Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
AID To FARMERS
IS BEST DEFENSE
So BARRETT SAYS
President of National Union
Declares Sturdy and Salts
fled Husbandry Is More
Helpful Than Navies and Ar
mics.

UNION CITY, Ca, April 4-The best
sort of national defenses lies in incrsas-
ing governmental expenditure upon the
farmer, admittedly the bedrock OF the ma
ton. says President Charles s. Barrett.
Of the National union. The statement OF
President Barrett follows:
To the Officers and Members Of the Far
mers Union:
Just how much attention the extra ses-
sion OF the new congress, now convened,
is to pay to the American farmer de-
ponds upon-the American farmer.
As remarked in a statement last week,
vast amount of harmless furore will be I
expended in the effort to make the far
mer believe that his congressman Is doing (
something substantial
Whether the promise ends in performs 4
ance will be determined by the extent to +
which you are from Missouri" and let \
your congressman and senator see II.
From the barrel-head orator on UP to L
the highest statesman, it Is generally ad-
mitted that the farmer is the backbone I
/ of the nation.
You ought to know IL Of your owla In 5
telligence, not to mention the many times
you've been told It In Fourth OF July ora
tons and in congressional campaigns ana
Misunderstanding trips.
The man whose labor adds nine billions
of dollars annually to the wealth o. the
nation is given one federal department..
scant appropriations, while other depart
ments and bureaus devoted to other in
dustries and to business generally null
tiply each year their demands upon the
treasury.
There is no justice in this system. What
is more important. there is little cornmon
sense.
1t win pay the nation to cultivats the
farmer, not only with rhetoric, but with
sympathetic investigation and substantial
attention.
The Roosevelt Country Life commission
| illustrates feebly my meaning. 1t was
cropping effort in the right direction.
But despite the praise lavished uoll the
farmer by congressman, congress dill not
even appropriate enough money to print
the commissions report. That document
was pigeon-holed, and is being printed
only through private endeavor.
The government ought to find out, first.
how to help the farmer; the poiat at
which he must urgently needs assistance
l-and then give the assistance.
ConfessedIy, armies and navies are ne
cessities in this century Of international
complications.
But the best sort of national .defenses
would be found in the patriotism of the
farmers of this country, a patriotism
that would be Of more avail against for
eign menace or civic evil than all the
dreadnoughts we could afford or the ar
mics we could muster.
Fortunately, the American farmer does
not set a price on his patriotism Every
war in which this country has engaged
establishes that fact.
But It Is wise for the nation, In times
i of peace, to make rock-ribbed the pa
triotism of the most sustaining element
by manifesting toward 1t an attitude OF
plain justice.
Go through the budgets annually pass
ed upon by congress, and just see how
relatively slight is the attention paid
the farmer
1t will be argued, OF course. that the
farmer. as citizen. profits from the ap-
preparations directed toward other chan
nels by this government.
That is only partially true.
Such view Is short-sighted 1t loses
sight of the fact that the larger part
of the funds going to make up these
budgets comes from and must Continue
to come from the farmer. 1t is. there
4 fore, only the rudiments of common euity
and common sense that larger share
Of these funds should be intellisently
expended in the farmers behalf.
Take only one instance: The govern
ment spends hundreds of thousands every
year in telling the world how large or
how small the cotton and other crops are
to be.
How much does it spend in finding out
for the farmer such worldwide data on
demand mill-stocks, present and prob
able consumption as would enable him
to market his crop to the best advantage
How much does it spend in encouraging
him to installs practical systems of coll
lection and distribution, such as would
return incalculable dividends to the ma
ton?
The present governmental policy toward
the farmer is dribblng. piddlingl
/ 1t encourages the farmer to increase
his yield, with the probability OF getting
la lower price, but doesn't spend money
to show him how to get a just price
for that YIELD to make his home life
more congenial, to make life in the coun-
try more worth while and nearer like
life in the city.
How much of selfishness. for instance.
is there in the swelling cry back to
the land?"
\ One-tenth of the money spent upon
making life In the land more attractive,
would abolish necessity for the cry!
The country has, unconsciously. been
looking at the farmer from the small
end of the telescope.
1t is time the instrument were re-
versed.
1 Battleships are formidable Well-drill-
ed armies are c3nsoling.
Better still is sturdy. satisfied hus-
bandry. its patriotism unruffled by
Vague consciousness of neglect at the
hands of its government