The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-10-07

voice In governmental administration
has been practically ignored, and ut
times the farmer has suffered griev-
o,isly as n result. The farmer has a
vital interest In our trade relations
with other countries in the admins
tration of our financal policies and In
many of the larger activities OF the
government
Second The right OF farmers to
lorn cooperative associations for the
marketing Of their products must be
granted. The parasite in distribution
who oreys oa both producer aild con-
inner nust no longer sap the vitality
OF this fundamental life.
Scientific Study.
Third. 49, The Republican carty
pledges Itself to scientific study OF
agricultural prices and farm produc
ton costs, both at home and abroad,
with view to reducing the frequency
OF abnormal fluctuations here. Stabili
zation will contribute TO eyerybody's
confidence Farmers have complained
bitterly Of the frequent and violent
fluctuations in prices of farm products,
and especially in prices of live stock
They do not find such fluctuations In
the products of other industries. In d
general way prices of farm products
must go up or down, according TO
whether there Is a plentiful crop or n
short one. The farmers raw materials
are the fertility of the soil, the sun
shine and the rain, and the size of his
crops Is measured by the supply OF
these raw materials and the skill with
which he makes use of them. He cam
not control his production and adjust
ii to the demand as can the manufac-
turer. But he can see no good reason
why the prices of his products should
fiuctuate SO violently from week to
week and sometimes from day to day.
To Stop Price Fixing.
Fourth.--We promise to put an end
to unnecessary price fixing of farm
products and to III considered efforts
arbitrarily to reduce farm product
prices.
Government drives against food
prices such as we have experienced
during the past two years are vain and
useless The ostensible purpose Of
such drives is TO reduce the price the
consumer pays for food. The actual
result Is uniustly to depress for q time
the prices the farmer receives for his
grain and live stock, hut with no an-
preciable reduction In the price the
consumer pays. Such drives simply
give the speculator and the profiteer
additional opportunities to add To
their exactions.
Fifth.-We favor the administration
of the farm loan act SO as to help men
who farm to secure farms of their own
and to give to them long time credits,
needed to practice the best methods of
diversified farming.
We also favor the authorization of
associations 10 provide the necessary
machinery TO furnish personal credit
TO the man, whether land owner or
tenant. who IL hampered for lack of
working capital. Unfortunately as
increases
An Increasing EVIL.
This has been true throughout his
tory. Al the present time probably
one-half OF the high priced land in the
corn belt stpfes IL farmed by men who.
because of lack of capital, find II nee
essary 10 rent This increase In ten
ancy brings with ii evils which are O
real menace TO national welfare The
tenant who lacks sufficient working
capital and who too often Is working
under short time lease is forced to
farm the land TO the limit and rob Ii OF
its fertility In order 10 pay the rent
Amid such conditions we have inetfi-
cient schools broken down churches
and sadly limited social life. We
| should therefore concern ourselves not
only in helping men 10 secure farms
| of their own and In helping the tenant
! secure the working capital he needs fC
! carry ON the best methods OF diversi
| fed farming, but we should work out
| a system of land leasing which, while
| doing full Justice to both landlord anC
tenant, will at the same time conserve
the fertility of the soil
Transportation Systems.
Sixth.--We do not longer recognize
the right to speculative profit In thu
operation OF our transportation sys
TENS, but we are pledged to restor,
them to the highest state Of cfficienc,
| as quickly as possible. Agriculture ha.
| suffered more severely than any othel
/ industry through the inefficient rail
1 road service Of the last Two years
Many farmers have incurred disas
trous losses through inability to mar
/ ket their grain and live stock. Such ,
| condition must not be permitted t,
j continue We must bring about con
! ditions which will give US prompt serv
1 ice at the lowest possible rates.
Seventh.--We are pledged to the re
/ vision Of the tariff as soon as condi
1 tions shall make IL necessary for tn,
i preservation Of the home market To-
4 American labor, American acricultur,
| and American industry. If we are Il
| build up self sustaining agricultur,
| here at home the farmer must be pro
| tected from unfair competition from
| those countries where agriculture Ii
i still being exploited and where tn,
standards Of living on the farm ar,
| much lower than here. We have asked
for higher American standards; let u
maintain them.
4 So long as America can produce tn,
it,ods we need am In favor of buyin,
rom America first.
Fewer Land Hogs.
Under sound system of agricul
rure, fosfered and safeguarded by wis
| and fair administration OF state an,
federal government, the farmers Of TIL