The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-11-14
BY CHARLES A. LAYMAN
Secretary of the National Board of Farm Organizations

Since. last year thu farmers III Amer
icn have been affected hy regulatory
mowers vested in tn" National fp"d 'NH-
ministration On this body nave S'i'
tn" leaders and representatives OF SUM
Of the greatest Industrial ana Col''I''''
rlal interests OF the nation. lach'i
millrrs manufacturers. professors ue'''-
ny. and vendors Of foods and feeds have
hrrn called 10 Washington frequently I"
determine policies affecting the i!i'th
rial conditions Of every farmer IN 1'|
United States The same thing ~ true
of the War Industries Board. the fuei
Administration and other governmental
agencies.
The past year has called for the paIri-
q; and found him fighting on land ana
sen and in tho air and Enthusiastically on
the war boards Tho national danger
has stirred mems noblcr impulses with
few exceptions. tho representatives OF
business who have sat on the war
BOARDS have sought to protect the pup
lie interests they undcrStood 'ht
moaning Of the term.
Few if any farmers have been asked
Ia become members Of these boards.
There arr n number Of m"n in the Foou
Administration who own fine farms. lut
, ownership of land does not mako Guy
man 4 farmer. His business connections
and instincts throw him into sy1mpnthrt-
ic associations with tn" urban trend OF
} thought whenever ii conflicts with that
Of the farmer.
The farmers part in determining pol
| tccs has been largely negative. y small
handful of wealthy and influential
farmers have been called into conSulta-
! ton Mt Washington from time IT, time.
Several leaders Of farm organizations,
| among them members of the National
! Board Of Farm Organizations. are con-
. suited in times Of emergency. Tho Jon
| of the National Food Administration has
| been to get sufficient food at tho low
| est cost 10 tho nOn-produccrS OF food
| Mt home and abroad. Farmers believe
! they arc entitled To what is fair and
| rghtfull theirs. They are still asking
! that they be assured the cost OF pro-
| duction for wheat. live stock. milk ma
| other products. Whatever concessions
| have been made To the farmers have
| been made slowly, reluctantly, of ne
! crsSity. and from wear that the 1000
program would fall down.
Military necessity alone justified
such policy. in the carrying out or
which captains Of industry have direct
! ~ or indirectly had a hand. Working
! periodically for a dollar Il year on the
! government boards. some Of these peo-
! pie have secured an insight into trad"
/ conditions and human psychology which
! at the close Of the war may b" caPi-
taixcL for countless millions by the In
| tercsts they represent
| The farmers Of America should know
and consider these facts ana be ready
! to protect themselves. Euh'dy else
vii! do It for them half 40 well. There
Is talk Of continuing these boards after
/ the war. Then patriotism Will not be
!: so strong 2 motiv" in mems hearts. Far'
J m"rs are not wholly unSelfiSh, They
| arc but human Rut the structure OF
! their plan for Co-opcrativc business IS
sound and democratic. II is based on
the principle Of self-hcln through mutual
help" 1t is 4 more Rltruistic conccp7
! ton than that Of tho modern business
world. and as ono Of the builders OF true
! democracy it's voice should be heard IN
| the reconstruction.