Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-11-26
Farmer Like the Country Publisher

Some one has said that the business
status of the American farmer empha
sizes "a nations ingratitude to those
| who feed it,"
The farmer is producing the food
that sustains the American people and
portion Of the population of Other
countries at prices that are below the
cost of production.
Any business man-in fact, almost
any schOolboy-wOuld say that no in
dustry could continue to live under
such conditions. Nevertheless, that is
exactly the crisis which American ag-
riculture now cOnfrOntS.
1t appears from the recent govern
ment census that approximately 60 per
cent of our population is gathered in
the towns and cities engaged in man
ufacturing industries and allied bust
ness pursuits, while but approximately
30 per cent of the population is found
in the rural districts. \ teW years ago
the population of the United States was
about evenly divided between urban
and rural districts. The United States
has changed from a diStinctively agrl-
cultural nation to an industrial nation
to such a degree that there is no long
er a proper balance between industry
and agriculture. 1t is self evident that
this proper balance must be restored II
the economic welfare of the country is
to be maintained.
Farmer Left to Struggle
Though farm population and farm
labor help has decreased, the produc-
ton of the American farmer has i'll
creased, largely because of improved
mechanical appliances. But while the
farmer has been struggling with the
problem of maintaining production I'M
der many handicaps, he has seen other
industries prosper and multiply, with
increased profit, and with all the other
elements Of economic progress favorable
thereto, such as legislation, finance,
transportation and governmental func-
tiOning. On the other hand, the farm
er has been left to struggle on as best
he could, with the cost of production
and maintenance steadily increasing,
his returns steadily decreasing, until
today he finds the cost of production OF
farm crops beyond the price he receives
for them.
More vitally significant words were
never spoken than those Of Senator
Harding in his address to the farmers
of the nation-and timely warning
to the entire cOuntry-at the Mime
sofa State Fair, when he said:
The time has come when as a nation
we must determine upon definite ag-
ricultural policy; we must decide
whether we shall undertake to make
of the United States a self sustaining
nation.
Farming is not an auxiliary; it is
the main plant, and geared with it in
separably is every wheel of transporta
tion and industry.
Tragedy of Farm Auctions
Most timely was the senator's re-
view of changed world conditions the
increasing city population, the diff
Guilty of obtaining farm labor, the need
for proper conservation of soil produc-
tiyity. the decreasing areas Of new
farm lands and the danger from over
production or underproduction, as a
result of inefficient transportation, for
eign competition and bad distribution.
And continuing, the senator sug-
gested that a man would be blind in
deed who could not see the need OF price
stabiliZatiOn, sensible protective |
tariff for agriculture, cooperative mar
keting, larger representation in govern
mental affairs and effective admins
tration of farm credits.
He realized that the situation of the
average American farmer today verges
upon the tragic. Indeed, to many it is
an accomplished tragedy. Country
in the most prosperous ag-