The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-02-27

Asserting that the great problem o.
today is the production Of more food
and the encouragement of every farm
activity, Leonard Wood, candidate foI
president Of the United States, in g
striking letter TO Clifford Pinchct. lead
er of the conservation movement anC
member Of the National Committee or
Farm Organization, also declares him
self to be in favor Of direct dealing
between consumers and producers O
food" He says that not enough o.
the consumers dollar e oahes the
farmer and insists that this condition
be remedied. His letter is Of grea'
interest and Importance at this time
and the text in full follows;
Chicago, III, Jan. y, 1920.
Dear Mr.. Pinchot:
Thank you for your good letter o,
the sixteenth.
amyery glad to give you my views;
about the farmer and his problems
not only because YOU have a right tc
have them as a member of the Ma
tional Committee OF Farm Organiza
tons, but because recognize that the
decline in agriculture is one OF the
greatest dangers to our civilization.
We must have food. Agriculture is
declining in America. There is toe
much flocking to the cities. The drop
in agriculture production compared
with the population, in the number OF
people who live and work on farms
and in the fertility OF our soils, can
not be allowed to continue.
The farmers OF America render mag.
every sort of handicap, food supplies
necessary to win the war, to feed not
only US but very largely our Allies,
They sent their Ons to war and in
spite Of the shortage Of labor by dint
OF increased effort they tremendously
increased the output Of food in this
country. Had they not done SO ii
would have been impossible for US to
have taken our part in the war as we
did. They feel that their service was
not u6QudJ6i ltCOSilASu'
The farmers make up a full third Of
the population, and the welfare of the
nation is practically bound up with
theirs, yet the benefits Of modern civ.
ilization have not been extended to our
rural communities in any such meas.
ure as they have a right to demand.
Education for farm children should
be universally accessible and special
efforts should be made toward train
ing for life on the farm. IL we are
going to keep up record OF training
equivalent to our progress WI should
see that they are given substantial
equality with those OF other callings
in social, political and educational OPP
schools are up to the standards OF the
city schools and that there are suit
able and abundant roads and other
lines OF transportation. We want
their surroundings to be as attractive
as possible.
I know that you believe with me
that every sound and normal nan and
woman should have a fair and work
able chance to earn a living and to
receive what they earn, a fair work
able chance for a decent, useful and
desirable life, with a chance TO marry
and support a family and give the
children a reasonable opportunity for
@ reasonable start.
While these things relate no more
10 the farmers than they do to other
citizens, t~heysare so important that
am glad to state them in this letter.
The farmers have a right to expect
from every national administration q
Department ofAgriculture in full ant