The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-07
Leaving the Farms.


Up Michigan way tho lure Of tho
big world is too strong for Young mon
on the farms, They can not resist It.
and they are leaving the homcly sur
roundings and going away in quest Of
excitement and fortune The lights Of
the city do not hcckon them. They go
chiefly to factories where work at good
wages awaits them, where the hours
are short and there is no drudgcry.
The farmers are at sea, and according
10 one investigator 3 900 farms have
been abandoned and the houses left
tenantless. They are offering farm la
horers from $40 to $50 a month. with
board, lodging and washing, but the
young men refuse to remain, At the
higher figure one years work would
net them over 81 600, How the farm
,ers can afford to pay these wages they
alone know, but It would seem that
anyone who wants to work should be
able to find abundant and profitable
employment at these rates
In France and England women are
going in for farm work where It Is
much more lahortous than it is in this
country Of labor saving machinery. \
woman who can sit on n spring seat
and drive three broad -hipped Perche-
ron horses to sulky pillow, culuvator
or other implement, can do man s.
work enjoy outdoor freedom, fresh air
and good health. while making Il good
income No doubt American women
win yet turn TO II and leave the forty
dollars a month school room and the
department store. What has hap
pened In section OF one state Is hap
pening In greater or lesser degree
all over the country, where farm labor
is scarce or unobtainahle. This Is dis
couraging to those who realize that
food production Is the great national
necessity.
The spirit Of romance seems to he
abroad in the world and people are
hungry for adventure They want
something to see and hear besides the
monotonous gee" "haw.' and the
turning and agitation Of the soil II
Is not so very long ago when farm la
Dor considered itself fortunate when
il received more than S2 month. This
meant work from the first glimpse of
dawn until the darkness OF night fell
upon the world Big nay and short
hours obtain at the present time, but
these are not sufficient 10 keep young
men on the farms, They prefer going
forth to seek adventure Il Is an un o
healthy condition of affairs. and bodies
M To the country. In the ccntcrs OF
oongcsted labor there Is novelty and cN-
citement. Industrial disputes. strikes,
lockouts and other disturbing incidents,
that have a thrin unknown to the clean
and simple pleasures OF country life.
The fishes come from The water but
the loavcs must continue to come from
the soil. and II no one works tn" soil
there will be no loavcs. These con-
ditlons can not last People must have
food and from the soil is the only way
TO get IT,
when driven to it there will be a
back to- the farm movement. People
win 20 where the food is easily ohlaina-
bic. and the soil always remains loyal
no matter how long or how often held
in contempt Ignored and neglected
receives Hospitality and gives its ahund-
ant Increase to those who pay 1t proper
reverence. IndustrialiSm viii not sup
mort nation. Agriculture has always
been and must always be the primary
and paramount sustaining element No
matter what we may manufacture or
raise for export foreign customers have
no money--or money that has no value
to offer for it. and money is not
final payment. Barter ia the law OF
NE, and until foreign nations are IN "a
position to exchange products with us.
our business with them must he limited,
We mus, devote our energies to proNtd-
ing for our own necessary wants and
comforts This We can do without az
ficulty. II We give proper attention to
the farm. II We neglect the farm 1t
viii no, be well with us.