The Detroit times., 1917-01-22
What DO You Think About
the Questions Raised in
This Farmers Editorial?


of any of the many communications we
have received on that side of the sub
feet.
If you have blamed the farmer for the
increased cost you are paying for the
necessities Of life, read the editorial by
this farmer, who will convince you that
the farmer has a defense.
In places VanNess suggests questions
which he leaves unanswered.
Maybe YOU can answer them.
If you can, you can answer them
through The Times.
What is needed most to meet this high
cost-of-living issue is THOUGHT, and
free and frank discussion.
The grocer tells US he is not to blame.
The farmer tells us he is not TO blame.
Where is the responsibility, then?
Where do you think it is?
Farm help is scarce, VanNess says.
Why is farm help scarce? Why are
the young men leaving the farm for the
cities?
We can get some good out of consid-
GRAFTON of these things.
Here is the VanNess editorial:
There has been so much said and written
about the high cost OF living that it has reached
a,d he
The general opinion seems that the farmer is
to blame.
Entering business place. recently where an
old couple were making some purchases. and
evidently finding fault with prices. heard the
head clerk say:
do not blame me. blame the farmer
Later he said TO me:
I'VE have to lay II TO some one"
People have heard 80 often that the farmer
Is 20 blame however. they have come 10 think
II true.
shall Try to put il in different light and give
my reasons. as a farmer for the high cost Of
farm produce, and the remedy
Last year was a season Of shor; crops a
large section Of country.
Beginning about July !. we had extremely no,
weather day and night. which continued for sew
eral weeks with the mercury ranging from 81
TO 100 degrees and even higher.
Some OF the city people were sleeping on
roofs and in the parks. while Others were taking
long auto rides or spending their time at some
lake or pleasure resort.
Then was when things happened that make
vegetables and high.
During that time. many a patch Of potatoes
was ruined
The farmer planted high priced seed. and ap-
piled the knowledge gained from years OF ex
rerience 10 the care and cultivation and in MAJ
cases did not raise enough for his own use.
This is the main reason people are paying from
81 80 TO s. bDshei for potatoes
Consumption has so nearly oyertaken pro
duction that farm produce will be high.
Think of the thousands Of men. mostly young
men. who are finding profitable employment away
from the farms where fifteen years ago. com
paratvely few. II any. were employed OF the
farm.
Think OF the number Of men employed in the
automobile factories-and in the care and run.
ming OF all kinds OF them; OF the men on the
street car and telephone lines base bail teams
aud in other athletic sports
The Ford plant laid on $1,000 men for the
holiday vacation
That is almost twice The total population OF
this tCass) county. and we are proud 81 our
county. 700.
There Are abou, 50 automobile factories in %.
iroit alone
The number OF men employed in any one -
them could care Tor quite potato patch and
raise LOT Of feed that would grow DO nez
years supply Of meat. eggs. and butter. ouf
do not think many will be standing n line war.
ms for JOB on farm
Butter is high but The price Of feeds that
enter into IFS production high
have sold butter az 20 cents per TO- an
perhaps made as much profit as a man would
now a. o. cents Then wheat bran was tls pcr
ION. now S32 on meal SIG. $40 corn -
cents per bu. now IS to So cents oats. Is cent.
now s. 20 80 cents
am eiad to Soc factories 81 an kinds and ire
people who work IN them prosper but vhic tho
men empio,ed cities WORK ant work hard
thcy fo NOS pf any OF the article. of iooe
Nou VIII notice in passing thru 'he country.
the large number ~ vacant houses. lsad thar s.
nc cultivated and sometimes me ner'ertrd aD.
pcarancc of farm buildings buf ID most cases
thC farmer s. nor 70 blame
The Young men are gone. and the rural q
tricts are fast e,oming the homes %; men vcn
pas. The prime OF life while the young men are
fllinr up the cities