The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1917-11-01
A Task For a Solomon

InerS may De more Interesting
problem than that Of the farmer al d
the price oiflrm products, but it would
be hard to find. Yesterday two letters
came TO this offiee presuming TO throw
light on the matter, one taking the side
OF the iasmer and the other the oppo
site. Both were unsigned and The
Globe does not print anonymous let
tets, but extracts Of these are worth
reading. One writer says:
II saw your objections to A Farmer
He was telling the truth and you know
it is the truth. As 10 the farmer taking
up some other business, they are doing
that very thing fast enough. No, there
is not one half the wheat sowed in this
country there was last year. will
send you a paper Read it and then
give US some more dope"
A clipping was enclosed Of recent
article by Gov. Arthur Capper Of Kan
sas, in which he argues the farmers
side Of the question in his own able
way. For one thing, he says that the
average wage Of the work hand is only
$1.35 a day, while skilled mechanic
gets IS day or better. He also OBJ
serves that while we have regulated the
farmer, we have not regulated the price
Of iron and steel, nor have we regulated
their enormously wealthy profteers.
The other letter reads, in part:
In 1914 a 250-pound hog could be
traded for $3.50 shingles, and in 1917
he could be traded for 9,500 shingles.
Ten bushels OF corn in 1914 equalled
the value Of 179 feet OF barn boards,
and now it is worth 3S6 feet Of barn
boards.
A SIS cultivator could be bought in
1914, before the rapid advance in the
price Of wheat, for 100 bushels. Add
100 per cent increase in value on the
same cultivator and the poor farmer
would have TO separate himself from
sixty-eight bushels Of the precious stuff
now.
True, he has to buy sugar and some
other things, but four dozsn eggs would
buy 16 pounds Of sugar in 1914, and
they will buy from l6 10 Is pounds oI
sugar today. In 1914 his twelve
pounds OF butter at 27 IL cents pei
would buy a S3.25 pair ol rubber boot:
but now all he can get for them is the
same boots at 81 Is and three pairs o
good sox and frst-class work shirt.
Then he leaves the farmers for {
minute and proclaims the problem o
the city man, to'wi':
And mind you, the city man carrie
the greater burden Of fixing up goot
roads. The government is rushing car
here and everywhere 10 carry the farm
er's produce so it won't rot, while ou
city coal dealers will soon have 10 clos
their doors because they can't get Coz
to sell.
I'VE are paying half again as muc
rent as We were in 1914 and twice a
much for gas, and more money for te
ephoue service with poorer service, an
we are paying twice, yes thrice, {
much fer the farmyrs' wheat and man
other farm products.
If he wants any Of our easy 9 h1uI
day jobs,' second the motion foi hi
to come in and get his SIS per wee
aud venture to remark that ere II
robins call again he will be wishing !
was on the dear old farm"
PROFESSIONALLY, able farmers c.
pick flws 10 the borlc Of this arg
ment, but the CITY man can come rig
back and shoot the aole farmers disp
tations full Of holes. 1t would tai
the wisdom Of Solomon to decide i
matter, and even that famous umpi
would very likely shy at the task.
Joplin Globe.