Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-23
PRESIDENT SANFORD OF FARM.
ERs' NATIONAL CONGRESS, DIS
cussEs QUESTIONS.
AGRICULTURE FAILS TO
KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH
Farming Advances - Extraordinary
Increase in Value Of Farm Lands
rage Farmer-Tenant Farmers on
Increase.


great margin OF expense somewhere
between producer and consumer which
leads to the justly founded complaint
Of the ultimate consumer of the high
cost of living" said Charles +. San
ford. president of the farmers nation
al congress, in calling the thirty third
annual session to order today. This
Mr.. Sanford asserted. leads to confu-
sion in the public's mind as to the
real status OF the farmer and the prof
Its arising from his occupation.
During the past two decades aGri-
culture has not kept pace with the in
crease OF population; during this same
period there has come an extraordinary
increase in the valuation Of farm lands
until it Is no longer an easy or simple
matter for the average man to be-
come the owner Of a well improved
farm. Moreover. the percentage OF
tenant farmers Is steadily increasing
In some states with alarming rapidity.
It can not be said with any show OF
reason that the growth Of the tenant
class indicates a stable or desirable
economic condition.
Homo Ownership Sure Remedy.
without minimizing in any degree
the Importance of efforts to increase
production and to conserve fertility or
the soil, 1t may be affirmed that
American agriculture will not be firm
ly established until it is possible FOR
it to become profitable for the far
ner Of average ability. while the
man Of exceptional ability or of fav-
ored circumstances may become veal
thy by increase OF land value. or good
stability Of agriculture and the ulti-
mate prosperity Of our citizenship de-
pended chiefly on the measure OF pros
lperity which attends the labors OF the
average farmer in the average farm
home. There conditions are with US
and while we strive TO remedy them
wherein they are adverse, we must ~
common Justice to all men. strive te
make 1t reasonably possible for all
men to attain the ideal state OF the
home owner.
Therefore, this congress should
give due weight In its deliberations 70
such measures or policies as tend to
relieve the producer Of the handicap OF
this economic burden and establish
equitable relations between producer,
consumer. and the distributor OF pro-
ducts.
Agricultural Millennium Sought.
III the agricultural millennium does
not arrive in the near future 1t Will
not be for tho lack Of agitation IN be-
half Of plans to bring 1t about. Scarce
ly a day elapses but some new scheme
is proposed having for its object great
or yields. higher prices for the pro-
ducts Of tho soil. lower prices for what
the farmer buys. cheaper money. or
some other thing calculated to amelio-
rate unsatisfactory conditions. This
makes for progress, whether IT brings
progress thru these agencies or not. for
the farmer Ii thereby stimulated 70
think for himself and to work out MS
own salvation.
"Comfort and prosperity on the farm
lie at the base Of national well being
but sometimes we think there is ten
dency to overdo the matter OF at
temnted relief thru the medium OF
mere mankind. To his hands and his
intelligence are entrusted the solu-
ton of problems OF national concern
which affect our entire citizenship.
Solution With Farmer Himself.
Mr.. Sanford said the point had been
reached in the evolution OF the SHOW
tho farme" movement when some
broad plan for central and responsive
control and coordination of effort should
be agreed upon. He said that some
successful movement must depend II,
the last analysis upon the farmer MIN :
self and that the great army or nus
bandmen were already on the fish'
track.
Farm credits, betterment of country
schools, good roads and parcel posts
...o..r nthnr snhiectS discussed.