Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-27
Editors Letter Box
Why Producing Slows Up


| would like to call your attention
and that of the readers Of the Ken
nebec Journal to an extract from =
letter written by DR.. Jacob Gouli
Schurman, president of Cornell Uni
versity. This appeared in the Rural
New Yorker, issue of June 10. That
portion of the letter quoted follows:
The war has shaken us out of our
hahitual modes of thought. The pres
ent time is therefore favorable time
for the consideration Of new projects
involving the public welfare. one of
the most inn ortant of these in our
State is, in my opinion. the closer and
easier connection tween the produc-
ers on our farms and the consumers of
their products. II the contamination
OF this scheme involves the eXpendi-
ture Of many millions OF dollars 70:
improved terminal facilities and mar
kets in New York and other cities, the
public. if properly e.lcatad would now
be willing TO authorize the expenditure
for the purpose. Even if this consum-
nation involves activities on the part
of the State which the State has not
hitherto undertaken, this is the favor
able time. at least for the consideration
of .hc matter
In the E.ropean countries the people
practicable prices But production is
also stimulated by the assurance of fair
rewards to the farmer. The difference
between the cost Of producing wheat,
for instance. and the price to the con
suner is made by the Government.
Whether we shall be forced in the end
to this policy i'll America. ! cannot say
One thing. however, is perfectly clear:
You cannot at the cost of the farmer,
keep prices low to the consumer, for
the farmer would avoid impending
bankruptcy by ceasing to produce the
things you need and turning his activ-
ties into other channels.
JACOB GOULD SCHCRMAN
1t is time our people and especially
our government began to realize that
there must be an effort made to give
the farmer square deal or We shall
be hungry in the near future. Many
Of the places Of the men drafted from
the mills and factories are being
filled by people from the farms and
no amount of Junior Volunteers or
women farmers can fill their places.
know farmers who are driving IN
TO eight miles each way every day to
work in the mills because the pay is
better than can be earned on their
farms.
A special case of unfairness came
to my attention recently. A friend
of mine living in South China told me
about the middle of May he went to
Augusta with load of cabbage that
he had stored last fall They. had
kept we'll and were good cabbage. He
found the dealers in Augusta retail
ing cabbage at 7 cents per pound and
they would pay him but 2 cents per
pound and not more He went al
over the city with the same result.
The last place he, called at was q
store where he traded for much of his
own supplies. The retail price at
this store was the same, 7 cents. ana
they would only give him cents.
Now this is 2S.6 cents for the farmer
and ia cents for the dealer and that
where there was only one middle man
to have the TIA cents and no trans
portation. In this case the farmer
said he would not take cents but
would give the cabbage away. He
started for South China and as soon
as he was we'll out of the CITY hogan
to give cabbage to everyone he met
who wanted them. When he arrived
home he still had three barrels LEFT
He telephoned to the neighbors that
he had some cabbage in the barn thai
they could have il they would carry
them away. The neighbors cleaned nm
the cabbage.
This farmer has an offer of 81 20
per day &c go to- work at Bath and
strongly thinks # selling out and
going. | told hin. after he had paid
rent and bought cal bage for his own
family at 7 cents he would not be so
very much better OF" than he was
now. He said he realized that in
money way he might rot be so very
much ahead but that he would saye
from four TO six hours Of labor each
day
| believe that If our people hot,,
farm producer and consumer. do NOT
take hold Of this question and so roo
uiate conditions that the Distribute,
of produce may be accoi nplished IL
an economical, business like marror
with a fair and equitable return "a
farm. produce. we shall pc short of
food IN the near future. J. believe we