Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-29
Saturday, March %. 1919
What Shall the Harvest Be?

GfSlTne Oh DcInoCIdllC Jul couSidCJ'
Two or three other states are con-
sldering the same folly Of voting state
bureau over q no-fund period until
congress can provide fol mainte-
nance"-;f Congress SO decides.
And if Congress, as is very reason
ably likely to be the case. decides
NOT TO dump any more money into
the Democratic patronage rat-hole,
then the state funds contributed are
a dead loss and would better have
been expended on third class" high
ways.
Other states have looked into the
support the labor bureau propaganda
and have fatty refused to enter the
Democratic game of class favoritism.
Not only that but it is not at all un-
likely that before Congress completes
the investigation of the manner in
which appropriations have been ex
pended, and false reports of service
circulated, there will be an inquiry
into the expenditures of the seven or
eight million dollars fund placed at
the disposal of the so-calIed United
States Employment Service.
A detailed history of this tre-
mendous political machine builded
out of war service" political op-
portunity, is an amazing exposition
Of the manner in which a partisan
administration has improved every
moment of the present for political
uses in the future.
Ultimately this nation must pay
and pay dearly, for the class dis
elimination perpetrated by the
Democratic party. Sowing the seeds
of favoritism. that party has pre-
pared the nation for harvest of re-
sentiment discord and retaliation.
While the direct responsibility is that
VI tIlt beIloCIdtio party. 'He III
direct responsibility rests upon the
country which trusted that party
with power, and the results must be
suffered by the country as a whole.
The Manufacturers Record re-
Gently published one OF the un-
mistakable evidences of growing re-
sentiment in the letter Of stock
growing farmer. in part:
why is the farmer just now urged
to greater production and asked to
work harder? To make more food,
thus making the results Of his labor
sell for less. The mechanic must
have shorter hours to give him more
leisure for pleasures. The farmer is
asked to speed up, working ~ to IA
hours out Of the ~. What about
the farmers leisure and pleasure,
with his wife in the kitchen working
for farm hands? Will the general
farmer have to say, = will raise home
supplies only. for one season. before
the non producing and consuming
world will recognize the position Of
the farmer? Let the highly paid
builders, railroad men and teIsa.
raphers get little hungry and think
more Of meat and bread than they do
Of going to the movies and other
forms Of amusement"
And the editor Of the Manufac-
turer's Record promptly recognizes
the appropriateness of the farmers
complaint. To the agriculturist' S
comment the editor adds this: How
far can the present condition con-
tinue. with the farmer learning that
the more he produces the lower the
price at which he sells, while at the
same time he sees the mechanic
seeking to cut his hours down to
eight or six day. and still demand
ing an ever-increasing wage, is a
vital question. Farmers have
never had a fair share. Farmers
and farmers wives have had to work
long hours. enduring many hard :
ships almost unknown to city dwell
ers. But the people of the cities
have looked upon it as their duty ia
beat the farmer down to low prices
\ for his product and for his labor
For several years the present .ad-
NApistration has lost no opportunity
to- Wy into the hands Of labor union
leaders an has almost disregarded
the rights a I'd interests Of the agri-
cultural producer. 1t is true that the
wheat growerx will get a price TO,
their 1919 crop higher perhaps. Their
the open market price, but that i.
due to the UNEXPECTED termination Of
the war and not to any willingness
on the part Of the administration tc
assure the farmer a profit on his long
hours Of labor. The price of the 1911:
wheat crop will not counterbalance
the reduced price the farmer wal
compelled to take in 1917-1s. In al
most every important particular. the
administration has ignored the in.
terests of the farmer while promot
ing the interests OF the city laborer
The resultant injustice inevitably