The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-22
President Worst Urges
Federal Marketing
Bureau for Farmers

30 per cent of the consumers dollar
Tor the producer, who must make the
longtime Investment, suffer deprecia-
ton OF farm machinery, take the fung-
ous insect, and climatic risks and per-
form all the hard labor. President
Yoakem. Of the Southern Pacific rail-.
way system modestly aflrms that Of
farm products for which consumers
pay 3d. 900, 600, 900 the producers re-
ceive only $4,000, 900, 900. No one as
yet has challenged President Yoakem's
statement. AS a matter Of fact, his
statement is too conservative.
From the above figures and con-
illusions, I am CONTAINED to PROFOUND
this question: Is the paramount in
dustry of the country receiving fair
treatment? This question is empha-
country at large as in the interest Of
the farmers. Can ever agriculture,
with all it's potential possibilities, en-
JOY assured prosperity or even be-
come, in the largest sense, a prefer
red vocation, when the rewards of
labor and investment are thus de-
pendent upon the consciences of
spectators? And certainly no n
will question the d~esirability Of maxi
ing agriculture, which is the founda-
ton rock of American prosperity, not
only an attractive, but a preferred vo-
cation. To be either one or the. other,
farming must be profitable and the
profits not dependent upon the integ-
rity Of gamblers in farm products.
The $4,000 ,000, 900 worth Of farm
products annually dumped into the
various channels Of may
indeed make the nation prosperous
without making the farmer prosper
Gus. Moreover, his prosperity Is
bound to be problematical when less
depends upon his skill and energy as
a farmer than upon the generosity of
those who manipulate the prices Of his
products.
How to emancipate agriculture
from a needless horde of middlemen
and spectators who prey alike upon
producer and consumer, is at least one
of the most serious problems that
confronts the government. For OBJ
V1ous reasons the marketing of farm
products therefore, should be given
serious consideration by the federal
authorities.
"As long as virgin soil was to be
had in abundance for the taking, and
the pressure Of population upon the
soil was not serious, farmers could
take almost any price for their prod
ucts and yet gain in wealth, but large
ly on account Of the size and produc-
tivity Of their virgin farms and the
rise in land values. But those days
are passing. Conditions are rapidly
changing. The cost Of living Is stead
lily climbing upward, while the farm
er's profits, partly owing to depleted
fertility of the soil, the result of un-
scientific farm management, and part
ly to high rates of interest, are be-
coming more and more precarious.
Moreover, population is increasing at
a rapid rate. We have scarcely yet
begun to feel the pressure of popula-
ton upon the soil. But it is hear at
hand BY 1850 the population of the
country should reach 200, 600, 600. BY
the end Of this century the popula-
ton should approximate 500,0 600, 900.
This may seem a long way off, but
children now born will live to see the
country thus densely populated. The
farms will be required to produce five
bushels Of wheat where one is now
produced; five steers for the
shambles, and fruits, vegetables and
dairy products in like proportion, if
the people then are to be as we'll fed
as now. What guaranty can we offer
the future citizens Of this republic.
except by improving the business and
social status of agriculture, that food,
clothing and shelter, the essentials Of
life, may still be produced in abund-
ance? Many, doubtless, do not
concern themselves about things
that will happen after they have
'shuffled off this mortal COLL
But no man with a spark of patriot
ism in his soul lives only for his own
day and time. Posterity must inherit
the results of u labors and will just