The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-02-27

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Asserting that the great problem OF
today Is the production Of more food
and the encouragement of every farm
activity. Leonard Wood, candidate for
president OF the United States, in a
striking letter to Clifford Pinchot, lead
er Of the conservation movement and
member OF the National Committee on
Farm Organization, also declares him
self to be in favor OF direct dealing
between and producers Of
food" He says that not enough Of
the consumers dollar reaches the
farmer and insists that this condition
be remedied. His letter is OF great
interest and importance at this time
and the text in full follows:
Chicago, H., Jan. 81. 1920.
Dear Mr.. Pinchot:
Thank you for your good letter OF
the sixteenth.
am cry glad to give you my views
about the farmer and his problems.
hOt CnlJ OOGduSU SOu Id'J a lieill w
have them as a member OF the Ma
tional Committee of Farm Crganiza-
lions, but because | recognize that the
decline In agriculture is one Of the
greatest dangers to our civilization.
We must have food. Agriculture is
declining in America. There is too
much flocking to the cities. The drop
in agriculture production compared
with the population. in the number Of
people who live and work on farms
and In the fertility Of our soils. can
not be allowed to continue.
The farmers Of America render mag
nificent service In producing, under
every sort OF handicap, food supplies
necessary to win the war, to feed not
only q but very largely our Allies.
They sent their sons to wal and in
spite OF the shortage OF labor by dint
Of increased effort they tremendously
increased the output of food in this
country. Had they not done SO it
would have been impossible for us to
have taken our part in the war as We
did. They feel that their service was
not adequately recognized.
The farmers make up a full third Of
the population, and the welfare OF the
nation 10 practically bound up with
theirs. yet the benefits Of modern civ
ilization have not been extended to our
rural communities in any such mea
ure - they have a right to demand.
Education for farm children should
be universally accessible and special
efforts should be made toward train
ing for life on the farm. II we are
going to keep up record OF training
equivalent to our progress we should
sec that they are given substantial
equality with those Of other callings
In social, political and educational OPP
portunities. We must see that the
schools are up to the standards OF the
city schools and that there are suit
able and abundant roads and other
lines of transportation. We want
their suFroundings - b - attractive
~ possible.
know that you believe with me
that every sound and normal man and
woman sAould have . fair and work
able chance TO sarn . living and to
receive what they earn, . fair work
able chance tor . decent, useful and
desirable life. with 4 chance to marry
and support Z family and give the
children Z reasonable opportunity for
. reasonable start.
While these things relate no
to the farmers than they do to other
citissns. they r % important that !
I'm glad 70 state tAom IN this letter.
The farmers have : right to expect
iron every national administration q
Department q Agriculture in full and
mtolllgsats cooDefatjon With the tarns
srs 81 - UsA& nm Organisations