The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-11-04
FARMERS MUST
Be PROTECTED
Mea Who Feed the World .Ouxht b
Receive Fair Profit for their
W. Products

W.. Products
ARE NOW OPERATING AT LOSS
Important Industry Should BE Made
Economically Sound
Those who mine coal, those who
manufacture clothing, farm machin-
cry and building material, as we'll ~
those who own banks, merchandising
institutions and the transportation
systems Of the country, operate their
business at substantial profit. A
reasonable margin Of profit is essen
tial to the continuance of these lines
Of business. The American farmer is
operating his business at a loss, says
w. F. Murphy, president Of the Min
nesota state fair in an article written
for the American Press.
Z Among the most serious questions
affecting. the destiny Of the republic
today are these: Is the industry that
produces our food of less Importance
than those which have to do with fuel.
transportation. merchandising and the
like? Are we correct in saying that
agriculture is the foundation industry,
the Importance and welfare Of which
is paramount in the life Of the nation?
Americas fundamental industry is
facing crisis. Upon the solution Of
the problems now confronting the
American farmer depends not only
the future of the nations agriculture,
but in large measure the economic
welfare of the country.
Some one has said that the business
status Of the American farmer en-
phasizes "a nations ingratitude to
those who feed it,"
The farmer is producing food that
sustains the American people and a
portion Of the population Of other
countries at prices that afe below the
cost Of production.
Continuing, the writer says in part
that there is no longer proper bal
ance between industry and agricul-
ture and this proper balance must be
restored If the economic welfare Of the
country is to be maintained.
Senator Harding is quoted "a fol-
lows: aThe time has COME when as !
/ nation We mast detelmiIii. lpon def
mite agricultural policy; we must de-
eide whether we shall undertake to
make of the United States a self-sus-
! tanning nation. Farming is not an
auxiliary; II is the main plant. and
geared with it inseparably is every
wheel Of transportation and industry"
Most timely was the senator's re-
view Of changed world conditions, the
increasing city population, the diff
Guilty of obtaining farm labor, the
need for proper conservation Of soil
productivity, the decreasing areas Of
new farm lands and the danger from
overproduction or underproduction, az
result Of inefficient transportation,
foreign competition and bad distribu-
tion. The senator added that a man
would be blind indeed who could not
see the need Of price stabilization, q
sensible protective tariff for agricul-
ture, cooperative marketing, larger
representation in governmental affairs
and effective administration Of farm
credits. The situation of the average
farmer today verges upon the tragic.
Country newspapers in the most pros
porous agricultural states have during
the past go days contained the story
OF many farm tragedies in the form
Of advertised auction sales of farm
equipment. If you should ask the
farmers who are disposing of their
personal property at public auction
why they are leaving the farm, in 4
majority Of cases the answer would
be, "Beca0se I cannot make it pay,"
After recounting the activities and
shortcomings of the department Of ag-
riculture in which he showed that the
business Of agriculture is vastly more
essential to it's conservation than the
science of agriculture, the writer con-
tinues: And this brings to the front
another phase of rural life on which
the eyes Of the country should be. and
! prophesy soon will be, focused.
1 refer to rural journalism. In
common with the farmer the country
newspaper publisher has been unap-
preciated, often misunderstood, and.
like the farmer, underpaid. .
What a power for good in America
the country editor has been. The
home town paper is to the farmers
home the immediate, most valuable
and certainly the most available source
Of information. The individual farm
er may sometimes feel that he has a
quarrel with the editor and "stop the
paper" but he will find access to it
and read it nevertheless, whether he
reads anything else or not. Did ut
not announce his marriage years ago
to the only girl. Did not the editor
rejoice in the farmers successes and
support him vigorously in fighting his
battles?
So I say to you, my countrymen, the