Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-08-29
THE ROOT
OF NATIONS WELL-BEING
Washington, d. c.,
August 6, 1919.

August 8, 1919.
The well-being of people is like
a tree; agriculture is its root, manu-
facture and commerce are its
branches and its life; If the root is
injured the leaves fall, the branches
break away, and the tree dies "a
profound truth delivered long ago by
3 Chinese philosopher, according to
Jules Meline, former Minister of Ag-
riculture in France. 1t is a thought
that the Secretary of Agriculture,
who ought to be the farmers spokes-
man, might bring home to the Amer
lean public, COR there is crisis loom
ms up which endangers the happi-
ness and prosperity of all the people
Of this nation unless they are made
to realize that agriculture is the
root of national well-being.
Big matters are on foot here at
Washington. The high cost of living
is being investigated. Everyone has
the cause and a remedy. The city
press is carrying q most dangerous
propaganda to show that the govern
ment price on wheat is responsible in
large measure for food costs. Farm
erG know that in an open market
wheat would go higher than it now
is The President Is having daily
conferences With his cabinet Ber-
nard Baruch and julius Barnes are
included in the high council. The
high cost of living is their daily
topic. Somebody has suggested put
ting in a hurry call for Herbert
Hoover. Committees in congress
are investigating high cost of living
representatives Of the National
Beard of Farm Organizations, the
National Grange, end other organi-
cations have appeared with evidence
to show that farmers are not respon-
siblc for the high cost of living. Or
ganized labor is determined to place
the responsibility and, with great
strikes impending, are telling Presi-
dent Wilson and congress that or
ganized labor will no longer tolerate
present conditions. Organized labor
has endorsed the Plum plan for gov
ornment ownership of tho railroads.
In conference yesterday with repre-
sentatiyes of organized labor, the
secretary Of tho National Board of
Farm Organizations was asked TO
submit this plan to the farm leaders
anG was informed that a fund of one
million dollars i cd been raised TO
put it through congress. The pack
ers tell us that they d. their bust
ness@on a fraction of cent a pound
for meat, The doltr year men
tell us of their gelf-sacrifice during
the war and of the curtailment Of
their profits, American potash
manufacturers are fighting for the
retention of the embargo on German
potash and asking for the passage of
the Fordney bill. Testimony at the
hearing of the War Trade Board last
Thursday shows that farmers can re-
duce their farming costs materially
with the embargo removed, but the
potash manufacturers would make
the public believe that the Germans
are behind the farmers efforts to re-
move the embargo. The National
Fertilizer association, with head
quarters in the Woodward building,
is opposing bill in congress to regu-
late the sale and shipment of fertil-
izers and ere opposing direct pur-
chase by farmers in their efforts to
lower costs. Congress has passed the
repeal Of the daylight savings act but
the Presidents veto is daily expect-
ed. These are but a few of the mat
ters of interest which concern the
farmers. Where is the Jules Meline
for American agriculture? Where
is the man who can sound the warn
Ing to the whole nation to make peo-
pie wake up before it is too late tc
realize the injury being done to agri-
culture by those who selfishly or
thoughtlessly pursue their courses