Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-18

~. the Farmer q Prosit.er 2"

The farmer has come in for his
share of condemnation for prohteer-
ing. When potatoes for which the
farmer was few years ago glad to
get 81, sell for 81, and other products
in proportion. there is an assumption
that the farmer is getting rich.
The farmers of New York State
have had. hard time of it for
great many years. 1t does not re-
quire statistics to prove it. 1t needs
only the acquaintance with the
country. side which one may get from
an automobile ride. For the past
few years farming has been profit
able. but it has not become so profit
able that men in other industries
have locked to the farm to better
their condition.
Tho farmer. like every other bust
ness man has been, compelled to pay
more for all that has gone into his
business-more for seed, more for
feed. for fertilizer. for farm machin-
cry. for labor. At present prices of
farm products he is making a fair
profit, in a few cases a large profit,
upon his produce. but there is the
best Of evidence that the prices he
gets are not fictitious. He has no
community Of interest with other
producers to keep prices up. He has
no union through which to bargain
collectively. He has no monopoly
upon the SOIL. While houses In the
city have increased from 50 to 100 per
cent in value. good farms may still
be secured throughout Central New
York at prices that cover little more
than the cost Of the buildings upon
them. While the farmer, in order to
plant and harvest his $2.25 wheat
and - potatoes. offers high prices
for labor. he is unable to get 1t.
II farming today is profiteering it is
the only prodteering enterprise in
which a man with small capital Is at
liberty to engage upon equal terms
with his competitor.-Syracus Post
Standard.
At last we have evidence that daily
newspaper heads are discovering a
few OF the facts in their rural fields.
That tendency is in the right direc-
ton. BY and by a capitalist will
fully awaken to the possibilities Of
an agricultural daily newspaper. A
paper that is first an honest-to-good-
ness newspaper and then carrying
editorially. daily. the gospel Of
progress based on the fundamental
enterprise Of tilling the soil. e..
When the farmer 10 prosperous
everybody else is prosperous. but
business" cannot long survive when
the present generation Of old farm
ers dies OF and new Drawn fails to
take their places at the plow and
''old cows tail" Tha: is a true as
sumption in New England and no,
yet withal the prosperity which our
neishbor sees in the farming game
is there sufficient attraction to induce
young men to enter agriculture a
they ought-and must. sooner OF
later.
Everything is against it-hours OF
labor, pay. schooling advantages
amusements. family discomfort. in
farm groups who constantly are led
to contrast their lot with that Of the
city jewellers. Can you blame any
body that the average age Of Names
farm workers is over 50 years and
constantly tending In the wrong di-
rection:
Business men and financial insti-
tutions hold the key. They can make
up the link If they will. at any
time they are ready to abandon the
game Of farming the farmer, that
will lead new blood and brains and
muscle into farming.
At lunch on Thursday a farmer in
town for the day, said:
Il have two sons Chat I need at
home) in the shipyards at Bath.
They earn more in a week than I
could pay them for a month";"
What is the answer? = .,-.