The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-11-05
AGRICULTURAL LEG.
ISLAT|0N NEEDED
The Farm the Place to Study
All Legislative Problems.
BY petsr Radford.

The principal function performed BY
government today is to collect taxes,
keep records and prevent and punish
crime; but that Is not sum Client. Gov
ernment should tip It's hat to the God.
dess Of Opportunity as courageously
as IL draws q six.shooter on train
robber. We ought to encourage thrift
as well as restrain greed. We have
been basing legislation upon the ex.
tremes Of human life-the classes
high and low. the depraved and the
talented-let US now reach the masses
disappear. Our statutes are nlled to
overnowing with pity and revenge;
let US add opportunity.
The slogan of the Farmers Union
10 cooperation. Not only among In.
dividual farmers, but between all legi.
timate and useful occupations. We
want to sit around the hearthstone
OF industry and talk over problems OF
mutual interest with our ncighbors.
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-top Of wis.
dom. explore the deep canyons Of
knowledge and stroll through the
quiet valleys OF understanding.
There ia no problem In civilization
that cannot be found In its native
state on this arm. The labor, edu.
cational. financial. transportation,
home. building and all other problems
arc, there. We will discuss n few OF
them.
The Labor Problem.
We bow TO the dignity OF labor. |
No one would be willing to do more
70 tighten the burdens. increase the |
safety. comforts and profits OF those |
who labor In commerce and industry |
than their fellow. toiiers In agricul.
ture, But how about the farmer who
bows his back to feed and cioths the
world. and who works from sun until
sum- ls he not also entitled TO an
Increase In pay and a shortening OF
hours7 Much has been said about |
the women In the factory and behind
the counter. but how about the woman
In the held. drenched In Precipitation.
gathering the harvest. the little chill.
dren. their lips wet with mothers
milk. toiling 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 tho beast he
plows. but Is patience a bar from Jus
tice' The labor problem OF Virginia
today is on the farm. and the frst
attention should be given those who
labor In the field.
The Need Of Cheap Money.
Agriculture has never been proper.
y financed. The farmer pays . much
higher rate OF interest as q rule than
my other class OF borrower and his
especially that OF farm prod.
tets, Is not 80 readily accepted as a
basis OF credit as the property OF
'ther lines of industry OF equal mar
ret value.
A rural or land credit system Is
ieeded that will enable q farmer TO
'uy home on long time at . cheap
ate OF interest.
A statute based on sound business
principles that will enable the land
ess TO buy and encourage the large
and owner TO sell. is much needed.
nd one that merits the most serious
OF our law makers.
The financial problem OF the state
nd nation is on the farm. and nrst