The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-09-14

~"
fivcrcd Last week at tho Mime.
sota state fair. Tho republican
candidates. views ~ TO the policy
necessary for wise solution Of
thosc problems are contained IN
tho foiiowtne cstucts.D
Without speaking at length OF farm
production and prices during the war.
II In necessary to note certain results,
II we are TO deal understandingly
with the agricultural situation at the
present time, and speak i~ntelligently
Of a future policy. War conditions
put q premium on grain growing at
the expense OF live stock production.
As a consequences, many stock pro.
ducers and feeders have suffered
heavy and. In some cases, r~uinous
losses. IL this condition should con-
tlnue, we are in danger. In the near
future. OF having to pay very high
prices for our meats.
For " outstanding reasons tho
maintenance OF a normal balance be-
tween live stock and grain production
10 n matter OF national concern. One
h that We are a mcat-cQting people,
and should have a fairly uniform sup
ply at a reasonable price. Conditions
which either greatly stimulate on.
greatly discourage live stock produce
tion result In prices altogether too
high for the average consuming pub
lie or altogether too low for the pro.
Queer. The other IL that the over
stimulation OF grain production de-
pletes the fertility OF our land. which
In our greatest national asset, and re-
suits In a greater supply than can
be Consumed at a price profitable to
the producer. and finally Il wldo-
spread agricultural distress from
which all OF our people suffer. As n
reconstruction measure. therefore.
our government should do everything
In It's power to restore the normal
balance between live stock and grain
production, and thus encourage the
prompt return to hat system OF d.
vcrsihed farming by which alone we
can maintain our soil fertility. This
Is n matter OF immediate importance
to all OF our people.
Hari TO Forecast
No one can forecast with certainty
the trend OF pric,s OF farm products
curing the next Two or three years.
Recovery from u world crisia sucn as
We nave experienced " slow, IN.
ovitably. II ~ like the human com
vnlescence from ~ long and danger
U illness. Our relations with the
worid-at-large are such that import
unit happenings in other lands ~ a
marked effect upon conditions here
a. home. order must be restored,
industries rebuilt. devastated LANDS
reclaimed. transportation re-establiJh-
ed. tho vast armies reabsorbed In the
occupations OF normal life. T'ne near
future promises TO be a period OF UNI
certainty for the farmer as we'll ns
for the men engaged In industrial en-
terprises. America a no greater
problem than returning securely to
the normal, onward road again. This
isn't looking b~ackward-it Is a for.
ward look 10 stability and security.
Il must be evident, however. 10
anyone who has given the matter
ever superficial consideration that
We have now come to he erd Of the
long period OF agricultural exploita-
ton In The united States. No longer
are there great and easy and await.
land hungry. We have now under the
pillow practically all OF our easily
tiiable land. though Idle areas await
reclamation and development "
that genius and determination which
ever have made nature respond to
quence. 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-arld coun-
try, or by taking water q OF the
swamp lands. of which we have large
areas In some sections. or by digging
the stumps out Of h cut-over timber
lands OF the north IND south. There
are. OF course. large possibilities in
Intensive farming. In that land THRIFT
which admits OF neither waste nor
neglect, and In ever-improving meth
ods. which must be as inspiring to
agricultural life as &c the professions
or to commercial leadership. ! want
a soul In farming. to set aglow the
most Independent and self-respecting
activity in all the world.
A Definite Policy
Tho time has come when. as n ma
ton, we must determine upon a def
mite agricultural policy. We must de-
eide whether we shall undertake to
make Of the United States a self-sus-
tanning nation-whlch means that wo.
shall grow within our own boundnr-
les all Of the staple GOD products
needed TO maintain the highest type
OF civilization-or whether We shall
continue to exploit our agricultural
resources for the benefit OF u indus
trial and commercial life. and leave
10 posterity the task OF finding food
enough, by strong-arm methods. II
necessary. TO support the coming hun
dreds Of millions. ! believe In the
DEMONSTRATING. Independent. self-re-
liant nation, .agriculturaily. industrial
ly and politically. We are then the
g%uarantors OF II own security and
are equal TO the task.
Other Alternative an Unhappy one
IL 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.
agriculture will inevitably break
down and finally destroy the finest
rural civilization. with the greatest
possibilities the world has ewes
seen. Decreased farm production
Will nuke denr food. and We shall ba
obliged 10 send our ships to far
away nations In search OF cheap food
stuife, the importation OF which lB
sure 10 intensity agricultural dis
couragement and distress at home.
Ultimately there will come the same
fatal breakdown. and from the same
causes. which has destroyed the
great civilizations OF centuries past.
II. on the other hand, We shall
determine 10 build up here n self
sustaining ~nation-and what lover
OF his country a make a different
choice ?--then we must at once set
about the development OF a system
OF agriculture which will enable us TO
feed our people abundantly. with
some TO spare for export In years OF
| plenty. and nj Drices which will In