Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-10-06

ply at reasonable price Condition
which either greatly stimulate al
greatly discourage livestock produc
ton result In prices altogether too hig'
for the average consuming public OF
altogether too low FOR the producer
The other IS that the over stimulation
of grain production deplctes the fer
tility OF our land, which Is our great
est national asset. aud results In q
greater supply than can be consumed
at n price profitable TO the producer
and finally TO widespread agricultural
distress from which all of our people
suffer"
Speaking OF the trend of prices OF
farm products during the next two or
three years, lie said that no one could
forecast them with any accuracy. Tint
/ as nation we are undergoing the
same experience that the individual!
undergocs when recovering from a
! long and dangerous Illness. And then
| he made this significant statement:
ut must be evident. however, 70 any
/ one who has given the matter even
| superficial consideration. that we have
now come 10 the end Of the long period
OF agricultural exploitation In the
United States. No longer are there
great and easy and awaiting areas OF
fertile land awaiting the land hungry.
We have now under the pIoW prac'
ticnlly all OF our easily.tiilnhle land,
though idle areas await reclamation
and development by that genius and
determination which ever have made
nature respond to human needs. Adj
y f.,i.
make 10 our farming area from this
time on, must come by putting water
on the dry lands Of the arid and semi
arid country, or hy taking water on or
the swamp lands, of which we have
lnrge areas in some sections, or by Dig
ging the stumps out Of the Cu,-over
timber lands Of the north and south.
Other Alternative an Unhappy One.
III we should unhapptly choose the
course OF Industrial and commercial
promotion at the expense Of agrlcul-
ture, cities will continue to grow at the
expense OF the rural community, az.
ricuture will inevitably break down
and finally destroy the finest rural
civilization, with the greatest POSSIBLE.
farm production viii make dear food
and we shall be obliged to send our
ships 70 far-away nations IN search O!
cheap foodstutfs, the importation Of
which Is sure 10 intensity agricultural
Encouragement and distress at home
III, on the other hand. we shall de.
termine to build up here self-sus-
talning nation--and what lover Of pls
country can make a different choice?
then we must at once set about the
development of system OF agriculture
which will enable US TO feed our peo-
pie abundantly, with some spare for
export in years OF plenty, and AZ prices
which will insure to the farmer and
his family both financial rewards and
educational, social and religious Hv.
Ing conditions fairly comparable 10
those offered by the cities. A sound
system OF agriculture can not be main.
tnined on any other basis. ANYTHING
short OF a fair return upon invested !
capital. and fair wage for the labor
which goes into the crops. and enough f..
In addition TO enable the farmer TO
maintain the fertility OF his soil. and
insure against natural hazards viii
drive large numbers Of farmers to the
cities"
Senator Harding mnde L perfectly
clear that this is problem IN which
city people have Just as much interest
as the farmer, That unless we can
work out rational and fair agricuI. /
tural policy, the drift to the city win .
continue and our trouble will grow .
constantly worse.
Speaking Of farm organlza tons, he .
said the farm organization Of the pres.
ent day Is quite different from the or.
of the past; TINT farmers
have learned sound principles OF or.
that they are adapting 10
their work the methods which bust.
ness men and working men have found
successful in furthering their own IN.
teresis. He referred especially to the
organizations established by
the fruit growers Of the west and by
the grain growers Of the northwest, and
said the farmers Of the corn belt
states are also rapidly perfecting the
most powerful organization Of farm.
ers ever known In the country. He
pointed ont very frankly tho danger
that would come to the nation il the
problems OF the farmer were not
frankly recognized, and If the farmer
was not given absolutely fair treat.
ment
He said We have witnessed restrict.
ed production Of manufactures and OF
lahor, but we have not yet experienced
the intrnt i0nally restricted production
Of foodsturTS, and expressed the hope
that we never may have that expert.
ence
While frankly recognizing the need
Of national agricultural policy. he
disCtaImcd any intention Of suggesting
that TIE government should work out
an elaborate system Of agriculture and
then try to impose it on the farmers
Of the country lie denounced such an
effort ms utterly repugnant to Ameri.
can ideals. He snid that government
pat ernalism, whether applied to az.
rculture or to any other of our great
national Industries, would stifIe ambt.
ton, impair efficiency, lessen pr0duc-
ton and make Us a nation Of depend.
ent ipcompetcn,s. He said the farmer
requires no special favors at the hands
Of the government All he needs Is n
fair chance and such just cOnsidera.
ton for agriculture as we ought "a
give to basic industry, aud ever seek
to promote for our common good.
Senator Harding then spoke OF the
definite policies 10 which the Repuhli- ,
can party Is committed, and which he
as It's candidate, endorses.