The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-11-10
TREADlNo ON DANGEROUS
GROUND

Due to the mighty slump IN inc
prices of farm products and the gen
eral dissatisfaction arising from the
vast change. there seems to be
strong tendency for many tenant farm
ers to desert the farms and seek en-
pIoyment at other lines in cities and
towns.
This resolution might have been
good during the abnormally prosper
GUS times of the past, but it is more
than doubtful if any lasting benefit
would would result from such
change right now 1t is true enough
that the tiller Of the soil has received
a black eye this season, but the jolt
he has received is in way no worse
than others in different lines OF en-
ployment have received, too.
A year ago the opportunity to Sc
cure employment at high wages was
at hand everywhere. Not realizing
the high cost of existing in congested
centers many farmers deserted the
farms and flocked to towns and cities
chasing the proyerbial pot of good
at the rainbows end. Their calcula-
tion failed to take in living expenses
and when they balanced the ledger
at the end of each month their big in
come barely balanced the expense.
Today we are facing situation per-
haps unparalleled in our history Al
ready many manufacturing plants
have either shut down entirely or are
reducing the number of men employ
ed. A press report published the 9th
er day stated that half million men
had been thrown out of employment.
One big automobile concern closed
down for an indefinite period and fiji
teen thousand men lost their jobs.
The big automobile tire factories at
Akron. Ohio, discharged men by the
thousands during the last few months.
The railroads have let out many
thousands and will let out as many
more soon. This seems the story in
almost every line, and the unfortunate
ones will find it hard shedding to
keep body and soul from parting COM
pany unless they retire to some place
where they can produce the necessities
of life.
The farm, it has been well said, is
the real backbone of the nation. If the
farmers went on strike or closed
operations indefinitely we would wit
ness a starving world After all, mon
ey is not the only thing to be desired,
but simply the medium whereby one
can secure what one needs, and one
needs food and clothing more than
anything else and if these can not be
secured, then money is poor COM
modify and benefits its possessor very
little indeed
The man who follows the pillow as
permanent means of earning liveli-
hood. no matter how little money he
possesses, can at least boast that he
has enough to keep the wolf from the
door. No matter how hard his toll;
no matter how unsatisfactory is the
market for his surplus products, he at
least is in a better position than his
brother who left the pillow to live in
industrial centers and earn daily
wage. The clink of the weekly pay
ron may be alluring, but what does it
spell when one loses out? The man
who sticks to the pillow and raises his
own food can rest easy as to the burn
ing problem facing the city laborer-
where will tommorw's meal come
from?
1t would be advisable for the farm
ing element to "sit tight" and stick to
the game. Many have before now
faced seasons of adversits and felt
inclined to desert the farms and mi
CRATE to some mythical seven heaven
that seems to allure only to destroy.
1T is not necessary to embark next
year on campaign of speculation by
farming, but by using sound Judgment
and learning the hard lesson of saving
and thrift, the crisis nov facing the
farmers as we'll as the nation at large
will be weathered safely. Thousands
may effect to take the foolish step Of
leaving the farms, but in many in
stances thousands will. live to regrRt
the change. Sit tight and follow the
pillow during 1921 and resolve now to
produce food first and sell the surplus