Evening star., 1920-09-08

ton. we must determine upon q definite
agricultural policy. We must decide
whether we shall undertake to make oi
the United States a self sustaining na-
tionSwhich means that We shall grow
within our own boundaries all Of the
staple food products needed to main
tain the highest type Of civihzation-os
whether we shall continue to exploit oul
our industrial and commercial life and
| .eave to posterity the task of finding
| ood enough, by strong-arm methods, II
necessary. to support the canning nun
| dreds of millions. / believe in the self
sustaining, independent. sef-reliant na-
ton, agriculturaily, industrfally and po-
llitically. We are then the guarantors
OF our own security and are equal to
the task
Alternative an Unhappy One.
.If we should unhappiiy choose the
course of industrial and commercial pro-
motion at the expense Of agriculture,
1 cities will continue to grow at the ex-
| pense of the rural community, agricul-
ture will inevitably break down and
finally destroy the finest rural civihZa-
tion, with the greatest possibilities. the
| world has ever seen. Decreased Farm
lproduction will make dear food. and We
shall be obliged to sand our ships to far
away nations in search of cheap food
] stuffs, the importation of which is sure
to intensity agricultural encouragement
and distress at home. Ultimately there
will come tho Same fatal breakdown.
and from the same causes. which has
destroyed the great CIVILIZATIONS OF CEN
turies past.
| III. on the other hand, We shall de-
termine to build up here q sen-sustain-
! try can make q different choice ?-then
we must at once set about the devel-
| opment of a system of agriculture which
| will enable us to feed our people
abundantly, with some to spare for ex-
port in years of plenty, and at prices
family both financial rewards and edu-
cational, social and religious living con-
ditions fairly comparable to those Of
fered by the cities. A sound system OF
other basis. Anything short of . fair
return upon invested capital. and fail
vaSe 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.
Frank RecoEnition Necessary.
"A frank recognition by all OF our
people Of this fundamental truth is
necessary, II we are successfully to
work out this great national prob
lem. It Is . matter OF even greater
COuCCIH " luc pCopA0 VI eAAC SASASo
than to the farmer and the farm
community. II We cannot by pains
taking study and wise statesmanship
arrive at such understanding and ap-
plication Of economic laws - viii
enable us to bring about a fair bal
ance between our urban and rural
industries, bringing prosperity to
both and permitting neither to fatten
at the expense Of the other, We can
not hope for concord. and without
concord there is no assurance for the
future.
Heretofore tho farmer has been
an individualist. Living q somewhat
isolated life and being compelled to
work long hours. 1t has not been easy
for him to gather with his fellows.
He has not had q ready means OF
defense against the strong organiza-
tions of both capital and labor, which
in their own interests have at times
imposed unfair conditions upon him.
1t is true that at times, during the
past fifty years, there have been tenn
porary farmer organizations brought
toeethey to combat soma unusually
l.rs4-,.. down when the emergency
has passed.
Organisation Devel0pinx.
But Of late years there have
sprung mp farmer organizations Of q
quite different sort-organixations
with very large membership. with
an aggressive and intelligent leader
ship. and with way of raising what
ever funds they may ind necessary
members. The leaders of these orr
ganizations are learning rapidly how
to adapt to their work the methods
which business. men and working
mon have found sQcoeaeful in fur
thering their own interests The
%RvHif AR
have become % strong that they are
now able not only to do away with
many Of the expenaea heretofore
paid to others. but also to inAu-
ence the price Of their products. Tho
grain growers Of tho west and north
bring about many changes they de-
sired in the marketing of their crops.
The farmers of the corn belt states
are rapidly perfecting the most pow
erful organization Of farmers ever
known in this country. All Of these
are natural developments In the
evolving change of relationship and
the modern complexities Of productivity
and exchange.
Our Business Not to Destroy.
'It is more than conceivable, it is
apparent, that we are able to deal
more wisely and moro Justly with
our agriculture than We have in the
past Unless we do deal more fairly
there may como conflict between
the organised farmers in tho surplus
producing states and those who In
sist on buying their crops below pro-
duction costs We have witnessed
the restricted production of manu-
facturers and of Labor. but we have
not yet experienced the Intentionally
restricted production Of foodstuffs.
Let us hope we never may. It is our
hrG IN rt
to deny. deprive or destroy.
II have no thought OF suggestins
that the government should work out
an elaborate system of agriculture and
then Try to impose 1T on the farmers
Of the country: That would be utterly
ment pateruaIism. vhekher applied to
agriculture or to any other Of our
great national industries, would stif1e
ambition. impair efficiency, lessen pro
duction and make US q nation of de-
pendent incompetentA The farmer
of the government An he needs is q
fair chance and such just consfderA-
ton for agriculture as We ought to
give to a basic industry, and ever
seek to promote for our common good.
Some Things to BE Done.
'Some Of the things which ought 10
be done. II we are to put our agrf-
culture on a sound foundation, have
been mentioned in the national plat
form OF the party to whose pledges
am committed.
First. tho need Of farm representa-
ton In larger governmental AdAifs h
recognized. During the past sevgn
years the right Of agriculture 10 =
voice In government administration
has been practically ignored, and. at
times the farmer has suffered
grievoo8ly as a result The farmer
has vital interest in our trade re-
lationa with other Countries, In tho