Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-20

great political parties are 10 tio4u .
national convention TINS SUNNI
nominate candidates for Presioeli''
We are wondering out OF the l"ei'e
million farmers IN this COUNTY ~"
many farmer delegates tnefe VIII 20
at these conventions.
What the farmer needs?
IF this question should be put 10
the city man he would probably say.
more production, cheaper food. or
yanizarion." Ask the same question
tn ,he farmer and ne viii have dn--
ferent answer. He will probably say
frs, Of all he wants better education
NJ ooporYunities FOR his children. he
will saw that his income is Inadequate
10 enable him 10 maintain the sarnc
state Of living as that LroVloe
through other occupations II ne
should attempt to pay the minimum
wage of Mt. Ford or of the labor I1n-
ions with an eight hour day ana
time and a half for over time. now
recognized by the Federal govern
ment, he would either lose his farm or
X
lie committee on the necessities OF
life in one Of our large cities refused
the dairy farmer 80 cents an hour fo;-
himself bur permitted the plumber IT
the city to charge 50 cents an hour
with 50 cents an hour for boy help
ar. Mr.. Adams mentioned conditions
that discourage tho market especially
of pigs and cattle which are actually
needed in normal consumption. It :
not strange that next springs pig
crop does not promise to be nearly I'D
20 the average. Manufacturers tell
us that Notwithstanding some raw
material is cheaper. hey cannot
make any reduction in prices. be-
ca,,se the raw material used in
manufacturing these goods was pur-
chased at war prices. The pigs that
the boys and girls clubs have been
raising this past summer were fed on
nigh priced corn. The result of this
sudden knocking down Of prices viii
be that many a boy and girl IN these
clubs fed their pigs at loss Not
much encouragement for the pig
clubs next year.
The result of this knocking down Of
prices when economic conditions will
not warrant il means decreased pro-
ducfion and higher prices for the fu-
ture. However, this is no time for
the farmer TO lie down even e he IS
misunderstood and sometimes classej
as profiteerer.
The world is in an ugly temper
lust now and perhaps it in not alb
soiutear responsible for what II does.
We CONSIDER II almost - necessary
and Just az much the duty Of patrio-
tic citizens Of t,1is country to speed
up ana manufacture goods and pro-
duce food Al it w1s during the war.
No, we farmers are not going To lie
down. With the things that we ara
tfssns by organized efforts. bringins
about a more ec0nofnic method Of
distributing and marketing of farm
products to <hs oeneflt Of both the
consumer and the producer. the far
mer can afford to be patient for.
whatever happens to the rest of the
world. he in sure Of ttree meals
day and q good bed at night. fun
damental luxury. The farmer Will
continue to be as he has been IN the
past. patient and long suffering, and
above all things true patriotic
American citizen. which is as ueces-
sary in time Of peace as IN war. but
along with all his patience there IS
one thing that makes him sea red
when hs fisars someone spreading the
Of Russian DolsheviEsn.
The world has not, yet recovered
from the war shock. Agriculture n
Europe is denoraIixed-an II will take
years to restore II. In the meantime
it is up to the American farmers to
help feed the world. We are sorry
to say that some industries had
rather strike than work. which in not
the kind of medicine that q sick
world needs. Tns farmers will have
to undefw14te the aituatton q ne has
done before and 80 socieay out Of its
tantrTlm. He only asks in return a
square deal. He does not want To
be coddled. He wants q fAir wagp
for his labor. fair representation on
that have to do with