The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-09-26
The High Cost Of Living
From the Viewpoint Of the Farmer.
Address Of Dr. Joseph France at Meeting of Cecil Farm
ers' Club Held on July 80, 1913, at the Home Of
Martin L. Thompson, Near Woodlawn

of the relatively slight rise in the cost
of food-stuffs and fail to even look for
a rational explanation.
The figures of the Department of
Agriculture show that from 1866 to
1909, the wages of men hired by the
year, increased 1879 per cent, the in
crease from 1890 to 1909 being 1913
per cent. During the same period
the wages of men hired by the season,
have increased 63.9 per cent. The
wage for day labor, other than harv-
est labor, increased 6O.9 per cent. In
1879 the average wage for day labor,
without board was eighty-one cents,
while the same labor in 1911 cost one
dollar and forty-two cents. These,
and other figures which might give
you, show that the wages paid by the
farmer have more than doubled in
recent years, if we consider the money
wage alone.
This increase in the money wage
does not, however, begin to represent
the actual wage increase, which is
really much larger.
Because our soil fertility is decreas-
ing it requires much more labor now,
than formerly, to raise the same crops
from the same amount of land. 1t is
true that the increase in the use of
machinery partially offsets this, but,
after all the use of machinery is but
the application of labor in another
form, and a very costly form also.
Financial writer's are fond of say
ing that the increase in the use Of
farm machinery has reduced the far
mers' bill for labor. Let us look at
the facts as given by the Department
of Agriculture.
In 1899 the cost Of farm labor, in
GLIDING rent and board, was $751;
$4,000. In 1909 the farmers paid
1851, GIL 900 for their labor or, ian
increase of 1928 per cent. This in
crease is due in part to higher rates
OF wages, and in part, to employment
OF additional laborers, or employment
for longer periods of time.,'
While farm wages have advanced
so enormously, yet, as have said be-
fore, they are less than that paid by
the railroads, the factories and the
other lines of industry, and hence the
most capable of the workers are
tempted to go to the city, which
often leaves the farmer with inferior
helpers.
Young men are drawn from the
farm not only by the higher wage of
the city, but by other powerful in
fiuences. Our legislative bodies, both
state and national, are constantly
passing laws to make work in the city
more attractive. The labor organiza-
tions are constantly asking for such
legislation and getting it. We see
"eight hour day laws, minimum
wage laws, employers liability
acts, "full crew laws, for the rails
roads, being passed, much of which
is desirable, but not helpful to the
farmer. Agriculture demands of her
workers long and irregular hours of
strenuous work, work often monoton-
Gus, not infrequently dangerous and
often performed under hard condi-
tons. In contrast to this the work.
ers in other lines are constantly being
paid more wages for less work, per-
formed under constantly improving
conditions.
There are many other factors which
have increased the difficulties of the
farmer and the cost of crop product
ion. The tax rate on farm lands has
increased enormously and the increas-
ed taxes, paid by the farmers and
others, have furnished vast sums of
money, out of which laborers, who
should be tilling the soil are support
ed. In the cities the erection of cost
ly public buildings and other expendi-
lures for extravagant and unneces-
sary improvements furnishes work
for laborers, at high wages, who
should be productivity at work in the
fields. Moreover, dishonesty and cor
ruption in political life is not only
costly to the farmer, as a taxpayer.
but draws, often, his laborers away
into unproductive activity, idleness or
criminality. An investigation, of the
cost OF dishonesty and ineficiency in
the administration of public affairs
IN this country, and its effect upon our
economic conditions generally and the
cost of food production particularly,
would be task worthy of our best
political economists.
Middlemen and Farm Profits.
fear that may weary you and
hence l must pass over number of
other facts l should like to bring to
your attention, in this connection,
but must say something about the
cost of distribution of farm crops.
think / have convinced you that
the cost of production of the crops
has increased and that the profits of
the farmer are diminishing. His pro-
fits are diminishing because the in
creases, in the costs of production,
are far greater than any Increase in
the price secured for his products. l
have not gone into the question of
price, for these commodities, for YOU
are familiar with the price changes
as you see them in the market re-.
ports.
1t is evident that, if the farmer could
receive a larger proportion of the
price paid by the consumer for his
products, he would have something
with which to meet his growing ex-
penses. 1t has been estimated that