Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1918-06-19
THE FARMERS SIDE OF 1T


transportation - all fail withou
the farmer. To him has come the
supreme opportunity and test
Slow. perhaps, at times, to sense
an emergency, he is the same pat
riot as found in other industries
The farmer of today is just as true
and just as loyal as the man of pro,
fesSion, business or manufacture
His work and surroundings away
from the center of activity, has
made his interest appear less keen
Different from big business and
the great industries, he has not
been in touch nor taken part in
National Councils. He has no great
representation in Conferences on
war plans and preparation. There
fore his problems have not been
discussed by experts. Business and
Industry have been called to send
their strongest men, thereby secur-
ing sane consideration. The Farm
er, whose problems are just as
serious and just as complicated,
has been left out of the discussion.
Prices of his products are decided
by those unacQuainted with condi-
tons. The manufacturer presents
his problem and secures cost plus
fixed profit and usually gener-
Gus profit. If Labor and materials
advance, the Government pays
and rightfully so. But the Farm
er is not in touch with the Confer
ence of Price Fixing. He has no
representation and suffers accord
ingly. His problems have not the
sympathy they deserve because
they are not understood. Those
directing prices and to whom the
farmer must rely for cooperation
are doing their best. But that does
not make it any easier for the
farmer, whose life is one of worry.
uncertainty and encouragement,
complicated by lack of labor. The
express company fails to deliver
parts for his implements. Rail-
roads keep him waiting, sometimes
months. for his feed and fertilizer.
When he spends all available
money in seeds, fertilizer and labor
this Spring. he is not sure of labor
TO harvest il in the Fall. and alb
solutely uncertain as to prices that
will be paid him and tranSporta-
ton facilities"
A recent issue of the Washing
ton Times discussing the Farmer
says wisely:
Consider these figures as they
affect the farmer. Bear i'm mind
that agricultural machinery wears
out more rapidly than any other
tool.
That Il hay rake used to cost S25.
Ii now costs S55 TO 500
4 harvester that cost S160 be-
fore the war now costs $500.
4 gang pillow now costs $40 that
used To cost SIS.
A Seeder formerly cost SIPS. now
$40.
The farmer must buy his har-
ness. Ii is made chiefly of leather.
For the leather sold by the farmer
he gets 10 cents pound. Eight
dollars worth of hide is in a har-
ness weighing eighty pounds. al
lowing nothing for the weight of
metal.
The metal costs certainly no
more than the leather. Industry
gives the farmer S. for the .
animals hide. and charges him
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for an
eighty-pound harness. Eight dol
lars for material. 500 for labor and
profit, and the labor Is all machine
labor.
Corn aid barley. easier to raise .
than wheat, producing more 10 the
acre, sell for as much as wheat.
How can YOU urge the farmer to
raise the wheat that the army
needs if You hold him down To the
minimum and fail TO regulate the
prices that he must pay?
The farmer is willing. 10 be
treated Is others are: he asks no
special faVorS.
The odds are against him. his
work is infinitely more uncertain
and risky than that of others, Just
as il is infinitely more important"
Net. IN spite of all these odds.
the American farmer IS planting
MS largest acreage and with favor
able weather conditions will rro-
Guce his largest crops. He is &C.
cepttng the reSpon$ hil.tv and
standing the test. He is honorsng
trUN the t;gle-The American
Farmer and proving his patriotism,
n ? very practical way. II be