The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-30

n ~ 1850 . 49,
only of the farmers themselves. hut Of
all persons in touch with farm life
more or less serious unrest in every
part OF the United states, even in the
most prosperous regions.
Commenting on this passage a for
eign observer has written: THE truth
Is that, when judged by the standard
of living in European countries, the
farmers of the United States are pros
porous. but in comparison with the
other citizens Of the most progressive
country in the world they are not well
off. Their accumulation OF material
wealth is unnaturally and unneces-
sariiy restricted; their social life is
relatively barren; their political influ-
ence is relatively small. American
farmers have been used by politicians,
but have still to learn how to use
them
Farmers Haven't Had Share.
Here both in the general conclu-
sion of the country life commission,
and in the foreign writer's pregnant
criticism of ii, we are brought face to
face with the fact that the farmers Of
the United States have not enjoyed
their due share of the progress and
prosperity of this God ~prospered coun-
try. / want to say to you that there is
no nor urgent problem before the
people of the United States today than
that of endowing the country side of
our civilization with economic oppor-
tunities, educational facilities, social
advantages and political recognition,
more nearly approximating to those
to which our city population hat at
tanned. And 1 shall show that the
cities are just as much concerned as
is the country population for the well
being Of the farmer.
That something is wrong with ru-
raj communities, as the country life
commission insists is only too we'll
known. There is not in this country,
as in the older settled parts of Eu-
rope, the same rural depopulation and
agricultural depression which prevails
in the old world. Our happier condi-
ton in this regard is, however, due to
the circumstance that we are blessed
by Providence with an abundance OF
fertile land Upon whose resources our
population does not yet press. But
even now we have in one sense a Sc
rious rural exodus. There is a grow
ing tendency for all the brightest and
most enterprising youth of the coun-
try to prefer the chances of a town ca
reer; and also a tendency for the own
ers of agricultural land to move into
cities and leave their farms to be
worked by tenants. Both these ten
denotes are to be deplored and should
engage careful thought where they
are most marked. Our city popula-
tions have been morally and physical
ly sustained by the constant inflow OF
the best country blood. This cannoI
go on indefinitely. If this human res.
ervoir from which the cities have
drawn and must continue to draw sc
much of their best citizenship becomes
depleted and deteriorated, the cities
themselves will be the greatest suffer
ers from the evils which always
threaten a nation which as a whole
abandons the country for the town
National degeneracy will then proceed
apace. Here we open up a vista OF
social speculation which 1 cannot to-
day pursue. For / want to emphasize
an aspect of the rural life problem
which concerns every worker for his
living in the United States.
Farmers Lack Organization.
Beyond question the growing cost
Of the necessarieso of life is in no small
measure due toftwo economic facts
Firstly, the farm lands Of the United
States do not produce nearly as much
food as they might produce under con-
ditions more favorable to the farme
Secondly, owing to the lack OF organi-
cation among farmers, the mai citing
of their products is controlled by mid
die interests which lower the price to
the producer and at the same time in
crease the cost to the consumer.
Now this. is a serious state of facts
1t arises out of a wrong attitude oil
public opinion towards the most i'm
portant body OF wealth producers In
the country and q general tendency tc
subordinate the interests of the rura.
to those of the urban populations. This
tendency was first manifested in Eng
land. 1t HIS since prevailed through
out the English speaking world. 1t has
to be corrected; and it is worth while
to pause for a moment to tell YOU
Il tLOW AhA0 4dLd1 AAlA6NahO dAO0Gs
1T all began with the industrial
revolution which began In the latter
part of the eighteenth century. This
as you know, arose out of a succession
OF inventions mostly connected with
the great development of machinery
and the utilization of steam, and sub
sequently Of electricity, in manufac-
ture. The chief social result was the
concentration of industries and Of
their workers in great cities. Those
who continued to live upon the land
were thus deprived of all profitable oc-
cupation except agriculture. The
farmers were regarded as feeders OF
the cities and the markets which were
thus made for them were considered
to give them all they required at the
hands of the nation.
But when the rapid and chear
transportation, together with processes
Of preserving produce in transit
brought the farmers of the old WORLD
into competition with those who were
developing the newly opened farm
lands of this continent. agricultural de-
preston set in not only in England
but throughout Europe. In those
countries which were forced to remain
under a military regime the import
ance of the agricultural population t.
the nation was recognized. but in the
English speaking countries there was
a general tendency to concentrate al
national thought and power upon in
dustrial development and commercial
expansion, and to regard the farmers
as an inferior race of citizens. That
is not consciously our attitude to the
farmers Of this ountr but in manH