Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-02-08
MAKE EVERY MAN A PRODUCER
TO REDUCEH.C.L. SAYS MEREDITH
New Secretary of Agriculture Says Employees
Must Be Released From Non Productive
Work

work and add to the sum total that
may be distributed among all.
Let us enjoy in America as high
| ly developed a system of distribu-
ton, and in this | include all the
professions, doctors, lawyers, teach
ers, as we'll as retailers, transporta-
ton. etc, as we now have, but let
u.s. cut out the useless member, the
surplus one here and there, and give
him an opportunity to become a pro-
Queer upon the farm, or in the fac
tory. Let US have six tenths of our
people in production and four-tenths
in distribution, that there may be six
tenths of what man can produce
each day for each of US, rather than
have four-tenths in production and
six-tenths in distribution, which gives
us only four-tenths of what a man
can produce each day for each of
US. To do this conditions in produc-
ton must be attractive, farming must
be remunerative and offer to young
man who engages in it an oppOrtuni-
ty equal to that offered him should
he go into bank, railroad, whole
sale or retail establishment.
| Labor Must Meet Farmer Half Way.
THE farmer asks that the labor
ers in the mines. the factory, and the
mills, who are also real producers
along with the farmers, make an eff
! fort comparable to his to see there is
just as little labor expense as pos
sible in each article turned out by
their hands, thereby helping the
farmers of America, who in turn
will help the laborer This is not in
consistent with the views and desires
of the loyal, intelligent laboring man,
who recognize the mutual advantage
to all in an honest days work for an
honest days pay. Given this and
the manufacturers, jobbers and re-
tailers taking a reasonable profit and
recognizing the harm that must ulti-
mately come from profteering upon
the farmer, the question of the high
cost of living will largely solve itself
to the permanent good of all con-
cerned.
son the other hand if the whole
country, all business and all labor,
does not recognize this as a common
problem" the secretary continued,
"and do those things which give the
farmer fair compensation for his
efforts, do those things which make
farming remunerative, pleasant and
as attractive as other lines of endeav-
or, the conditions will not improve.
On the contrary, more and more will
the young men leave the farms, more
and more will the older men become
discouraged, and less and less will
there be of farm produce to divide
among the whole people for their sus-
tenance. and higher and higher will
go the price of that which is pro-
duced
Attention must be given by pub
hc-spirited citizens to the methods
which tend to quicken and cheaper
distribution of farm products, such
as better terminal facilities, easier
transfers, inland water transporta-
ton; back hauling and roundabout
routes eliminated. We must all in
terest ourselves in helping solve the
problems of the farmer and furnish
him facilities that will help him in
his business. While such facilities
must be furnished. we find on the
contrary there is now being made an
assault on the Farm Loan Bank,
which gives the farmer money on fav-
orable terms, without commissions,
him to carry on the fundamental ac-
Civlty of our country, gives him long
time that he may plan ahead where
necessary. The assault is made by
selfish interests, and their success
would, in my judgment, be a blow to
agriculture in America and result in
ultimate harm to all interests. But
how many business men in America
have recognized this as their prob
lem, or interested themselves in the
farmers behalf? Very few, and yet
they could well afford, in fact must,
interest themselves in this and other
problems affecting the farmer, or
they will feel the reaction.
1.-THE farmers of America are will
ing and anxious to meet the problem
of reducing the cost of living as
mutual one. They seek the co-opera-
ton, support and sympathy of the
world, and receiving it they will do
their part and more. All Of us work
ing to this end are strengthening and
making permanent agriculture, the
very foundation of our whole struc-
ture, and therefore doing we'll for
our country as a whole. Every per-
son. no matter in what walk of life
he may be engaged, should have a
sympathetic, helpful interest in agri-
culture, be helpful to the farmer, and
see he gets fair, square deal in all
matters. Surely. such an attitude is
an expression of the highest type of
patriotism in peace"