Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-23
The Truth Is Spreading.

VIVA
parted by those knowing nothing
about the laws of growth, or
necessity for care and protection, and
the crop realized cannot begin to
pa 70: tie outlay. Rushing every
BODY TO grow all that was possible
without any preparation, must work
injury 10 the industry as we'll as to
individuals. The whole thing has
been pushed by those whose fears
have been aroused over the POSSIBLE
ity that they may not be able 20 buy
all they want for their own use at
their own price. 1t is the great in
justice done the farmers Of this coun-
try which is most to be deplored, for
here the effects will be lasting and
the injury permanent. If there had
been the ghost of a chance for men
20 realize a new dollar for what they
paid out, without counting their la
Dor, It would have been different, but
those who really farm the farms
know that the margins are not
enough to allow for total ineXperi-
ence. and that the possible profit OF
the year comes from doing a multi
tude OF things, and. except in indi-
vidual cases. not in specialized crops.
More than that, operations must be
Of certain magnitude to pay. Small
operations must always be attended
with increased cost. War disturb
ances spell carelessness in expendi-
ture Of public funds. Under the plea
Of haste, there is no time for pru-
dence TO be applied.
In Massachusetts, they are furnish
ing q striking illustration Of the way
TO spend the peoples money; 100
acres OF park land have been set
apart about Boston for gardens, and
500 plots Of one-eighth Of an acre
each have beeen assigned individuals,
the remainder being used by cINbs
and schools With a manager costing
$500 a year, several farmhands
getting $50 per week they are finding
. weekly cost Of 5000, and the COM
rnittee in charge have called for
$4,000 more with which to carry
the work through the season. Here
is an example Of farming which must
provoke the greatest enthusiasm C)
for the future. How does it strike the
average farmer This $1,000 a month
for labor, whore IL Is expected every
man will take care of his own plat,
certainly bears some relation to the
cost OF the few beans. potatoes, tur-
nips and tomatoes grown. In addition
TO all this. there is an expense OF $500
a month for an executive committee,
which has oversight of the business.
We all know that farming always
pays A big profit, so that men from
the city. who never saw a farm. can
go out and spend money freely and
sometimes fancy they are getting rich,
but the average man finds it costs
something to do his work. and the
cost mus. be paid out Of his sales,
rot By TIE state out OF some war
fund
That's unconstitutional" though
the same MONEY can he used to pay
rood salaries and expenses. wages
and board. as we'll rs transportation
FOR boys or a score of young ladies to
,isit every town in Maine and tell the
ladies there Just how TO can fruit,
For one. what interests me is not
That these bright organizers have
heen able t. get so liberal sire, for
the money was raised to Re spent. hut
That the men who are bearing the
brunt and on whose shoulders falls
he responsibility Of growing the food
=. SUPPORT for the people cannot get a
cent Of this million. nor any guarantee
aranst loss in case ~ a full! harvest
NJ low price,. A wcll-knovn potato
rrov,r ir Aroostook writes his father
t,.t his qH-aCrcs Of potatoes will This
vcar cost him ~ least $4,000 or ST.
rer acra when harvested II the crop
should pc large. he stands 10 sell for 81
rcr barrel. ard pocket big. big loss,
n Yield should be small he is certain
20 lose heavily. and he is only one of
thousa rds, vet there's not a cent
available for protection against this
possible loss.
Here ia gross injustice against the
only class which can possibly save
from starvation and the one which
first cf all should have been protected
from loss by minimum guarantee.
II it's grab game, why We're the
doors barred against the farmers?
II II IL In the interests of the people
Of the state, why We're not the men
,vho till the acres. and must grow
the crors allowed 10 have their say
IN the distribution Of this million dol
lars Thousands who have this year
been urged, entreatei. begged. forced
TO plant hackyards town lots. or in
crease ACREAGE cannot see the color
OF the dollars they have put in. and
the business of farming will he
damned, not the influences which led
into trouble. The government re-
ports tell cf corn crop never
dreamed of before, vet the poultry
man who goes TO market finds he must
pay 81 a bushel for that corn.
While there seems to be lot Of
wind spent about control of food
prices. IL appears to be aimed so far
st -four and wheat and hardly toucm-
90 the vital spot felt so keenly by
the feeder. Corn goes up and eggs
and poultry go down. and nobody
seems to read the handwriting on the
wall. When the farmers simplify
their methods OF living and. first Of
all. feed their families. officials will
hear a howl from other classes. To
say that IL is wise to wait for trouble
before forestalling by righteous ac-
ton. is to deny all standards Of JUS
tice and establish the rule Of might
A we ret farther away From the
n,ant,ne season. the Justice of the
-, -. >>.~~uttion ~ the farmers