Milford chronicle., 1920-10-08

-+SA AT9uit III prices hilpEtlttf 100 flll
for the average consuming public ,
altogether too low for the produce
The other Is that the over-stimulatiO
OF grain production depletes the fe
tility or our land, which IS our grea
est national asset and results in
greater supply than can he consume
at price profitable to the producer
and finally 10 widespread agricultural
distress from which all Of our peopl
suffer"
Speaking OF The trend of prices o
farm products during the next two o
three years, he said that no one coul,
forecast them with any accuracy Tha
as nation we are undergoing ih'
same experience that the indNidua
undergoes when recovering from q
long and dangerous illness And Then
he made this significant statement:
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 agricultural exploitation in the
United States No longer are there
great and easy and awaiting areas Of
fertile land awaiting the laSd hungry.
We have now under the plOw prac-
tically 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. Ad-
ditiOns Of consequence, which we may
make 10 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 have
large areas in some sections, or by dig
ging the stumps out Of the cut-Ogef
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 agricuI-
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 viii make dear food
and we shall be obliged to send our
ships 10 far-away nations in search ,of
cheap fOodstuifs. the importation Of
which is sure 10 intensity agricultural
iisc0uragement and distress az home.
IF. on the other hand. we shall de
ermine to build up here a self-sus-
aiming nation-and what lover Of his
ountry can make different choice:
then we must at once set about the
evelopment Of system Of agriculture
'hich will enable us TO feed our peo-
Ie abundaGily, with some spare for
xport in years Of plenty and at prices
'hlch will insure to the farmer and
is family both financial rewards ard
iucaiional social and religious lfv {
ig conditions fairly comparable 10
lose offered by the cities. A sound ,
'stem of agriculture can not be mnin ,
lined on any other basis. ANYTHING :
lort Of a fair return upon invested l
.piial, and a fair wage for the labor r
hich goes inte the crops. and enough =
addition 10 enable the farmer tc 4
ainta.n the fertility of his soil, and /,
sure against natural hazards will
i've large numbers Of farmers TO the y
lies" =,
Senator Harding made it perfectly =
ear that this is a problem in which a
y people have just as much interest a,
the farmer That unless we can II,
'rk out rational and fair agricul- n.
raj policy. the drift to the city will 70
ntinue and our trouble will grow -
instantly worse. 80
Speaking of farm organizations. he OF
Id the farm organization of the pres =,
day is quite different from The or. - .,
niZation Of the past; that farmers ~
We learned sound principles Of or
niZation; that they are adapting to %
'ir work the methods which busi. o..
IS men and working men have found
'cessful in furtherlng their own in
ests. He referred especially to the
'cessful organizations established by tu
fruit growers of the west and by an
grain growers Of the northwest. and -te'
d the farmers of the corn belt W
tes are also rapidly perfecting the ma
st powerful organization of farm Fa
ever known in the country lie ma
nted out very frankly the danger ar
{ would come to the nation if the no
blems of the farmer were not 90
nkly recognized, and If the farmer pie
5 not given absolutely fair treat hu
1t ho
lie said we have witnessed restrict. mo
production of manufactures and of nee
Or but we have not yet experienced qui
Intentionally restricted production col
fOodstuffs, and expressed the hope ind
{ we never may have that expert col
e lig,
While frankly recognizing the need len
q national agricultural policy, he for
'lamed any intention of suggesting in
the government should work out YES
elaborate system of agriculture and unt
q try to impose it on the farmers abe
he country. He denounced such an the
RI as utterly repugnant to Amer- cor
ideals. He said that government wit
ernalism. whether applied to az II
lture or to any other of our great
onal industries, would stiae ambi FIR
impair efficiency, lessen prOduc
and make US a nation Of depend
incOmpetents He said the farmer
iires no special favors at the hand, A
ne government All iIe ueelis is a inc
chance and such just considera. -
for agriculture as we ought 10 'en'
to a basic industry, and ever seek the
remote for our common good. Day
anator Harding then spoke of the of ~
lite policies to which the Republ. Isr,.
party is committed and which be, fact
IS candidate, endorses. tbo
Farm Representation. of II
rst..-The need Of farm representa- estir
In larger governmental affairs is 900
gnized. During the past sever strO,
s the right Of agriculture 10 won