The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-22
ly bless our wisdom or curse our fool
A Governnent ProbIem,

l'tnS SOIL ana the FARMER the Woi 40
must look for the necessities of life,
that lives on while generations come
and go, take a deeper interest In both
the farmer and the soil?
"A country that can construct a
Panama canal at a cost Of 1915, 000. 900
to facilitate trade relations between
her eastern and western coasts. that
spends approximately 81, 900, 000, 900
annually upon her government, much
Of it In the nature of pork barrel leg
islation at that, can we'll afford to in
vest ample funds for promoting the
business and social status Of agricul-
ture in every legitimate way.
1.-THE governments first concern.
therefore, should be not only to make
the industry which is her chief reli-
ance both popular and stable, but arm
those who engage in it with the best
information obtainable. bearing upon
production as well as distribution. To
accomplish this end NJ expense should
be spared so long as the money spent
multiplies itself many times in the ma
tional income. And this is does. But
what is the attitude of congress to-
ward agriculture when compared with
the non-productive departments Of the
government?
Some Comparisons.
"The United States budget for 1912
13 contains the following items:
Appropriations.
Army ..$201,480.OO
Navy !SS,Io I'ouo
Interior ISV.ooo.oVV
treasury Io t,ooo,oO
Agriculture ............... 1888, OO0
"And yet farmers r constantly
reminded by their representatives of
the munificent appropriation the CON
gress annually makes for the encour
agement Of agriculture. Compared
with ten years ago congress is indeed
liberal, but would not increased nber-
ality augment the prosperity of the
country to a remarkable degree? l
am confident that the annual expendi-
ture Of 49, 900, 900 for college extension
work would soon increase the agricul-
turaI wealth of the nation by not less
than s per cent, or 100000 900 annu-
ally. However, the treasury depart
|ment, which depends largely upon the
agricultural prosperity Of the u
try, receives for maintenance $780,
633, 900 more than the department of
agriculture, while the wal department
receives a sum in excess Of agricul-
ture to the tune Of $184,247, 900.
81 have no disposition to question
the appropriations made for the army
and navy, which combined exceed that
Of agriculture by 1904, $50, 900, but mill
lions Of farmers are wondering why
agriculture by comparison gets so lit
tle-only $17,233,O00. And this won
derment seems all the more consistent,
since practically all the money spent
upon the army and navy is p~redlcated
upon a sentiment that does not appeal
t. the christian spirit that should
characterize our age: Moreover.
it is hie1 time that nations
ooosa rroStir~ Tho substance nf
the people for naval ornaments.
Agriculture, on the other hand, is
productive. The government ap-
p%ropriates for agriculture ST., 600,
and it reciprocates with $40, 600, =
900. AS a business proposition, there
fore. money appropriated for improve
ment Of agriculture pays tremendous
dividends. This is as true of the
state as of the federal government.
can industry that thus returns ap-
proximately $500 for every dollar ex-
pended for it's departmental manage
ment and nation wide encouragement,
is entitled to government aid for edu-
cational and demonstration purposes
that will insure it's highest efficiency,
without begging for. it. The cost Of
one battleship annually expended by
the several states for college extern
sion activities; should increase the
national wealth by not less than ST.
900, 000, 900 every year.
"The equitable distribution of this
increased wealth and h larger con-
tentment of the people resulting
therefrom, would safeguard the gov
eminent, through increased patriotism.
quite as effectually as would the
building Of many additional dread
naughts. For u danger is not from
without. Our chief danger is from
within-from exalting the dollar above
the man; from social discomfort aris-
ing from millions of laborers jostling
against ~millionaires, who are the pro-
duct Of special interests. We have,
therefore. more to fear from social
discomfort than from hostile armies.
Gas before stated, the tremendous
volume Of wealth annually Wrung
from the soil is not distributed with
a view to giving the farmer an equit-
able share of the proceeds. The rela-
ton between price and cost Of pro-
duction Is seldom if ever taken into
account. AS a result Of exaggerated
reports made by the country press,
the probable yield boosted by agents
appointed for that purpose, and the
governments optimistic estimate, a
big harvest frequently brings less
prosperity to the farmer than a much
smaller harvest.
Too Much Emphasis Given Production.
"The reason for this is not far to
seek,-lack Of marketing information
and marketing facilities. Hitherto the
energies of the department OF agrl-
culture and state experiment stations,
together with privately aided pre-
paganda. and especially the latter,
have been used almost exclusively for
the purpose Of forcing production,
without due regard for profit, On the
part of producers. Farmers generally,
however, are not asking for charity.
All that is demanded by them is, JUS
tice. Given Justice, and they will take
care of themselves.
"As Peter Radford Of the Farmers
union observes: while the depart
ment Of. agriculture has been dumping
tons of literature on the farmer, tell
ing him how to produce. the farmer
has been dumping tons of products in
the nations garbage "a for want Of
q market. While wealthy corporations
and individuals protesting a desire to
aid the farmer have been telling us
how to pillow, the farmer has been suf-
fering from lack of distribution. The
real farmer has M voice in the dis
bursement of the appropriations made
by the government or of the donations
made by public spirited citizens to
promote agriculture. The work has all
been done on the basis that the farmer
does not know his problem
The Problem Of Marketing.
Doubtless the problem is too big
for the farmer. 1t would seem too big
for our statesmen except on the theo-