundamentals of physical life, of
manufactures, and of commerce.
Foods, fbres, and wood-how depen-
dent the city is on the supply and
quality of these things! Business
men know how much depends on the
success or failure of the crops. How
ever much the relative Importance of
agriculture may decline as our indus
trial system grows more complex, it
must always remain one of our great
est industries. The farm will always
be a large factor in the commercial
prosperity of the town. What folly
then to propose or attempt any
scheme of trade, transportation, or
finance based on the selfish interests
of either town or farm alone! If our
smart city broker over-reaches his
country brother, and chokes up the
natural channels of trade, a few men
may amass fortunes on change, but
the ruin of the farmer will drag down
the prosperity of the average city
dweller as well. Great accurnulations
of wealth, wrung out by any unfair
dealing with the multitude of toilers
on our farms, will ruin our great cities
and the civilization they represent
Just as surely as the treasures of plumb
cred provinces enriched but DESTROYED
the city of the seven hills. If the far
mer borrows hard cash of his brother,
and then is persuaded to plead the
homestead act, or any other poor ex-
cuse to repudiate half his debt, the
city man is not the only sufferer. The
farm must pay its honest debts as
well as the town.
The business interests of both farm
and town can only rest on a solid
basis of enduring prosperity when all
join together to devise and carry out
an honest and just policy. The great
| problem of the equitable distribution
| of the products of labor on farm and
in factory will not be settled until the
common concern of both town and
| farm, in just settlement, is acknowl-
edged and acted upon.
From the farm come in large meas
IRE the strength and vigor of great
cities. Call the roll of great manu-
tacturers, bankers, teachers, preach
ers, and officials in any large city, and
. you will be surprised TO find how
many of these leaders in metropolitan
enterprise are graduates of the farm.
Can these forget the mother who
bore and nursed them? Or can those
who cheerfully follow their leadership
neglect to pay the debt of gratitude
they owe the farm for providing such
high service? Is it not a matter of
some concern to the town i'll what at
mosphere that strong body of its
citizens sure to come to it from the
country is reared? Can the city
afford to do anything to destroy the
purity or independence of farm life, or
to reduce the farmers family to the
condition of a stolid and unprogress-
I've peasantry? When the new blood
that flows into the city's arteries is
tainted or diluted at its source, what
reason have we to expect that the
city's moral health or vitality will
continued History shows that it
will not.
To greater extent than most men
are aware of, the health ofa great city
depends on the quality of the products
which it receives from the farm. We
are beginning to appreciate that it is
not only the city dealer in provisions
whose business methods we must in
quire into. but also the farmers ways
IN raising or treating the products he
brings to town. Alree6y boards OF
neaith Insist oninspsctkg asIy farms.