New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-09

| tween livestock ana grain production
is matter of national concern. One
and should have fairly uniform sup.
ply at a reasonable price.
Conditions which either greatly
stimulate or greatly discourage live
stock production result in prices alto.
gether too high for the average CON.
Stunning public or altogether too low fos
the producer. The other is that the
overstimulation Of grain production de.
pletes the fertility Of our land, which
suits in a greater supply than can be
consumed at price profitable to the
producer, and finally to. widespread
agricultural distress, from which all of
J our people suffer.
GAS q reconstruction measure, there
fore, our government should do every
thing in its power to restore the nor
NAL balance between livestock and
grain production, and thus encourage
. diversified farming by which alone we
can maintain our soil fertility. This
is a matter Of immediate Importance
to all of our people.
Period of Unce ainty
"No one can forecast with certainty
the trend of prices Of farm products
during the next two or three years.
Recovery from world crisis such as
we have experienced is slow inevita-
bly,. 1t is like the human convalcscence
from long and dangerous illness. Our
relations with the world at large are
such that important happenings in
other lands have marked effect upon
conditions here at home.
Order must be restored, industries
rebuilt, devasted lands reclaimed,
transr ortation reastablis,1ed, the vast
armies reabsorbed in the occupations
of normal life. The near future
promises to be period Of uncertainty
for the farmer, as we'll as for the men
engaged in industrial enterprises.
America has no greater problem than
returning securely to the normal, on
ward road again. This isn't looking
backward-it is a forward look to
stability and security.
ut 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 OF agricultural exploitation in the
great and easily cultivated areas of
fertile land awaiting the land hungry.
we have now under the pillow prac-
tticaliy all of our easily tillable land.
though idle areas await reclamation
and development by that genius and
determination which ever have made
nature respond to human needs.
II Want a Soul in Farming"
Additions 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
OF Of the swamp lands, of which we
nave large areas in some sections, or
by digging the stumps out Of the cut
over. timber lands of the North and
South. There are, Of course, large pos
sibilities in intensive farming, in that
land thrift which admits of neither
waste nor neglect, and in ever-improv-
ing methods, which must be as inspir-
ing to agricultural life as to the pro-
LESSONS or to commercial leadership
! II want a soul in farming, to set
aglow the most Independent and self
respecting activity in all the world.
The time has come when, as a ma
ton, we must determine upon def
mite agricultural policy. We must de-
eide whether we shall undertake to
make of the United States a self-sus-
tanning nation-which means that we
shall grow within our own boundaries
all Of the sta pie food products needed
to maintain the highest type of civii-
zation-or whether we shall continue
to exploit our agricultural resources
for the benefit of our industrial and
commercial life, and leave to posterty
the task of finding food enough, by
strong-arm methods, if necessary, to
support the coming hundreds Of
millions.
For a Self-Reliant Nation
~ believe in the self-sustaininr, in
dependent, self-reliant nation, agri-
cc1ullturally,, industrially and politically.
we are then the Euarantors Of our
own security and are equal to the
task.
III we should unhappily choose the
course of industrial and commercial
promotlon at the expense of acricul-
ture' cities Will continue to grow at the
expense of the rural community, arri
culture will inevitably break down and
nnally destroy the finest rural civiliza-
slon, with the greatest possibilities, 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 disbursement
and distress at home Ultimately there
VII! come the same fatal break down
and from the same causes which have
DESTROYED the great civilizations of
centuries past.
If, on the other hand, we shall de-.
termine to build up here self-sus-
tanning nation--and what lover of his
country can make different choice?
then we must at once set about the
development of q system of agriculture
whlch VIII enable us to feed our people
abundantly, with some to spare for ex-
port in years Of plenty, and at prices
which will insure to the farmer and
his family both financial rewards and
educational, social and religious living
conditions fairly comparable to those
offered by the cities.
Fair Return Essential
"A sound system of agriculture cam
| not be maintained on any other basis.
Anything short of a fair return upon
| invested capital and fair ware for
the labor which goes into the crc1s.
and enough in addition to enable tho
farmer to maintain the fertility Of his
SOL and insure against natural hazards.
will drive large numbers of farmers to
the cities
"A frank recognition by all Of our
people of this Fundamental .r,:"h ;s
necessary if we are successfully to
work out this great natlo!r. -,
1t is matter of even greater concern