The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-04-02
AID FOR FARMERS
Can the Grange Help Solve Ag.
rlcuIturists' ProbIems7

Some Pertinent Questions Asked enc
Some Suggestions Msds--voestions
Education Of the Most Liberal KIND
oSasndsd--co. operation Necessary.
There Is a movement In the north
west that Is attracting attention, and
organizations are springing up in sew.
erai places TO solicit funds by private
subscription TO employ experts and es.
tabllsb demonstration farms for the
purpose Of teaching the farmers more
scientific and better methods Of farm.
ing.
Complaints are made that In many
cases the farmers do not appreciate
this service and are not awaiting them.
selves OF IL as they should II may be
well to inquire why the farmers as a
class do not welcome this innovation,
why they think that II viii not solve
their problems, why select agrlcul.
ture as the one and only great indus.
try In the nation requiring this special
education at the private expense OF
those indirectly interested? What ef.
feet will II have ON the industry and
those engaged In III Have they not
kept pace with other industries In i'm.
proved methods OF production?
Our competitors In the worlds mar.
kets have had the advantage Of state
owned and operated railroads for trans.
portation at cost and In some insta noes
state owned elevators, and yet we have
met them. paying all the traffic would
bear over our privately owned rail
roads and through our privately owned
elevators. What other industry has or
could have done so well,
In all these external efforts to aid
the farmer. from Presidents Taft and
Wilson. the main object, as stated, is to
increase production 50 as to reduce the
high cost Of living. indirectly placing
the whole blame for the high cost OF
living on the farmer, which is not true
and Is not fair
III increased production means lower
prices. and IL does. how will II help
the farmer to produce more and get
less for II? Food products have not
increased In price as rapidly as other |
products Under our present system
Of uncontrolled marketing the farmer
does not receive as much for the bump |
er crop as for the medium or average
crop How does the price Of farm
products compare with twenty years
igo? Can the farmer produce as cheap.
ly as he could twenty years ago: Can
the farmer exchange the products OF
his farm for as much OF the things
he needs AS he could twenty years
ago. That Is the true test
In discussing this question ! wish II
distinctly understood that am doing
70 from general or national stand
point and any apparent criticisms are
not intended TO apply TO the many
generous men who are locally trying
o assist the farmers. believe In
letter faNning. In scientific farming
n bringing practical education as close
o the farm as possible. II Is abso-
nteiy necessary so long as our com
editors are doing SO, Indeed our com
,etitors are spending much more per
a pita for the encouragement and de-
'elopment OF agriculture than We are.
What wish 10 emphasize Is that II
/ is better education the farmer needs
should be al public expense. In,
rease our public educational facilities,
OF only for the farmer, but the me i
hanic. the mapufacturer, the banker. /
be railroad manager and the CONNER. a
Ial men and women Trent all alike
ct II be vocational education OF the
lost liberal kind. the best investment
rat state and nation eau make.
The education the farmer now needs '
he most is along the lines OF co-opera Q
We transportation distribution and e
Every other great Industry
ays as much. II not more. attention 10
sfribution aud sale than 20 produc. y
on. many OF them fixing The price the
istomer must pay before the product,
aves The factory The farmer alone. n
! the advice OF other interests. lin. :,
J bis efforts 10 production and per
its those other interests TO take
Ia rye OF the more important func- \
Dns OF distribution and sale There is II
here the pro6ts SO There Is where n
e big margin is between what the
rmer receives and the consumer :,
Us. The organized farmers have -
cir eyes oa that margin--H. l..
bucks "