The Elbert County tribune., 1914-09-25
AcRlC0LTURAL LEG
ISLAnOn NEEDED
The Farm tho Place to Study All
Legislative Problems.
BY Peter Hadfcrd

artttttFf s'aA'ffTt iif1rtr t4tt'Ai
The principal function performed by
government today>is to collect taxes.
keep records and prevent aud punish
crime; but that lie rot sufficient. Gov
eminent should tir It's hat to the God.
dess of Opportunity as coursgeously
az II draws sixshooter on train
robber We ought TO encourage thrift
a. well as restrain greed We haye
been bafing legislation upon the ex
tremes Of human life classes
high and low. the depraved and the
taiented--lef us NOW reach the masses
ana the extremes win more nearly
disappear. Our statutes are filled to
overlooking with pity and revenge;
let us add opportunitv.
The slogan OF the Farmers Union
IA cooperation. Not only among in
dividuai farmers. but between all leri-
innate and useful occupations. We
want to sit around the hesrih-stone
of industry and talk over problems Of
mutual interest with our nei-hborh.
We want to invite those who are
earnestly searching for information
on public questions to get back to
the soil with their Investigations
where. in the stiffness OF nature, they
can climb the mountain-tcp of wis
dom, explore the deep canyons Of
knowledge and stroll through the
uuiet valleys of understanding.
There lie no problem in civilization
that cannot be found in its native
state on the farm. The labor, edu
cstional, financial, transportation,
hcme-bulldins and all other problems
are there. We will discuss few Of
them.
The Labor Problem.
We bow to the dignity of labor.
No one would be wiling to do more
to tighten the burdens, increase the
safety, comforie and profits Of those
who labor in commerce and industry
than their fellow toilers in agricul
ture But how about the farmer who
hows HIS back to feed and clothe the
world End. who works from sun until
snn7 Is he not also entitled to an
increaFe in pay and shortening Of
hours? Much has been said about
The women In the factory and behind
the counter. but how about the woman
In the field, drenched in Precipitation,
gathering the harvest, and little chill.
dren, their lips wet with mothers
milk. toiline by her side? Are they
not also entitled to consideration? Is
not the man who digs In the ground
entitled 10 the same consideration as
he who tolls at the forge. weaves at
the loom and works behind the count.
err?
The farmer has been bearing his
burdens as patiently as the beast he
plows, but is patience bar from Jus
tice? The labor problem Of Virginia
today Ia on the farm, and the frst
attention should be given those who
labor in the neld.
The Need Of Cheap Money.
Agriculture has never been proper
" financed The farmer pays much
higher rate of interest as rule than
any other class Of borrower and his
property, especially that of farm pro.
ducts. Is not so readily accepted as a
OASIS OF cleuit es Tue pioperty ot
other lines of industry of equal market
value.
A rural or land credit system Is
needed that will enable a farmer to
buy home on long time a. cheap
rate OF interest.
statute based on sound business
principles that will enable the land
less to huy and encourage the large
land owner to sell, is much needed
and one that merits the most serious
consideration of our law makers.
The financial problem Of the state
aud nation is on the farm, and FIRST
attention should he given those who