Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-15
Ahead Of the Farmer.

systems that Farm" them as they
till the soil, slowly ways and means
are being provided, In another column
q winslow writer's communication
points to the IS cents which the worker
Of the farm gets. and the 65 which goes
20 tho system that works the farmer.
On our desk Is the letter Of an Angus
IA farmer who asks questions OF the
editor. He wants to know why the
farmer should not be allowed to collect
a few OF the prosperity" dollars that
arc coming from the war field; and
why the embargo on potatoes is to be
removed to let in diseased stock Ito
make a pest house Of the United
States
Other farmers are asking questions
and some Of them are very pointedly
answering questions that others ask.
For instance, a we'll posted Kennebec
county farmer notes that the Oranges
and the Labor Unions are coming to
ClIlICtI ONCI tHC HlopoSoA W Poe Gil va
barge on foodstuffs, while the makers
Of munitions for the fighting armies,
and the makers of clothing and other
necessities Of fighting men, are allowed
to go reaping a rich harvest from
bleeding Europe. The union workers
in all these employments must have
l.:
their pay increased from 33 to so per-
cent over that of two years ago) while
the farmer must lose his extra market
because Of the high cost of living. He
says that every advance in union wag-
es makes the necessity more imperative
in ot;,er unions and-"must the farmer
pay it all?" He wants to know where
the farmers raise in wages is coming
in, to meet the increased cost of living.
We hope Kennebec Journal readers
will consider the letter Of J. L. Dean,
even II they cannot agree with his po-
sition, or if they believe that he has
exaggerated conditions. for his state
ments contain SO much more of truth
than of poetry as to be worth weigh
ing.
Today the obvious and only salvation
of the farming interests lies in organic
alton, in an epoch of unionism and con-
solidation. Every several branch of the
farmers diversified business must be
organized to meet the organizations
arrayed to exploit him. The farmer is
doing the bone labor and the other fell
lows are capturing the lions share of
the returns. AS the ant milks the aphis
so the middleman milks the farmer and
his family, from the cradle to the
grave.
These facts. known to all, and the
evident purpose to ride free horse to
death, leads to the safe prediction that
in the not distant future the farmers
federation will have a Sam Gompers
to mix and NEEDLE in politics, to in
fiuence. in connection with multinle
leaders of branches Of the federation.
Presidents and Congresses, to hold a
club over law makers. If necessary.
and to fling defiance to courts and law
df that becomes the prevailing style of
unionized demand). and to see that
farmers wages are not reduced as 9TH
ers are advanced.
Last week at Springfield. Mass. a
New England Milk Meeting" was
held. and the foundation was laid for
thorough-going organization Of milk
producers. Tho New England Home
stead this week will say:
There was tendency for Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut to monopolize
the discussion on minor details. Fin
ally. the chair announced it wanted to
hear from Maine. New Hampshire and
Vermont Within a half hour those
states convinced southern New Eng
land that the problem IL not local. that
Connecticut and Massachusetts, are hit
drop in the bucket when production
is considered. It was seen that norm.
ern New England can food anv Nav
England market with milk on short
notloe. Thus the session swung stronr
to . broad. New England-wide move
nnent."
And again. editorially, the Homestead
will say:
Foundation was laid which should
mako history Tor our dairy interests. II
WoS tho first New Enbland-wide session
locking to IN organization Of all sections
regardless Of the market served. That
producers have many problems in COM
mon and that the action Of one section
hes IN important bearing on others. were
facts recognized by practically all the
speakers. Hence the Importance Of an
member standing for all and all for each.
There should be close cooperation with
the New York dairymen's league in addi-
ton It was wise to continue the name
OF New England milk producers associa-
fion. That name Is we'll known and
means something 70 the rank and file Of
farmers. a. well - to state and federal
The job now = to push organization
iosais should be in working order before
Msrch i. 1917. It is important for every
49, owner to grasp the fact right away
tSSf thie movement concerns him.
Isksra lie old New England milk pro-
sSrsssS. aaaociation was about $3.50 Bos-
~ -. raret the new organization IL for
~ 49,, ~, MAJ ENGLAND market. be 1t IN a
Ssnof country town or sizaple city.
r,s~,, ~ q farmer makes cream or nutter'
~ rrirea ne receives will be Directly az
S.cted Nv the conditions and prices gov
erning 6uid milk in the V ieadlns Clues -
New England and new A