The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-09-29

ing out Of war conditions, especially
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 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 sup
ply at a reasonable price. Conditions
which either greatly stimulate or
greatly discourage livestock produce
ton result in prices altogether too high
for the average consuming public or
altogether too low for the producer.
The other is that the over-stlmulation
Of grain production depletes the fer.
tility Of our land, which is our great
est national asset, and results In a
greater supply than can be consumed
at g 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 a
long and dangerous illness. And then
he made this significant statement:
1T 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 pillow prac-
tically all of our easi]y-tillable 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 consequences, 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 on Of
the swamp lands, ofwllich We have
large areas In some sections, or by dig
cling the stumps out of the. cut-oyer
timber lands of the north and south. a
Other Alternative an Unhappy One:
IT III we should unhappiiy choose. the
course Of Industrial and commercial
promotion at the expense of agricul-
tureS cities will continue to grow at the
expense of the rural community, ag-
riculture will inevitably break down
and finally destroy the finest rural
civilization, with the greatest POSSIBLE
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-
termineT to build up here q self-sus-
tanning nation-and what lover Of his
country can make a different choice7
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
e1port}in years Of plenty, and at prices
which will 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
tanned on any other basis. Anything
short Of Z 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 soil, and
insure against natural hazards will
drive large numbers Of farmers to the
cities"
Senator Harding made 1t perfectly
clear that this is 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