Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-10-07


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 a T6rnal balance be-
tween livestock and grain production
is a matter Of national concern, one
is that we are a meat-eatine people,
and should have fairly uniform sup
ply at a reasonable price. Conditions
which either greatly stimulate or
greatly discourage livestock produc-
ton result in prices altogether TOO high
for the average consuming public or
altogether too low for the producer
The other Is that the oyer-stimulation
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
az a 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 cou'd
forecast them Will ulls uNtu'oNF+ ihh-
as a nation we are undergoing the
same experience that the Individual
undergoes when recovering from
long and dangerous illness. And then
he made this significant statement
at must he evident, however, 70 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 or
fertile land awaiting the land hungry.
We have now under the pillow 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. Adj
ditions 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 off or
the swamp lands, of which we have
large areas In some sections, or by dig
ging the stumps out Of the cut-over
timber lands OF the north and south.
Other Alternative an Unhappy One.
IF we should unhappily choose the
course of industrial and commercial
promotion NJ the expense Of agricul-
ture, 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 possibili-
ties the world has ever seen. Decreased
farm production viii 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-
termine to build up here a 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 system OF agriculture
which will enable us to feed our peo-
pie abundantly, with some spare for
export in years of plenty. and at prices
which will insure to the farmer and
his family both financial rewards and
educational, social and religious liy-
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 a 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 II perfectly
clear that this is problem in which
city people have just as much interest
as the farmer That unless we can
work out a rational and fair agricul-
tural policy, the drift to the city will
continue and our trouble will grow
constantly worse.
Speaking Jf farm organlzat tons, he
said the farm organization OF the pres
ent day is quite different from the or
ganization Of the past; that farmers
have learned sound principles of or
ganiZatlon; that they are adapting to
their work the methods which bust
ness men and working men have found
successful In furthering their own In
terests. He referred especially TO the
successful organizations established by
the fruit growers OF the west and by
the grain growers Of the northwest, and
said the farmers of the corn belt
states are also rapidly perfectlng the
most powerful organization of farm
ers ever known in the country. He
pointed out very frankly the danger
that would come 10 the nation II the
problems Of the farmer were not
frankly recognized, and II the farmer
was not given absolutely fair treat
ment.
He said we have witnessed restrict
ed production of manufactures and OF
labor, but we have not yet experienced
the Intentionally restricted production
OF foodstutfs, and expressed the hone
that we never may have that expert
ence.
While frankly recognizing the need
or national agricultural policy. he
disclaimed any intention Of suggesting
that the government should work out
an elaborate system Of agriculture and
then try 70 impose It on the farmers
OF the country. He denounced such an
effort as utterly repugnant TO AmerI.
can Ideals. He said that government
paternalism, whether applied to az
riculture or to any otter OF our great
national industries, would stihe ambi-