Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-30
THE BACK TO THE FARM" MOVEMENT


There is Just one thing that keeps the back to the
farm movement from becoming the rage and that that
the most ardent advocates of it, want others to do the
"backing" instead of going back themselves.
There are numberless reasons why the movement is
not hlariOusy popular enough of them that would take
couple Of columns to enumerate them, but here are
few.
The American is a pleasure loving character, speed
maniac in all that he does and the farm life is too slow
Once accustomed to city ways the farm ceases to be at
ractive The rising with the does not appeal to one
who is in the habit of going to bed at that hour Follow
ing pOw all day on foot somehow does not seem near
so delightful putting foot on pedal and turning on
the gasoline while sitting the cushioned seat of JOY
wagon.
Picking the ncarnadine berries from the dew-laden
vines before breakfast listens nice but IN practVe does
not appeal to the man who can lying in bed press but
ton and have the berries nicely washed and culed
brought to him in bed along with plenty OF rich cream
that he did not have to get from COW himself.
The little country gathering where everybody knows
everybody else and which is indeed one of the most
ioyable occasions to him who has not been spoiled and
mentally diseased by being nnOcuated with the city bug
is to him unmtgated bore.
The having to go to the pump for water instead OF
turning faucet in any in his house and getting it
fresh and colder than from the moSScoveed bucket does
not appeal to his esthetic tastes.
The little amateur exercises at the school house so
dear to us older folks filled with the most delightful
memories to the city dweer inspid, dreary, un-
bearable.
Maud Muller with her graceful ankles bare and brown
peepng from beneath her gown not in the same class
with the whole leg done in eazy tights which ne can see
at any show in the city, at any time two or three dozen
pairs of them for half dollar.
And so it goes through the whole list of human occu
patiOns pursuits pleasures or what you WILL that serve
to fill out the hours.
So much for the peasurabe side of farm life as the
city person sees it, When it to the business or
financial features the attractions still less appealing
The farmer works harder, longer hours and has fewer
lay offs than almost any other occupation and for TINS ne
gets less pay than almost any other calling
The trade rules of the world have hedged him about so
he helpless and there are many of him that he cannot
prey to circumstances and the balance of the world For
everything he buys the other fellow fixes the price and
for everything he sells someone, somewhere ne knows
not who where fixes the price also 1t is his business
to feed the world and it naturally follows the world lives
off him. His calling is the absolutely necessary to
the worlds existence, and yet the world holds him least
honor 1t treats him much as does big calf which when
hungry seeks its mothers dugs and matter how thin
and poor she may be from its persistent draining of her
vitality her strength which she gives up to so freely and
generously it but butts the harder careless OF results so
long its appetite is satisfied 1t is all wrong but
it is the existing fact just the same,
If the city man could be forced to live in the country
and to earn his living on farm he might be weaned from
his city idols He might learn the many compensatons,
the cleaner living the heathful atmosphere, the
real Joys of life instead of its false and in time learn
to love and appreciate them AS this cannot be done is
safe to say the back to the farm movement will not ma
eraze so long the necessity for food does not compel
it, Its strongest advocates like the sign posts on the
highway which point out the roads but never travel
them.