The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-26
Frank FARRELL Addresses a
Meeting of Farmers.
On the Modern Tendency to
Change Occupations.
MAN SHOULD FOLLOW HIS Bent
And Stick to the Business That
He Understands.
The Country Is All Right for
Those Who Like 1t.

Most of the town talk about go
ing back to the soil you hear these
times is INDUCED in by people who
have no intention of taking the ADVICE
they hand out so freely.
That is the opinion of ]. F. farrell,
publicity agent of the Atchison, Tope-
ka & Santa Fe railway who looks after
the Santa Fe's interests at farm con-
crosses and in other movements for
AGRICULTURAL development. Mr.. Jar
rell was in Pueblo Friday attending a
meeting of farmers of the Arkansas
valley who are planning an agricui-
tural congress. The back to the SOIL
campaign was discussed and the Santa
Fe man expressed his views
"AII kinds of folks are necessary for
the making of a world Mr.. farrell
said. THE average man, and by man
mean woman, too, is adapted to
in a certain direction This bent
should be followed as nearly as pos
sibIe.
1.-The man who is adapted to
preaching likely would fail as black
smith. The man with the talent to
paint a portrait or compose an opera
would hardly be a success as a cap
tain of finance. 1t requires as much
sense to run a farm and make 1t pay
good returns as it does to run a store,
or a railroad, successfully, but a great
many town people have an idea that
anybody can go back to the soil and
shine in the world of agriculture.
Results May Be Unpleasant.
Having failed to solve the high
cost of living problem which threatens
them with the greatest tragedy of the
age some city residents are urging
their neighbors to go back to the soil
to get their living. Doubtless many
could do il, but the hundreds of thou
sands of city jewellers who don't know
the difference between a stalk of corn
and a gooseberry bush would do well
to think twice before deciding to make
the change. Jumping from the fry
ing pan into the fire may be novel
experience, but often 1t is attended
with very unpleasant results.
THE drift to the country of city
people who are not cut out for the
farm is as foolish as is the drift to
the city of the country boys and girls
who have no special qualifications for
the affairs of urban life. True, many
of the leading men of the great
American cities are from the farm, |
and some of the most successful farm
ers are city bred men, but 1 am speak |
ing about the general run of people. |
What doth it profit a girl to leave
the farm for the city, and there clerk
N store for IS a week, with which
sum she cannot possibly buy comfort
BILE clothes and nourishing food?
What doth it profit a boy to leave the
farm and work in the city for mere
wages? On the other hand, what
doth it profit town man who is
more or less of a living at
work he understands to go to the
country on a job the details of which
are worse than Greek to him?
I'm my opinion, city folks are do
ing a poor job at solving the prob
lem when they urge their neighbors
to go back to the soil, without also
warning them that brains and long
hours are necessary in the work of
making the soil yield its riches.
He Has Tried Both
Il am not railing against city folks