The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-11-08
copies Eor..n..
! seri,ahr, N. e plttl1mal..

q MY text for my sermon this u ne Is
4 composite one. 1t Is made up OF and
suggested by the recent editorial in
the West Nirginfan about growing
more potatoes. an editorial in the Kan.
lsas City journal regarding high prtc-
es Of food products and an article in
the Farmers Digest entitled The
Farmer Must Help himself
AS to the first we Appreciated the
aforesaid editorial very much. I'm
doubtedly there is no reason way it
should be necessary at all to send out
side the suite for potatoes or outside
of Marion county and what is true of
potatoes is true OF almost every ether
item Of food solo in Fairmont. AS
we have said in these columns before.
there is scarcely anything in the veg
etable line sold in Fairinont that can
not be produced in abundance rlsht
here N Marion county with the .eep-
ton OF those things that vii: not crow
on this continent or only in the ex-
IRENE South. We have In the county
the, varying attitudes between $50 and
1000 feet, which means variety OF
climates and products from egg plants
and sweet potatoes to celery. Irish po-
tatoes and buckwheat.
The editorial in the Kansas City
Journal referred to says that the high
cost of living is not confined to Amer
lea alone but is "a world wide condi.
ton and is not due to any trusts, nor
tariffs, although these may temnorar-
lily affect prices, but is due primarily
to the problem of sufficient foo sup
ply for the world. There must he
more abundant food supply. Does not
this prove that the man who goes into
farming is not making any mistake?
There will be no more low prices on
farm products; no more over pToduc-
ton
In the closing Paragraph of this edi-
torisl was much food for mental mas
tication. 1t says:
"The only difference with us il fiat
the high price& make money for the
farmers, and in that way 1t remains at
home. England imports 80 per cent
of it's food. This means that there is
a constant and unvarying drain upon
her people, that leaves no permanent
compensation. We pay high prices in
this country. but as rule we pay our
own people," 10
The underscoring is my own. Tie
deductions from the above are ':'ain.
What is true of rations is true of a
state or community. If, like England,
Fairmont buys away from home most
of its food supplies, then, like Eng
land, there is constant drain rpon
her people, financially, without any
corresponding compensation. This
means that when money Is spent for
food supplies, for potatoes, cabbage,
beans, sweet corn and the many IKE
products that could be producT3 at
home and this money is sent to Ohio,
Delaware, Norfolk or elsewhere + Is
"a constant and unvarying drain upon
the people" of the county and State
without any compromising advan ges.
The money is gone out OF the State
and country never to return an we
are just that much poorer than If we
had kept il at home. But, you say.
we must have these food SUPPLIES.
True but they can be produced in Ma
rion county. If purchased of "our owE.
people" then the money stays in the
county and 1t is richer BY many thou
sands OF dollars annually. 1t will be
spent in Fairmont instead OF in 'Hner
States, will come into the hands or
Fairrnont merchants and as deposits in
Fairmont BANKS. Now Mr.. Fatrmo1t
Merchant and Business MN is not this
a condition ardently to be hope for
and worked for? Would It not he to
your interest to give encouragement
to the farmers of the county to ',row
these supplies. even If to handle 4! EN-
or encourage the growers meant come
Inconvenience to you? We believe we
are right and knowing how ,ong tesd-
ed the Fa!rmont business man Is we
believe he will not need mucn SLOW
ing to see the point.
And now, Mr.. Farmer, the last OF
our text and sermon is for YOU.
AS | stated in a recent article Mr..
stewart, Director of the State Expert
ment Station, has collected facts and
figures that Shows that during the last
year 1909 Fairniont spent apnroXi-
mately million dollars for aSf:cul-
tural products outside the State. Now,
add ito this the added impetus hat
will be given to the demand for food
products by the new industries 10 be