Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-22

May 10, 1917.
Mr.. Hight persists in the presump-
ton that it is everybody's business TO
drive the farmer Why doesn't Mr..
Hight, and those Of his grasp of econ
omic conditions, go after a lapor
union or two and assure the members
that they are working only eight or
nine hours a day and they ought to
work 16 or 10, as does the average
farmer. He should inform some of
those who are being enlisted for farm
labor from other callings that they
should work as many hours is the
farmer works.
Instead, our friend repeats:
You must do your part to provide it,"
And 1 as insistently repeat that the
farmer is doing his part and is ready
to do MORE than his part, If he can
get the assistance of some of those
whose part seems to be only to WELD
the stick with that ugly, insinuating
brad in it-"everybody is doing his
part but the farmer"
My part in defending the farmer
seems to be mistaken by some as an
attempt to create class prejudice, in
stead of a sincere desire to do away
with the prejudice that already pre-
walls. 1 would invite some Of those
who are 50 freely instructing others
what to do, to describe what THEY
are doing to produce for, or to defend,
the nation.
I would just as firmly as before in
sist that the average farmer knows far
better than does Mr.. Hight, how much
crop he can handle without useless
waste, and unless he can bargain"
and barter" so that he can be as
sured Of help in the form Of physical
assistance, and help In the form OF
financial assistance to buy seed, fertil-
izer and labor-saving tools, and help in
the form Of assurance that he shall Sc
cure prices that will enable him to pay
for such labor, to pay for the seed and
fertilizer to pay for the tools and the
feed for the teams, then he must con-
fine himself to his individual endeavor
which, have reason to think, IS all
that Mr.. Hight Is doing.
Most farmers have many more acres
than they can cultivate and very many
Of them would gladly give the use of
these acres to any of their advisers
and drivers. Or they would be will
ing to take up and cultivate much
more than they can do alone. IF
THEY CAN BE ASSURED OF REAL
HELP IN THE FORM OF LABOR.
Mr.. Hight oracularly and in COM
placent Willingness for the other fell
low to squan6er his all without even
asking to be protected from speculat-
ors or other sharks, advises farmers to
go ahead and do more than their
judgment and experience tells them IS
wise, and eff you find yourself in debt
next fall, that is for the cause Of lib
erty. Is 1t too great? 1t is not so
great as that Of his poor neighbours boy.
who may give up his life -"
am reminded Of Artemus Wards
famous offer Of certain Of his relatives
as recruits for the Civil war.
Such magnanimity is good to con-
template, but the class of farmers for
whom I have most earnestly appealed
land it Is a numerous one) is made up
ofa the fathers and mothers OF sons
who have been first to volunteer for
the trenches; of fathers and mothers
who are left in their failing strength
and doubly sick at heart, with scores
Of broad acres which that weakness
will not permit them to cultivate;
fathers and mothers who are AL
READY in debt far beyond any hope Of
redemption; fathers and mothers whose
farm mortgage has prevented them