Newark post., 1916-01-05

serve better OF MANKIND ana 90 |
more essential service to his coun-
try than the whole race of poll
ticians put together"
At the time this was written
England was at war, and what
Swift wrote was absolutely true,
for the food supply was scanty.
The politicians and educators have
taken his wise statement, cut out
all except "two blades of grass"
and put that up as sound political
economy that farmers in these
times should double their crops
regardless of the way society has
changed. The trouble is that men
are filled up with this 'two blades
of grass" doctrine (until it runs
out of their mouth like words from
a parrot) and then sent out to
preach and teach farmers! Our
farms now produce more food
than the people need. A good
share of it is wasted because the
cost of delivering it to the con-
sumer is so great that shipping
does not pay. Instead of urging
farmers. to produce two blades
of grass your minister ought to be
working to secure a fair price for
the one blade.
Proof. l could fill columns with
figures to prove this, but I think
your minister needs demonstra-
tion nearer home. Tell him first
that food is not the only necessity
of the people. Those who listen to
his preaching need shoes, hats,
clothing, rubber boots and dozens
of other things-as necessary as
flour, meat, eggs or fruit. There
fore, challenge the minister to be
fair and not preach "class legisla-
tion." If the farmers are to dou-
BILE their crops, tell him to preach
the same doctrine to manufacture
ers, railroads, and all others who
serve the public. Let us have two
pairs of rubber roots where one
grew before, two hats, two coats,
and two apple barrels. Let the
railroads double track all lines
and double the number of cars
and engines. By all means double
the telegraph and telephone lines.
Let the merchants all double their
stock-beyond local needs. When
the manufacturers and transpor-
tation men protest against this let
our ministerial friend tell them
that they should love their fellow
men and be willing to suffer loss
in order that all may have cheap
necessities. It is a 100 to / chance
that he never would do that, but
if he will not ask him why the
farmer should be expected to love
his fellow man to the limit of two
blades of grass, while these other
,, interests may "do" him under the
limitations of a short one blade
They never gave him that at col
.. lege, and I would like to know
!. what answer he makes.
:, The Short Dollar. Tell him mos
s of his own people are receiving ;
8 35-cent dollar, or, if not they arr
:, among the elect or favored few
t Don't quote him figures or wha
: someone says, but challenge hin
s to make a fair canvass of the ter
a ritory within 10 miles of hi
e church. Get right out and fin
f what the farmers are selling an
l. where they sell it. Get actual fig
d ures to show what they are paic
# net, and then find the retail
" prices. We will help you on tn
e. latter if any Of your goods finall
d comes to this market. Find jus
v what part of the consumers dol
e lar the people within 10 miles O
l. this church are receiving now, an
4, let the minister read the figure
Il from his pulpit and preach NOR
l. sermons on "two blades of grass.
e do not know about this particu
IS lar locality, but if it is a typica
t. country neighborhood and thes
d facts are honestly collected thi
'e minister will change his preach
= ing, or else the conservatism O
n modern education is tougher tina
e l expected.
IT Doubling Crops. No use givin
h the figures and facts from tn
m authorities" all the way from tn
is Agricultural Depart m ent t
ID Farmer Jones-this ministe
'e needs home arguments. What
ID milk is new selling at nine cents
le quart wholesale in New Yorl
IS while farmers near his church al
j. receiving little over three cents
le A demonstration that would sa
10 isfy him could be made in an