The chronicle=news., 1913-09-18
TEXAS FARMERS
UNION ~
By Peter Bradford.


resolution Of friendly criticism pass
ed by tho National Fasmess' Union
in conveslion at Saiiaa. Ksnsss. rs-
Gently. against the bulletin Service
ofthe Federal Department Of Agri.
culture Is = plea for more rigid econ
0my In distribution and . more prac.
teal s~ieesioa and disrussia Of az
ricuiturai subjects: but the funds-
mental error 10 In spendinE all the
funds available on the production
side OF agriculture and giving little
or no attention to marketing. There
IL much to be commended In the
work Of this department. and its fu.
ture prospects for service far excel
It's past achievements now that II Il
giving consideration to distribution
OF farm products. The Secretary Of
Agriculture n entitled to and will
receive the cordial support Of the
three million members Of the Farm
ers' Union In his efforts to better az
ricuitural conditions and he can hest
serve our interests by giving all pos
sibie attention TO marketing.
The man who piows has his view
point. and ~ the department OF as.
ricuiturc was organized to assist us.
certainly We have a right to discuss
It's work II indeed Ne should not
have y voice In its counclis.
While the department Of agrlcul-
ture hiss been dumping tons Of lit
cyaturc on the farmer. telling him
how TO produce. the farmer has been
dumping tons of pro.iucts In the na-
tions garbage can for want Of n mar
ket.
While many wealthy corporations
and Individuals protesting . desire
to aid the farmer have bccn telling
as how to piow. the farmer has beoa
suffering from lack Of distribution.
The real farmer has no voice In
the disbursement OF the appropria-
tions made by the government or Of
donations made by public spirited
citizens TO promote agriculture. The
work 10 all done on the basis thai
the farmer does not know his prob.
lens.
We not only resent the susGes-
tions that the farmer u Incompetent
but have for ycars aserted that the
farmers Of the United States are the
most Intelligent farmers on earth
They have solved the problems ol
production and the assistanca Aow
oost needed b IN marketing. Ths
trouble all along has been In waulty
distribution. In support Of this 20
sition I shall offer In defense Of the
National Farmers' Union Of America
4 series OF articles to the press.
want to say here that I follow the
plow and that I am not welding IN
allen pen.
The World Win Never Stazve.
Al no time since Adam and Eve
were driven from the Garden Of Eden
have the Inhabitants OF this world
suffered from lack OF porduction. bu,
some people have gone hungry from
the day OF creation to this good houl
for the lack Of proper distribution
Slight variations 10 production have
forced q change in diet. and one 10
cality has felt the pinch Of want
while another surfeited. but tn,
world as . whole. has ever been I
land OF plenty.
We now have less than one-tentl
Of the tiliable land OF the earth's sur.
face under cultivation. and We no,
, only have this surplus area to draw
on but It is safe to estimate that ID
case OF dire necessity one-half thu
earth's population could at the pres
ent time. knock their living out oi
the trees Of the forests. gather 81
from wild vines and draw II from
sterams. No one should becom,
alarmed: the world will never starvc
The consumer has always feared
that the producer would not supply
him and his fright has found expires
sion on the statute books OF oui
states and nations. and the farmel
has been urged to produce recklessl,
and without reference to a market
and regardless Of the demands of tn,
consumer.
, Back to the Soil.
. The city people have been urginl
each other to move back to the farm
but very few Of them have moved
We welcome our city cousins back
to the soil and this earth's surface
contains s.Os2,16O, 900 idle acres o.
. tillable land where they can make
living by tickling the earth with
forked stick. but we do not neet
them SO far as increasing production