The Ordway new era., 1914-10-02
Leg
islahon Needed
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union

Lecturer National 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 Al couraseously
as 1t draws 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
and the extremes will more nearly
disappear. Our statutes are Oiled to
overlooking with pity and revenge;
let US add opportunity.
The slogan of the FarmeHs' Union
10 cooperation. Not only among in
dividual farmers, but between all legi.
Innate and useful occupations. We
want to sit around the hearth.stone
of industry and talk over problems Of
mutual interest with our neighbors.
We want to invite those who arc
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 is no problem in civilization
that cannot be found in its native
state on the farm. The labor, edu-
cational, financial, transportation.
BODYBUILDING 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 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? II he not also entitled to an
Increase 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 perspiration.
gathering the harvest. and little chill
dren, their lips wet with mothers
milk. toiling by her side? Are they
not also entitled to consideration! 10
not the man who digs in the ground
entitled to the same consideration n
he who tolls at the forge; weaves at
the loom and works behind the count
.er? a E
The farmer has been bearing his
burdens AZ patiently as the beast he
plows, but is patience q bar from jus
tices The labor problem of Virginia
today is on the farm. and the hrst
attention should be given thoss who
tabor IN the held.' -:
...The- Need Of cbssp Meney., ~.
Agriculture has. never BEEN. proper
ly f,nancet: Theilafmer pays'a much
higher rate OF interest asa rule than
any other. class 'of borrower and his
property. especially that sof ;farm pro
ducts, is not so'feadily iaccepted 'as q
basis of credit as the. PROPERTY of
ether lines Of industry OF equal 'iharket
value.
A rural or. land credit system IL
needed that will enable a farmer to
buy home on long time at a cheap
rate Of interest.
A statute based on sound business
principles rthat win enable the land
-. ~ -h,,v snd a,co,irapo the large
l.1d owner to sell. is much needed,
End 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.