Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-22
THE IOWA FARMER

THE IOWA FARMER
Without doubt there is merit in tht
pleas which have been made by farm
ers for action by the government
which will encourage the growing o.
large crops this year and insure prop
er income in return for them. The
prices Of machinery, seeds, clothine
and other things farmers must buy
have increased recently. lust as have
the cost Of things the urban dweller1
i must buy.
The biggest phase OF the farmers
problem is one of obtaining credit and
there is every reason to believe tina,
the government will arrange for thai.
There is a prospect for solution OF the
labor problem also. if the commissions
which the government has created
work intelligently In European coun.
tries. where the draft Of men for
military service has been so much
greater than in America, the labor
problem has been much more serious
but it has been handled successfully
and there is reason to believe that i
will be handled successfully here with
even less difficulty.
1t is important that the idea OF
paternalism be rot allowed to gain ton
much of hold on the American mini.
Not only agriculturists but business
men in many other lines have shown
. noticeable readiness to carry their
troubles to the government for soll-
ton when they might be devoting their
energies m finding their own way out
q their difficulties This cannot apply
TO the appeal for cars to move STOCK
and grains. for instance. but it should
argue against the plea which has been
made in Washington for dispersal
ton by the government permitting
farmers to obtain machinery. fertiliz-
err feed, seeds. and other necessary
supplies at actual cost.
The owner of any well managed
farm In a settled country can COM
mand sufficient credit to enable him
I to plant and mature big crops this
Y year without the assistance of legisla-
ton which would. compel manufacture
ers and dealers to sell him his supplies
without profit. The government
should guard him against unjust
profits. to be sure, but it cannot be en-
pected to AK prices for his products
which will give him a profit and. a.
the same time, prevent manufacturers
and dealers from realizing fair
profit on the things they sell the
farmer.
It is noticeable that the Iowa farm
ers who have presented their requests
did not join in the demand that they
be permitted to buy at cost and sell
at a profit They are willing to take
their business chance as they always
have done II they can be assured OF
facilities for moving their products to
the market when the time for selling
arrives. The Iowa farmer is a business
man He has zone of the prejudices
against the city and its business men
which the Nonrartisan league and its
socialistic agitators are endeavoring
to spread stealthily in their present
campaign. The, Iowa farmer has
learned the benefits Of cooperation
with the urban business man and the
interests of the two have become so
interlocked that in every town IN
Iowa some OF the most important mer-
camille and financial institutions are
capitalized in whole or in part o.
farmers living in the tributary agricu!-
tural districts.
The farming business is the bigges,
BUSINESS in Iowa. The millions in
vested in it have been made in Iowa
agriculture 1t is self-supporting and
more. Last year 1t proved its grea.
value to the nation and the cause for
which we have gone to war; this year
Il will more than duplicate the record
OF 1917. 1t must receive from the gov.
eminent the proper transportation
and marketing facilities; It will be
given the proper credit which bus.-
ness Judgment would dictate at any
time: II must be assisted to obtain
labor for the care and harvesting OF
crops. Further than these, the farm
ing business in Iowa may be depended
upon to take care OF itself this year
and to register 100 per cent loyal.
In some OF the newer sections of
the country. doubtless the argument
IL on the side OF the farmers who de-
mand broftless prices for supplies or
large government loans. But this is
not the case where farming is a busi-
ness rather than an experiment.
An. Iowa farmer writing to a Des
Moines newspaper from Lohrville in
jects q note of optimism into the sit
uation which is being discussed from
20 many angles just now. in letter
from which the following paragraphs
are extracts:
owe 500. have sold oats
right here in Lohrville for II
cents Misunderstanding 900
bushels and then some to pay
that debt Now 125 bushels OF
oats delivered at elevator here
will pay the debt, wipe the slate
clean, ready for an new start.
Again have sold hogs. also
right here. for So per hundred
weight. requiring thrity-three hun
dredweight, or fifteen pretty fair
hogs to pay that debt. Last week
my neighbor hauled four hogs to
town, any two of which would
have paid that debt and left
money enough to go to the Cad
dock wrestIe.
Once more, have sold as good