Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-08

short. REGARDLESS of tie conduc. Of food
The law Of supply and demand may
take care of the farmer this year in good
shape. But while trusting in heaven l
steadying hand on the tiller. II the
farmer loses money on his staple pro-
ducts this year-and he has never before
failed to lose in bumper crop season
then ge. the cyclone cellars in shape for
next year.
II is next year and the one after that
when the pinch is going to come, not IN
1917. I believe if we get food director
that il will be well for him TO keep an
ear 10 the ground as we'll as TO the pave
mert
The Boston Journal publishes several
letters Of similar tenor. from one OF
which we cut the following:
To the Editor of The Journal:
In your reply TO Mr.. Woods (Aug. p
tected than any other group.
Who protects him against early and
late frosts?
Against being drowned out one season
and dried up the next?
Against insect and blight?
How much of this boarded wheat was
in the farmers hands six months ago?
You make no distinction between the
farmer who can barely live off his farm
and the one who is in position to take ad-
vantage of the market. or the moneyed
farmer who farms for the pleasure OF II:
You say there is room for boarding in all
branches of farming.
How much boarding could the farmer
do who ploughed in his crop of string
beans Che could not recover the cost OF
picking)?
How many cans OF milk does the dairy
man hoard until prices are better?
Does the poultryman lay his hens by Ii
cold storage until the market rises, then
bring them out and say: Lay, the mar
ket is profitable?
Whose eye is on the farmer when he
takes his crop % miles or more to market
and finds no sale for 1t Cor sells at
loss)?
Would you print few thousand extra
copies OF The Journal every day and
then give them away postage included)?
We offer some Of these letters and edi-
torials from other newspapers to show
our readers that after four months the
doctrine Of the Kennebec Journal is
leavening quite lump Of the national
loaf. knowledge OF conditions existed
everywhere, but it was necessary to
breathe the breath Of life into that
knowledge
It is easy for city people who know lit
tie or nothing about conditions, to talk
and knock" for the city cultivates the
gift of CAB whereas the solitude Of the
farmers life propagates deeper thinking.
quiet acceptance OF the seeming inevi-
table. and reserve. The farmer talks lit
tie and writes little-"what is the use?"
is too common evidence Of the utter
Encouragement in the lot OF the gIeat
masses of poorer farmers, tenant farm
ers. mortgaged farmers. lonely old farm.
ers deserted by the young blood of the
home because of the city's shorter work.
ing hours. better wages. union protection
of rights" and numoerless attractions.
The gamble with the elements, pests,
which the success of his crops depends,
extortionate prices of dealers on ever".
thing he has to buy. anc a cold shoulder
when he has anything to sell or wishes to
borrow. Late frosts in the spring, early
frosts in the fall, wet seasons, drouths,
thunder storms, cyclones, hail storms,
potato bugs, cut worms. army worms,
gypsies, brown tails, cherry ugly worms,
corn worms, borers, cabbage worms,
squash bugs, and a thousand Others all
eating at the exposed securities. bank
account or very existence Of the farmer.
They eat while he must sleep and il he
turns to one in the day time another
grabs a mouthful.
attempt, and business men refuse to take
partnership in it. Can we blame them?
But we have reached a stage where
business, financial and economic experts
must take hold Of the problem Of the
farmers or themselves suffer in the ca
lamity sure to come. The crisis Is being
fastened by wars reduction Of the al
ready sadly deficient brain and muscle
, forces for cultivation Of tho soil Ex-
traordinary exertions may avert the dis
aster for time but the crash is sure to
come and we fear 1t will come with
crushing force il the farmer is made the
goat OF stupendous patriotic plant
ing Joke and his efforts once more
dumped into the greedy clutches Of spec
ulators. warehousemen. market gamblers.
and other interests now VIGOROUSLY wag-
ging the U. S. Senate tail.
The farmer may be brazenly robbed
again this year, but he will not be fooled
and then look out, for the farmer feeds
the world and he is not always to be the
George" who is wheedled into doing
It,"
Monday mornings paper told about the
people of White River Junction raising
pot toes in pens or tall stacks One does