American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-01

IN amt got no chance in this
La DANCED country. If l had
- enough money to move on
I'd 80 to Oklahomy.''
Tom Weston thus delivered himself
after taking his year crop Of cotton
TO town. When he finished settling
up for the twelve months advances
of provisions, clothing. fertilizer and
feed for his two scrawny horses, with
10 per cent interest on the whole
amount, in addition to the three bales
81 cotton as rent he had to pay for
the dilapidated farm he occupied. he
was still in debt.
Tom Weston had never owned "a foot
Of land. and he was forty-six years old.
His father had never owned a foot of
land and died in debt at the end of a
long life, the scant proceeds Of his mis-
directed labors going always to others.
Joe Weston. fourteen years old. had
the same unhappy prospect stretching
down the years for him-a slave in the
chains Of circumstance. and nothing
but toll. always for others. For his
portion. existence and the privilege of
toiling
Joe had come to town with his ia
Their on settling day. He hoped that
when Mr. Weston finished with the
Somerville Mercantile company. or the
company finished with him. there
would be money enough for a pair Of
cal store trousers and a new hat and
a pair Of stout boots with bright cop
nor harAT- -, H., So. r. e.. ----
o Joe had worked in the fields with
his father. and Mr.. Weston had prom
ised him the shoes and HAT and clothes
rims year for helping.
In the spring Joe dropped the cotton
seed in the furrOw. When it came up
he handled a hoe and helped chop
out the surplus plants. Then came
on the bitter fight with weeds and crab
grass to give the little cotton stalks "A
start. The last year Joe had beer
given a light plow. and he plowed the
cotton Then. along in the middle Of
September, he and his mother and lit
tie sister Nell helped pick ii.
After all the cotton had been picked.
ginned and sold Joe was allowed to 90
to school. from November until the last
OF February. for in March the plows
were started to going again
Why don't you diversity "a bit. Mr.
Weston inquired John ,SOmerville
kindly. You'd be better of If you did
Instead Of planting ali cotton. why not
try some oats and corn. an acre or 50
OF yam potatoes. raise a couple Of pigs
for meat. put in a good garden and cut
your expenses DOWN."
Then il was that MIR. Weston made
the remark about moving to Oklaho
ma. A shade of Impotence hitted over
Mr.. SOmerville's face.
You're lead wrong there. Tom.
There's more in the man than there is
in the land. The trouble is with you.
Tom. not the country OF the land. You
are just too lazy TO learn improved
methods. and YOU are no different in
that respect from thousands Of other
farmers in this country. You won't
learn anything"
"Y-a-a-s. I've hearn a heap about this
here book farmin'. but / amt never
seen nobody gettin' rich at it."
Nobody around here has had sense
enough TO try it," retorted the mer
chant
If we don't know nothin' about il.
how we goin' 10 start?'' inquired ives
ton. thinking he had MT. Somerville.
There's an agent of the United
States department Of agriculture and
the state commissioner of agriculture
over at the courthouse right now for
the purpose of comforting with you
farmers of this county III bet there
are 80 farmers In town today, and not
twenty-five will have interest enough
20 20 and listen to these gentlemen
"Aw. shucks. What does a little dOod
from Wash'n'ton or up TO the capital
know about farmin'? I've done forgot
more than they'll ever know"