Connecticut western news., 1920-09-30

iuS out UT war cOnultlOnS, eSpEcldlly the premium put on grain growing at the expense of livestock production. He referred to the heavy losses suffer- ed by many livestock producers and feeders, and pointed out the urgent need of restoring the balance between livestock and grain production as quickly as possible. On this subject he said:
 "For two outstanding reasons the maintenance of a normal balance be- tween livestock and grain production Is a matter of national concern. One is that we are a meat-eating people, and should have fairly uniform SUD- ply at a reasonable price. Conditions which either greatly stimulate or greatly discourage livestock produc- tion result In prices altogether too high for the average consuming public or altogether too low for the producer. The other Is that the over-stimulation of grain production depletes the fer tility of our land, which is our great est national asset. and results in greater supply than can be consumed at 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, he said that no one could forecast them with any accuracy. That as a nation we are undergoing the same experience that the individual undergoes when recovering from long and dangerous illness. And then he made this significant statement:
 "rt must be evident, however, to any one who has given the matter even superficial consideration, that we have now come to 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 blow prac- tically all of our easily-tfllable land, though idle areas await reclamation and development by that genius and determination which ever have made nature respond to human needs. Ad- ditions of consequence, which we may make to our farming area, from this time on, must come by putting water on the dry lands of the arid and semi- arid country, or by taking water off Of the swamp lands of which we have large areas in some sections, or by dig ging the stumps out of the cut-over timber lands of the north and south.
 Other Alternative an Unhappy One.
 If we should unhappily choose the course of industrial and commercial promotion at the expense of agricul- ture, cities will continue to grow at the expense of the rural community, az riculture will inevitably break down and finally destroy the finest rural civilization, with the greatest possibili- ties the world has ever seen. Decreased farm production will make dear food and we shall be obliged to send our ships to far-away nations in search of cheap foodstuffs, the importation of which is sure to intensity agricultural Encouragement and distress at home.
 "If, on the other hand, we shall de- termine to build up here . self-sus- taining nation-and what lover of his country can make different choice1 then we must at once set about the development of a system of agriculture which will enable us to feed our peo- pie abundantly, with some spare for export in years of plenty, and at prices which win insure to the farmer and his family both financial rewards and educational, social and religious ltv- ing conditions fairly comparable to those offered by the cities. A sound system of agriculture can not be main tained on any other basis. Anything short of fair return upon invested capital, and fair wage for the labor which goes into the crops, and enough in addition to enable the farmer to maintain the fertility of his sofY, and insure against natural hazards will drive large numbers of farmers to the cities"
 Senator Harding made it perfectly clear that this Is a problem. in which city people have just as much interest as the farmer. That unless we can work out rational and fair agricul- tural policy, the drift to the city will continue and our trouble will grow constantly worse.
 Speaking of farm organizations. he said the farm organization of the pres ent day is quite different from the or ganization of the past; that farmers have learned sound principles of or ganization that they are adapting to their work the methods which busi- ness men and working men have found successful in furthering their own in- terests. He referred especially to the successful 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 CTS ever known in the country. He pointed out very frankly the danger that would come to the nation if the problems of the farmer were not frankly recognized, and if the farmer was not given absolutely fair treat. ment nt--'--7ya~''~
 He said we have witnessed restrict ed production of manufa actures and of labor, but we have not yet experienced the Intentionally restricted production of foodstuffs, and expressed the hope that we never may have that experi- ence.
 While frankly recognizing the need
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