The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-23
FALLING BEHIND.
Does Not Keep
Pace With Population.
Keynote of the LiberatiOnS of
the Farmers Congress.

Plano. I'LL. Sept. 23.-"There is a
great margin of expense somewhere
between producer and consumer
which leads to the justly founded
complaint of the ultimate consumer
against the high cost of living said
Charles F. Sanford, president of the
Farmers National Congress, in call
ing the thirty-third annual session TO
order today. This" Mr.. Sanford as
serted, leads to confusion in the pub
lie mind as to the real status of the
farmer and the profits arising from
his occupation.
During the past two decades the
agricultural industry has not kept
pace with the increase of population.
falling behind 1915 per cent During
this same period, there has come an
extraordinary increase in the price of
farm lands until it is no longer an
easy or simple matter for the average
man to become the owner of a well
improved farm. Moreover, the per-
centaSe of tenant farmers is steadily
increasing, in some states with alarm
ing rapidlty. 1t cannot be said with
any show of reason that the growth
of a tenant class indicates a stable or
desirable economic condition.
Without minimizing in any degree
the importance of efforts to increase
production and to conserve the fer
tility of the soil, it may be safely af-
hrmed that American agriculture will
never be permanently established until
it is made possible for it to become
permanently profitable for the farmer
of average ability. While the man of
exceptional ability, under exceptional
ly favorable circumstances may be-
come wealthy by reason of increase in
land values or good fortune in the
yields of good crops, the stability of
agriculture and the ultimate prosper
ity of our entire citizenship depend
chiefly on the measure of prosperity
attend lahOrS
age farmer in the average farm home.
These conditions are with us, and we
must in common justice to all men.
strive to make it reasonably possible
for all men to attain the ideal state
of the home owner.
Agricultural Millennium.
Therefore this congress should
give due weight in it's deliberations to
such measures or policies as tend to
relieve the possessor of the handicap
of this economic burden and establish
relations between producer, consumer
and the distributor of products.
'If the agricultural millennium does
not arrive in the near future, it will
not be for the lack of agitation in be-
half of plans to bring it about
scheme is proposed, having for it's OBJ
ject greater yields, higher prices for
products of the soil, lower prices for
what the farmer buys, cheaper money,
OF some OIneT innings TO
ameliorate unsatisfactory conditions.
This makes for progress, whether it
brings progress through these agencies
or not, for the farmer is thereby slim
ulated to think for himself and to
work out his own salvation
Comfort and prosperity on the
farm are the basis for national well
being. But sometimes we think that
there is a tendency to overdo the mat
ter of attempted relief through the
medium of mere mankind. To his
hands and to his intelligence are en-
trusted the solution of problems of ma
tional concern which affect our entire
citizenship"
Mr.. Sanford said the point has been
reached in the evolution of the "show
the farmer movement when some
broad view or comprehensive plan for
responsible control and coordination
of effort should be agreed upon. He
said that a successful movement for
the advancement of agriculture must
depend in the last analysis upon the
farmer himself, and that the great
army of husbandmen are already on
the right track.
Farm credits, betterment of country
schools, good roads and parcel posts
were among other Subjects diScuSSed