Evening journal., 1920-08-23

10 give your time, your labor and the
erpense OF your seed, with the posi-
tive knowledge you Will not be able TO
harvest your crops. understand that
within a radius OF a few miles OF Lam
caster. penna.. that there are today
twenty-seyen farms OF the very best
quality, on which not a single furrow
has been turned this year. This same
condition Is true Of the Middle West.
Reports made by rural school direc-
tors, acting as local representatives, OF
The United States Bureau of Crop Es-
timates. 90 the Secretary OF State In
Michigan, show That there are at pres
ent 1922 idle farms In The state. as
compared with A s3i a year ago on
these idle farms there are 10000 va
cant buildings, 10000 OF which have
been deserted within the last year
The extent Of these idle farms Is esti-
mated 10 be nearly 200O0OO acres.
/ "Of the 2l6,OOO men on the farms Of
Michigan three years ago, 5000 have
/ left 10000 OF them during The last
year During April there were lefl
on the farms an average Of only A
men and boys for each ten farms
"rhe report declares that: This de-
crease In farm workers Is caused by
the high wages being paid in other in
dustries." Why not say That 10 Is
caused by the low returns on the
farms and the consequent low wage
paid 90 farm lahOrers? 10 has been
shown that the cost per acre OF grow
/ ing wheat IN kansas last season was
az cents more than The farmers re-
ceiNed Undoubtedly similar cOndl-
lions existed In Michigan and In other
states. Studies made by the North
Dakota Agricultural College show that
the cost OF growing the 1919 crop was
&c cents per bushel more than IL sold
for.
In Michigan last year the total cost
OF production was S3i A63 7Sl Total
value OF farm products, S2t t,9S2O
Excess OF cost over receipts. Sc iSi .5Sl
III we expect 10 lessen the cost OF
living. we must increase The output
from he farms We cannot incrf ast
production by lessenng acreage. There
Is a tendency for all labor TO leave ihl
farm ! fear they know That soil
rhymes with "ton." and tha. .heN
know that TO work on The farm, tC
ull the soil, means by the sweat o.
the brow
"Af,er leaving The farm, adopted Z
profession that the hours were no
from sunrise 10 sunset. as was rccOg
nizcd at that time for farm help, hu
were sometimes from sunr Sc io sun
rise So 70 is not strange that ] shoulr
sim be In lowe with work But farm
help can no longer be expected 90 glNi
I more hours than they are cOmpcllc,
10 give lo O'her branches OF employ
mcni. The pay must equal the pay o
other pursuits The surroundings, 81
, FAR as enjoyment Is concerned mus
be made pleasant Ii we expect on
BOYS 90 remain on the farm we mus
make that farm life pleasant ant
! happy. n we expect our girls TO mar
ry farmers. W. must make the wor
within doors not an drudgcry, but
, pleasure Unless these conditions ar
b mot the production Is not going &
s equal The consumption. and the price
! viii continue Go soar.
I "Thcse are hut a few n the seriou
s conditions confronting the world Ia
r. dav concerning food stuns As yo
e have been the backbone OF the insiltu
e lions OF this great republic, this GoN
\ crnmcnt OF ours must now come 4
D vour helm and assist YOU In your 'as
+. OF feeding not only the United State
hut the whole world. In what forI
r. This assistance must be given, ! al
p not able at this time TO say. but
q This 7 am sure mat the condition
y our farmers today is one OF the mos
Z serious problems which the incomin
O. administration will be compelled
a solve No nation can have its peop
y go hungry and still prosper Wheth.
e The solution is 90 divide all farms int
= smaller. one-man farms, or the hi
@ lion-dollar method. / am not prepare
o Ia discuss at this date But yot
Ir cause is the nations cause, and yot
e hours OF work must be placed upC
J. the same basis as the hours OF wor
% Of other callings OF life. Your soci
j. surroundings must be made as plea
F. ant and attractive as those OF yot
l. brother working In other industrie
81 All conditions must be adjusted 10 q
l- new era which we flnd following q
ne worlds great war"