Smyrna times., 1920-05-19
WOOD DISCUSSES
FARM PRODLEHS
Demands Greater Educational,
Social and Economic ,Advan-
tageS for Rural Sections.

Having lived as a boy in a rura! |
community and having spent a large |
part of his life in environments de-
riv.ng their welfare from agricultural |
activities, Leonard Wood possesses |
frst-hand knowledge of the problems
that confront the American farmer.
On this topic, as on all others, his
clear thinking leads to clarity of ex-
preston, and there is no reason why
any farmer in the United States
should not thoroughly understand
Woods position on the vital questions
that are involved at this time in our
agricultural enterprises. OF the farm
er and his problems, Wood says:
agriculture is the principal source
of our wealth. The farmers are the
stable, conservative element. They
stand for good government, for the
rights of property and the rights of
men. The Red Flag never flies over
a farmhouse.
"The decrease in agricultural pro-
ductiOn compared with the increase In
the population of the country and
the number of people who live and
work on the farms is disastrous and
should not continue. In other words
The food supply should never be al
lowed to fall below the country's re-
Iuirements. We ought always to be
self sustaining.
Gn1,ripor bo o,,o.,, eo,A
Of handicap, the farmers of America
rendered magnificent service in pro-
1ueing the food necessary to feed not
only the United States but very largely
our Allies. They sent their sons to
war in spite Of the shortage of labor
and by dint of increased effort they
tremendously increased this country's
output of food. Had they not done
so, it would have been impossible for
rs to have taken our part in the war
rs we did. The war would have drag
ged on and probably been lost. Now
he farmers feel that their service was
not adequately recognized.
"The farmers constitute a full third
Of our population, and the welfare of
the nation is practically bound up with
theirg. Yet the benefits of modern
civilization have not been extended
to our rural communities in any such
measure as they have a right to de-
mand.
Make Farm More Attractive.
Education for farm children should
be universally accessible. Rural
schools should be up to the standards
of city schools in every way. The
little state of Denmark, we are told,
has managed to build up a system of
rural schools that leads the world. No
doubt this explains the reason why
Denmark leads the world in agricul-
tural productivity per acre under cul-
tivation. There is no reason why we,
with our greater resources, cannot
duplicate Denmarks feat, even out
strip it. Moreover, if we are to keep
up our national progress, we must see
to it that our farming population has
comparatively equal educational, So
cial, political and economic advantages
with our urban population.
Long hours of labor, lack of proper
returns, and lack of social and intel
lectual attractions are largely respon-
sible for the constant flow of young
men and women from the farms to the
towns and cities We have done. little
or nothing to make farm surroundings
| more attractive or farm labor less of
drudgery. We have not developed
our rural highways and modes of COM
municatiOn as they should be.
EVERY sound and normal man and
woman should have a fair and work
able chance 20 earn living and to re-
ceive the benefits of their toll, fair
and workable chance for decent, use
f1i and desirable life, with chance
to marry and support a family, and
give the children a reasonable oppor-
tunity for a reasonable start.
"The farmers have a right to expect
from every national administration a
Department of Agriculture in full and
intelligent cooperation with them and
the great farm organizations of Ameri-
ca. They deserve to be given the re-
suits of thorough and intelligent study
as to the cost of farm products at
home and abroad, and should be fur
nished the uncensored facts.
"We must keep constantly IN mino
one most important fact, which is that
nothing must be permitted to interfere
with ample production. There must
he no fixing of prices which Will re-
suit to the detriment of the farmer.
Indeed, price fixing, especially mini
mum price fixing, should be entered
into most cautiously and only when 1t
is certain that good and not harm will
result.
81 believe in a far larger measure OF
direct dealing between producers anu