Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-25


lation IA, the last ten years. and also
has nearly.all OF Wales and Scotland.
II regard II a. important that YOU
should understand as clearly al pos-
sibiS the conditions that have caused
this worldwide, movement from the
farm to the city, az only in this way
shall We be able to foresee and de-
scribe the conditions that will cause
and are even now causing a return
How or movement back toward the
land. The movement downward began
with the use OF improved machinery,
or the application of science to the
operations Of manufacturing and dis
tributing the things necessary for the
supply OF our ever increasing human
to the success OF the inventions and
discoveries
Farmer . Robbsr.
"The nineteenth century farmer was.
speaking generally, no farmer at all
but 4 miner, soil robber. The nine-
teenth century farmer sold the stored
fertility Of ages at the bare &C OF
mining 1t. With his gang pie ana
four to eight section harrow ould
do more soil robbing in Ave y 8 than
his grandfather could in o iife-
time.
eve are now nearing : It where
we will need practically ur grains
10 provide for the want - our own
population. Our export 81 corn is
merely a dribble; in =: last census
year, 100. 900, 900 bushels less than the
average ten years before. Our exports
of meats and dairy products have
shrunk in ten years over Is per cent.
We sent abroad last year only about
100000 worth OF cotton that we send
ten years ago. There Is not the slight
est indication that this decline will be
checked. II checked at all. IT will be
but temporarily, due to an industrial
crisis. Were it net for the. over $780,
100000 worth OF cotton that we sent
abroad each year, the country would
be drained OF its precious metals to
settle our foreign obligations, and we
would be on the verge OF national
bankruptcy.
Near the Turning Of the Lane.
''Inasmucil as there are no more MIS-
sissippi valleys to be opened up We are
now near the turning of the lane. We
must from henceforth learn how to
farm. We can not greatly increase our
acreage: will in fact be compelled by
the return OF normal climatic condi-
tions over our western territory to re-
duce 1t. The only thing left to do is
to grow more grain per acre. better
stock in greater numbers per
quarter section. Only in this way can
we reduce the cost OF living.
"Our great problem. as 1 said to this
CONGRESS a year ago. is how to produce
food for our own people at prices which
they can afford to pay. But how? Part
ly by putting more brains into our
farming. Many farmers have more
faith in moon signs than in agricultural
colleges and experiment stations: more
faith In ordinary politicians than In
college professors and scientists: more
faith IN yellow Journals i han In the
best Agricultural papers.
The farmer complains that he can
not employ the labor. necessary to grow
full crops on his land. There is just
ground for his complaint. The factory.
the store the railroad. the trolley line
outbid him for the labor, even that
which II farm born and farm bred.
Therefore the very root and kernel Of
our modern farm problem Is how to re-
tain on. the farm all the boys and girls
horn there's who are At to be farmers or
farmers wives. This can be done only
by making farm life worth living.
"In conclusion permit me to say that
the ultimate prosperity OF the city, its
ability to govern itself wisely and well,
depends on the development of rural
manhood"