The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-08
NEW rsr ron THE CHURCHES.

woodrow Wilson made an address
to the staten Island farmers Last week
We have not seen the full text of his
speech but only an editorial review
in the Hartford Courant OF wha; he
Is reported to have said Taking his
cue from the statements OF some Penn
sylvania farmers to Mayor Gaynor that
last year, while the potato crop was
sold In the market for s600O5oOo, all
that the men who had made the pota-
toes got out OF it was $s,5oo.OO0. tina;
the cabbage crop brought ss,5ooooo,
Of which the farmers got only slSoo.-
geo. and that the milk was sold for
$4,000. 600. OF which the farmers. and
dairymen got s23.oOo.oOc. Governor
Wilson declared that the farmer is
further away from immediate contact
with his market than other producers
tn the United States"
This IS very true In a sense. There
are TOO many middlemen. too many
producers. who are getting
ake-off. and there is a general move
ment just now to discover some method
which will enable the farmers to man
age their affairs in a better and more
business-like way. which Will mako It
possible for them 10 get rid OF the
leeches that have been sucking their
blood all these years. and we share
with Governor Wilson in his sentiment:
81 should be sorry to see the day come
when the moral drawn from any set
OF facts was that the American cannot
take care of himself. but must turn
to his government TO take care OF
him" There has been too much gov
eminent, too much Interference with
the ordinary and natural conduct OF
our business affairs, too much govern
ment aid for private Industries. We
have been complaining ali along that
The Government has been operated as
the side partner or the great Industries
of the country without sharing in any
Of their profits, that certain special
industries have been promoted and
cared for at the general expense OF the
country and from this condition of
affairs we have been struggling for
dcl.verance. and in ali our platforms
and law-making we have cried aloud
asains; special privileges. against con
spiracies and combinations, against
protection tcr favored sections and Sc
lected Industries We are a little sur
nrised, therefore. not TO say shocked
al Governor Wilson'S suggestion that
combination should be met by com
b!na,ion that the policy which we
have so censured in others should
now be adopted for the protection Of
the farming interests OF the country
that what we have denounced as a vi
cicus policy in manufactures would be
defens!ble In agriculture This. at
least; seems to be a fair Implication
from the declaration OF Governor VII
son (always-heAr!rg in mind that our
information as 10 what he said has
been obtained from the Hartford Cour-
ant a thick and thin supporter and
beneficiary OF the Protective SYSTEM
that America affords singular ex-
ample OF nation which is not moving
al together In the tendencies OF It's
national lie. for while everybody else
IS combining and cooperating and or
eanz:ng. the farmer lags far behind
in that general national tendency"
How the schoolmaster would bring
about effective combination among the
farmers is even more surprising than
the suggestion that they should com
hine, as VIII appear from this alleged
excerpt from his speech 10 the Staten
1slsnd farmers
There IS very interesting !mplica-
ton In the Lords Prayer: 1t begins
with petition Give MS this day our
daily bread" and all Of life Is based
upon the physical sustenance Of 1t; for
man cannot keep his mind straight
or his sou! straight II his stomach Is
empty Il is ? good Christian doctrine
therefore, that tho Church should oe
the place OF conference as to how
men should get their living and MI
tneir stomacns. and say that the
rural churches could make themselves
the rallying places for conference with
ftsard 70 legitimate things conccrninc
the community. Now the moment -bt
farmers begin 70 draw together. what
VII! they do? They VIII form assocla.
tons 70 study profuctlon-t6 stud,
methods Of prod lct!on-nnd form :
Kind Of association by which they car
ai' unite Ia discovering the hest mar.
hats for their products anu SHIN ,hon
crops in one shipment o.; zucceasiy,
snipments Ths. is the problem o.
pnliucs as well as the problem of NOR
che ndise
This is new idea OF the uses +,
which the churches can be PUTIN.
place o: conference as TO how me,