The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-06

i AAiaSc AOIIIlA Oh 6eTVlces however, IN
Guiding those considered mental. are
absolutely necessary to supply the
wants Of civilized society, chief OF
which are food and clothing. Food
and clothing have ever been primary,
paramount and immediate necessities.
They are, by nature, indispensable.
Agriculture, supplying these wants,
must be considered, without reserve,
the most essential vocation upon
which civilized society depends. ITS
mission is providentiaI, its service
the clearest expression of Gods wise
provision for all His children.
Agriculture also contains the ele-
ments OF independence. 1t does not
depend upon any other vocation for its
prosperity, while all other vocations
and professions depend ultimately
upon agriculture for their existence,
as well as for their prosperity.
Viewing agriculture, thus, from its
economic Importance and its relation
to all other interests affecting society.
| Is it receiving or demanding its share
Of LIES prizes? Does 1t WELD its pro-
portion of economic influence for
| safeguarding its legitimate interests
and for the protection of it's integrity /?
Do it's adherents share equitably in
those social honors with which society
rewards her favorites? Unuuestion-
ably, it does not, ana for this reason,
thousands of young men and young
women are persuaded to abandon rur-
al life for the attractions OF the city
nd the greater social, political and
financial prizes ii is supposed to offer
such as are inclined to be ambitious, or
who prefer to succeed by their wits
rather than by their labor.
1t Is said that every farmer in the
United States carries two men on his
back. In other words, every family
engaged in agriculture supports two
families not so engaged, in order to
round out and complete the service
which has attached itself to society.
Each member of society, as a matter
Of course, is supposed to render SER
vice to some other portion Of society.
But may not society be supporting an
overload Of selfconstituted servants :?
Is the farmer not bearing more of this
load than is necessary?
Is 1t necessary to have the large
and highly organized and prosperous
army Of middlemen masquerading be-
tween the farm and the ultimate con-
sumner? Should not the farmer have
| a voice in determining the number
that need thus be employed, instead
of leaving the matter Of service for
any nonproducing Individual to insin-
uate himself into some form Of profit
sharer, wherever his ingenuity can
create an opening?
Should Regulate Distribution.
From its strategic position, agricul-
ture could easily regulate the distri-
button Of the chief forms OF wealth 1t
produces, or at least have a voice in
the organization Of the machinery
necessary for distributing it among
the consumers of the country. More
over, the financial gain that would
thus reward the producer would not
be the only, nor yet the chief advan-
tage that would accrue. The effect up
on the country itself would be most
salutary. Higher education would be
directed less toward the desire for
making a living off the other fellow.
Agriculture also would acquire the
habit of attending more largely to its
own business affairs. The consumer,
meanwhile, would more nearly secure
his goods at prices determined by the
law Of supply and demand. Under the
present regime, however, the farmer
can neither regulate the price OF what
he has to sell or buy. He is COM
pletely at the mercy OF those whom
he supports.
Here, agriculture Is wearing chains
that it should break, bonds that it
sb.,,rJa h,,rst ao5 4h,,- o,,oo poirota a.
self from unnecessary burdens thrust
upon IT.; for, ultimately the expense of
maintaining a large amount of need
less distributing machinery comes out
Of the farmers profits. He is the VIC
tim of conditions that have been
thrust upon him, simple because he
has permitted the business end of his
profession to fall into speculative
hands. He has humbly listened to
every sort of adviser who had selfish
schemes to promote until the adviser
himself has come to believe he has
unlimited authority to dictate the eco
nomic policies that shall govern agri-
culture, to all OF which agriculture has
meelxly submitted. AS result, purely
speculative agencies frequently mani
pulate the prices of staple agricul-
tural products regardless Of the pub
lie interests, while the farmer is COM
PEELED to assume all the risk Of pro-
duction, invest his capital, perform
the labor and take what they see fit to
give him as his share of the wealth
his own management produces. 1t is
roughly calculated that, of the agri-
cultural wealth produced, only 35 per
cent 10 allotted to production. while
SIS per cent goes to distribution. This
division is unfair both to the pro-
Queer and consumer.
Cooperation.
In a free country as matter of
course, men are liberty to choose their
professions or vocations. AS long,
however, as a reasonable equilibrium
between the forces of production and
distribution is maintained, a degree of
equity will prevail But when the dis
tributive forces are constantly aug
mented by the higher institutions OF
learning nineteen -twentieths of
educated men are trained for other
than productive service-the time
must inevitably come when the pro-
ductive forces will be compelled to as
sumo the defensive.
Most countries of Europe have been
forced, long since. by sheer necessity,
to dispense with all but necessary
middlemen. The time is not for dis
tant, moreover, in this country, when
agricultural cooperation will become
necessity, for in business as in nature,
the oganization invariably seizes upon
and consumes the unorganized ele-