Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-08

49, ANtot q mum Il Ii ttAhil W lah~
Dor or 10 quit his employment.
However, neither labor nor capital
should at any time or in any cir
cumstances, take action that would
put In jeopardy the public welfare
We need a definite and precise
statement of policy as TO what
business men and workingmen may
do and may not do by way of com
bination and collective action. The
law is now so nebulous that it all
most turns upon the economic pre-
delictions of the judge or jury
This does not make for confidence
in the courts nor respect for the
laws, nor for a healthy activity in
production and distribution. There
surely will be found ways by which
cooperation may be encouraged
without the destruction of enter
prise. The rules of business should
be made more certain so that on a
stable basis men may move with
confidence,
Government, however, should
provide the means in the treatment
of its employees. to keep in touch
with conditions and to rectify
wrong. 1t is needless to say that
in order to be consistent, facts
should at all times justify the pre-
supposition that the government
employees are properly compensat-
ed.
Child Life.
TheN child life of the nation
should be conserved; if labor in i'm
mature years is permitted by one
generation, it is practicing unfair
ness to the next.
Agriculture.
/ Agriculture is but another form
of industry. In fact it is the basis
of industry because upon it de-
ponds the food supply. The drift
from countryside into the city,
our growth in manufacturing in
the next few years holds its pres
ent momentum, it will be neces-
sary for America to import food
stuffs. 1t therefore devolves upon
government through intensive
scientific cooperation to help in
maintaining as nearly as possible
the existing balance between food
production and consumption.
Farming will not inspire individ-
ual effort unless profits, all things
considered, are equal to those IN
other activities. An additional
check to depleted ranks in the
fields would be the establishment
of modern state rural school
codes The federal government
should maintain active sponsor
ship of this. Rural parents would
be lacking in the element which
makes civilization enduring if
they did not desire for their chill
dren educational opportunities
comparable to those in the cities.
The price the consumer pays for
foodstuffs is no indication Of
what the producer receives. There
are too many turn-oVers between
the two Society and govern
ment, particularly local and state,
have been remiss in not modern
izing local marketing facilities.
measure interest themselves in, if
not directly control community
markets. This is a matter CT
such importance that the federal
government can profitably eXpend
money and effort in helping to
evolve methods and to show their
virtues. The farmer raises his
crop and the price which he re-
ceives is determined by supply
and demand. His products in beef
and pork and produce, pass into
cold storage and ordinarily when
they reach the consumer the law
of supply and demand does not
obtain. The preservation OF food
stuffs by cold storage is boon to
humanity, and it should be en-
couraged. However, the time has
come for it's vigilant regulation and
inasmuch as it becomes part of
interstate commerce, the RESPONSE
bility is with the federal govern
ment Supplies are gathered in
from the farm in times of plenty.
They can easily be fed out to the
consumer in such manner as to
keep the demand in excess of that
part of the supply which is re-
leased from storage. This is IN
unfair practice and should be stop
ped. Besides, there should be
time limit beyond which perisha-
BILE foodstuffs should not be
stored. G.NtlN SubttCSlbi ilNNNi -
business enterprise has its pur-
chasing, producing and selling de-
partments. The farmer has main
tanned only one, the producing de-
partment. 1t is not only fair that
he be enabled both to purchase and
to sell advantageously, but 1t is alb
solutely necessary because he has
become q competitor with the man
ufacturer for labor. He has been
unable to compete in the past ana
his helm in consequence has been
insufficient. Therefore the right
of cooperative purchasing ana
selling in the modern view, should
be removed from all question. Az
ricultural thought has not been
sufficiently represented in affairs
of government. Many of the
branches of the government which
deal remotely or directly with the
soil and its problems and its posi-
bilities would be more valuable TO
the general welfare If the practical
experience of the farmer were an
element of their administration. To
be specific, the interstate COM
merce commission, the federal re-
serve board, the federal trade com
mission and the United States tar
iff commission are administered by
business men. Does anyone con-
tribute more to the making and
success of railroads than the farm
er or to the creation and prosper
ity of the banks. or to the stability
of manufacturing and trade units
or to the agencies interested in eX-
porting?
Our objective should be de-
creased tenantry, With the, period
of occupancy uncertain. the renter
strips land of its fertile elements,
and each year diminishes our ma
tional assets. Under the operation
Of the federal reserve and the farm
loan acts, encouragement has come
to thousands who find that indus
try, character and intelligence are
a golden security to the peoples
n l.. ~