Cheyenne record., 1914-11-05
AGRICULTURAL LEG. :
|SLAT|0N NEEDED
The Farm the Place to Study All
Legislative Problems.
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer Sntional Farmers Union


Lecturer Sational Farmers Union
The principal function performed by
government today Is to collect taxes,
keep records and prevent and punish
crime; but that is not sufficient. Gov
ernment should tip its hat to the God
dess Of Opportunity rs courageously
as 1t draws a six-shooter on q train
robber. We ought to encourage thrift
ns 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
and the extremes will more nearly
disappear. Our statutes are filed to
ovcrflowing with pity and revenge;
let lis add opportunity.
The slogan OF the Farmers Union
Is cooperation. Not only among in
dividual farmers. but between all legi-
innate and useful occupations. We
want to sit around the hcarth-stone
OF industry and talk over problems OF
mutual interest with our neighbors.
We want to invite those who are
earnestly searching for information
on public questions to get back to
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 is no problem in civilization
that cannot be found in its native
state on the farm. The labor. edu-
cational. financial. transportation,
home-building and all other problems
nre there. We will discuss few Of
them.
The Labor Problem.
We bow to the dignity OF labor
No one would be willing to do more
to tighten the burdens. increase the
safety. comforts and profits Of those
who labor in commerce and industry
than their fellow toilers in agricul-
ture. But how about the farmer who
bows his back to feed and clothe the
world, and who works from sun until
sun? Is he not also entitled to an
increase In pay and a 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 perspiration.
gathering the harvest. and little chill
dren, their lips wet with mothers
milk, toiling by her side? Are they
not the man who digs In the ground
entitled to the same consideration as
he who tolls at the forge, weavcs at
the loom and works behind the count.
er?
The farmer has been bearing his
burdens as patiently rs the beast he
plows, but is patience bar from Jus
tice? The labor problem Of Virginia
today Is on the farm. and the first
attention should be given those who
labor in the field.
The Need Of Cheap Money.
Agriculture has never been proper
ly financed. The farmer pays much
higher rate Of interest as a rule than
any other class of borrower and his
property, especially that of farm pro-
ducts, is net SO readily accepted as a
basis of credit as the property Of
ether lines OF industry OF equal market
value.
4 rural or land credit systen is
needed that will enable farmer to
buy home on long time at cheap
rate OF interest.
A statute based on sound business
principles that will enable the land.
less to buy and encourage the large
lind cwncr to sell. is much needed.
and one that merits the most serious
consideration OF our law makers.
The financial problem Of the state
and nation is on the farm. and first
attention should be given those who
create the nations wealth.