The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-11

We would not care to put it quite in The Times
jaunty way, but would rather express the hope
that Mr.. Ford's good judgment of his own quail
fications would lead him to serve his country
where he can do it Minneapolis Tribune.
HARMONY BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTRY
The following significant opinion is expressed
by our esteemed contemporary, the Orange Judd
Farmer: a.,...
"This season is going to be great step toward
tving together the sentiment and understanding
Of city and country The thousands of city and
town boys who are at work in the country this
wear will go back to their homes with different
ideas and more sympathetic understanding Of
farm conditions.
"The war gardens in the city, of which there
are in the aggregate many hundreds of acres, will
contribute somewhat toward the same end. Chill
dren who have never been interested in plants
before take an active part in the cultivation OF
vegetable crops, and although the actual amount
of food produced is small, the sentimental result
is considerable. Perhaps after a few years OF
such work it will not be so difficult to settle mat
tiers of price arbitration between city and coun
try" -:,@ l%> #.@
We cannot think of more fortunate portent
than this Nothing could be more costly to this
country than division between town and country.
Yet it is undeniable there has often been want
of mutual sympathy and understanding which in
some cases has been artifcially stimulated, but
which cannot continue if there is an Intelligent
realization on both sides of our interdependence
in all things. If one side has been more to blame
than the other, it is the city. If one side has
given more than the other, it is the country. The
city draws constantly from the country not only
its necessities of life but its recruits of vigorous
manhood. Co. to any gathering Of leading men in
any part of the nation and you will find if you
inquire that most of them were from the farm.
It is commonplace of our history, and we de-
voutly pray it may always be so. It is true the
cities give much to the country, economically and
culturally, but the balance after all is against US.
f Chicago especially ought to appreciate the coun-
try She is the capital of the greatest agricultural
region in the world She draws her lifeblood from!
the farms of this great region, one Of the most
fortunate on the globe. She draws her health and
her greatness from this vast midcontinental do
main and its population of free, intelligent, and
aspiring Americans. Chicago ought never to for
get the country. Chicago above all other cities
should honor the farmers calling and give her
influence unswervngly to its support and advance
men. When our politicians fail in this they mis-
represent and betray US well as the country, and
we should see that they understand it.
Sometimes there seems to be an opposition OF
interests It is superficial and mistaken OPPOSE
ton. Our interests must always be harmonious at
bottom, for we, are essentially interdependent.
Agricultural prosperity, the we'll being and con-
tent of the farmer and his family, directly our
own concern When shortsighted men insist up
on consumers rights and interests as exclusively
as they have during recent controversies, such as
the milk price discussion, it is for to realize
that there can be no consumption without pro-
duction and that any sound policy must constant
lily found it self on liberal fostering Of productive
energy Within the just limits which can always
be maintained if there an intelligent and friend
ly relation between town and country, there will
be no oppression by the producer Of the consumer
and there will not be unreasonable demands by
the consumer upon the producer.
Our contemporary puts its finger on the key to
better relations 1t is better acquaintance. And
it ought to be fixed and deliberate policy on both
sides to foster this better acquaintance out ::of
which will most certainly come harmony and mu-
tual help. s
It would be good plan for the proper agencies
to establish two great meetings every year, one
in Chicago as representative of the Cities and one
in some such place as the state fair grounds, where
the city and country folks could meet and get &C
quainted. We have long had the state fair, it is
true, but there has been too much inclination in
the city to look upon it as political rally. Chi
cago clubs and organizations ought to arrange ex-
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