Evening star., 1920-09-08
HARDING OUTLINES PROGRAM
= FOR AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS
Continued from First page.)

Continued from First Page.)
the danger in changing conditions
Only few decades ago. indeed from
Gfe very beginning. the exports Of
eno United States were s0il-grovn ol
farm-prUduced materials. On the
other hand, most of our imports were
|mannfaetured- articles. In the las
nan century. year after year. the ex-
ports OF farm-grown products have
fecreased-except during the worle
Var-and exports of manufactured
Products have increased until agair
We are rapidly reaching the zero mari
supplies to the world. Each year oul
imports show larger and larger guam
titles OF farm-grown products and the
time Is almost with US when the i'm
ports OF farm-grown products will
exceed the exports-in short, when oul
the products necessary for our OWL
people.
Fereed to GrindfnE Economy.
'"The farmer suffered during thi.
changing period. Overproduction means
low prices. and he overproduced
with vengeance. though it was
ar inevitable part of the scheml
Of American Development. He va.
my. and to. live as far as possible
1rom his own acres. He did live es-
sendally within his own productiv-
fty. and the farm was the factory fol
the agricultural home. Land poor
vas a common expression in the
farming country. Many. and espe.
cially the ambitious boys. abandoned
the farms and added themselves to
the growing population of the cities
driven by the hardships of the farm
and attracted BY the greater rewards
nj HnN rod hwr os&
BY 1906 1T was becoming apparent
at the consuming power of the cities
and Industrial centerS would soon be
large enough to equalize the produc-
ing power of the farms. Prices OF
farm products began to advance, and
In the price of farm land Improved
|machinery increased the numbers of
acres one man could farm. thereby
decreasing his cost Of production. The
expression farm poor was no longer
heard Men who had not secured
farms of their own began to seek
them and the march to the west and
northwest was resumed. Irrigation
projects were started and the home
|Stead law made more liberal in order
|Rrid country more attractive New
areas of government land were open
|Ad for entry.
Demand Increased Production.
"In the meantime the consuming pub
nc had become concerned over the pros
|Qect Of paying higher prices for food
|stuns. Cities and Industrial centers had
|6een built up on ridiculously cheap
|1ood: indeed. their building was the
first essential In developing farm val
|ues- Then the increase in price called
|9or readjustment and required wage ad-
|vances. Organizations Of city business
|nen began to take an interest in farm
effairs . and preach the duty duty Of in. In.
Band! cry began to be heard. Increased
appropriations by Congress and by state
were made to stimulate bet
ter methods Of farming, and thus in
|czesee production. in the hope of keep
pavement was started with the thought
|that. by making conditions on the farm
|more attractive. the drift from the farm
TO the city might be checked. The work
of agricultural colleges was strength
|ened by the addition Of extension de-
|pArtments, the function Of which is to
take the teaching Of better methods of
Farming and stock-groWing into the
counties and smaller communities, and
Especially to stimulate an interest in
farming among the boys and girls. All
soRts Of efforts were made to check
the drift from the farm to the city and
TO maintain farm production.
'sIn truth, here in America farming
E4me to that stage where 1t ceased to
be mere struggle for sustenance, and
y found its place amid the competition
for achievement. It was no longer the
enherently directed operation with the
BOIL for restricted living, but became a
|rommerciaL scientific operation with
Mother Nature, to share in the accom-
piishments of modern life and know a
participation in modern rewards.
Cry for Food Intensifes.
Then came the world war which
|1Sica "a. ALREADY under full head
~. The cry for food which came
lfom the nations across the sea
(eAused further advances in prices of
Farm products, As we'll IS In prices
inf farm land. and both profits and
patriotism stimulated production But
products Of the farm came also an
Increased demand for the products Of
bur factories and other Industrial en-
kerprises, resulting In higher wages,
and the city continued to pull from
Ehe farm large numbers of young men
Rnd could see no prospect Of getting
fh>m. and who thought they could
Eee in the city better wages and
Breater opportunities for advance
nent, as well as more attractive liv-
ng conditions If the facts were
that during the period from 1906 to
Re11. the time Of our entrance into
The war, the drift from the farm to
the city continued with little ahate-
aont. Notwithstanding the more hope
t11 conditions on the farm.
Splendid Part Of Farmers.
The splendid part played by the
Armers Of the nation during the war
probably never will be understood or
lAk
fore than IS per cent Of ali
Pw fighting men came from the farms.
md after sending their sons to the
amps the fathers and mothers. with
The help OF the younger children.
urned to and produced moro food
history of the world in the same time
nd from the same area of land. Their
working days were measured not by
The clock. but by the number Of day
fght hours. They took to themselves
- responsibility OF feeding not only
pur own people. but also our allies
hcroSS the sea In more ways than
Pne our farmers made the war their
RAr, and counted no sacrifice too great
10 help fight it through to a success
ul hnish. The story of what they did,
written by some one who understands
t will furnish one of the most glori-
bus chapters in American history
pne thing I may say-in every Amer
can conflict, from the revolution for
ndependence to the world war for
nAantained rights, the farmer has
eeen 100 per cent American and ready
~ every sacrifice.
Resaat. sf ConAitaens.
without speaking at length of
rm production and prices during the
vaEs IT Is necessary to note certain
Fo8ult& II We are to deal understand
ngiy with the agricultural situation
4 tho present time and speak intelli-
rently of fnture policy. War con-
1tions put premium on grain grow
ms Nt the expense Of live stock pro-