The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-06
JUSTICE-NoT SYMPATHY

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JUSTICE-NOT SYMPATHY
Willis ]. Abbott, editor of The Pill
grim, conducts special editorial page
n Boyce's Weekly, the new socialis
,aper published at Chicago. The las
ssue contained the following editor
al, which deserves more than pass
ng attention:
Every year the public is called
upon to Sympathize with the west
ern farmer. If the heavy rains or
severe drOuth have not ruined his
crops he crawls upon the roof of
his barn and wildly signals to the
world that he wants help to nar-
vest his enormous product. There
is no doubt that he deserves SYM
pathy when the elements conspire
to cheat him Of the results of his
labor, but when the earth gives
forth its bounty in such quaint
ties that he cannot gather it in be-
fore it spoils he very often is en-
titled to no pity, and it serves
him right if he does not get the
help he needs. The trouble with
many a farmer is that he is not
content with small farm, but is
continually reaching out for more
land. He runs to extensive in
stead Of intensive farming. He de-
sires to employ few hands DUR
ing seeding and harvest time, only
to turn them loose again as soon
as his fields are bare That is
the reason there are not more
farm hands; tie farmer gives
work for only few, SO it is no
wonder that there is dearth of
this sort of labor when it is most
needed. The farmer is 'stingy' in
the employment of labor in the
growing and fallow months, driv-
ing laboreTs to the cities by this
course, and then when harvest
time comes there is not enough
help to gather the crops
Considerable depends upon wht
ices the calling" upon the publi
or sympathy" for the western
,armer. If he does it himself, the1
Mr.. Abbott has some reason for hi
statements. But the fact is that il
arge measure the cry for harves
hands is made by the plutocratic pres
or the double purpose of exploitin,
The prosperity dodge and to secur
passenger traffic for the railroads
Doubtless the farmer growls a littl,
and with some show of reason-be
cause of the difficulty in securing hel,
n harvest time. But just let him in
innate that he could furnish work fol
few men a month or so and tn,
press is full of scare
heads and cartoons regarding tn
shortage of harvest hands in Kansa
1r the Dakotas.
Editors of farm journals may writ
al they please about the beauties O
intensive" farming, but extensive
farming obtains simply because tn
aN of diminishing returns applies t,
agriculture. Doubling the cost in la
ior, fertilizers, etc., will not doubl
lie product as rule-and every farm
er. so far as his knowledge permits
ioes like every other business man
attempts to produce the most posi-
Die product with the least possible
cost. The term "stingy" may be ap
piled to him, doubtless, but tn,
knowledge of how he will be robbed
BY the railroads and elevator trust,
him to be stingy.
The western farmer has never asked
.or sympathy-all he asks is Justice
md by and by he will get that, wher
ne becomes wise enough to know tina
no government or political party con
rolled by the manufacturing interest,
will ever do anything directly for hi
benefit. He may be graciously Above,
% gather up crumbs which fall from
he rich "swine's" table-but that
Ill.
Wall street has a big lot of indi
gestible securities and the govern
nent a bigger lot of indigestible isl
ands. Both Of them portend dis
,Stpr