Connecticut western news., 1920-09-30


 times the farmer has suffered griev- ously as result. The farmer has a vital interest in our trade relations with other countries, in the admins tration of our financial policies and in many of the larger activities of the government.
 Second.-The right of farmers to form cooperative associations for the marketing of their products must be granted. The parasite in distribution who preys on both producer and con- sumer must no longer sap the vitality of this fundamental life.
 Scientific Study.
 Third. - The Republican party pledges itself to scientific study of agricultural prices and farm produc- ton costs, both at home and abroad, with view to reducing the frequency of abnormal fluctuations here. Stabili- zation will contribute to everybody's confidence. Farmers have complained bitterly of the frequent and violent fluctuations in prices of farm products, and especially in prices of live stock. They do not find such fluctuations in the products of other industries. In a general way prices of farm products must go up or down, according to whether there Is a plentiful crop or a short one. The farmers raw materials are the fertility of the soil, the sum- shine and the rain, and the size of his crops Is measured by the supply of these raw materials and the skill with which he makes use of them. He can- not control his production and adjust 1t to the demand as can the manufac- turer. But he can see no good reason why the prices of his products should fuctuate go violently from week ts week and sometimes from day to day.
 To Step Price FIxIna.
 Fourth.-ws promise te put an end to unnecessary price fixing of farm arbitrarily to reduce farm product prices.
 Government drives against food prices such as we have experienced during the past two years are vain and useless. The ostensible purpose of such drives is to reduce the price the consumer pays for food The actual result Is unjustly to depress for q time the prices the farmer receives for his grain and live stock, but with no ap- pEcNldOAC ECduGllOH pTlCS IuG consumer pays. Such drives simply give the speculator and the pro6teer additional opportunities to add ts their exactions.
 FIfth.-We favor the administration of the farm loan act 70 as te help men who farm to secure farms of their swn needed to practice the best methods ef alvefsifsed farming.
 We also favor the authorization of associations to provide the necessary machinery to furnish personal credit tenant, who is hampered for lack of working capital. Unfortunately as land increases in value tenancy also increases
 An Increasing Evil.
 This has been true throughout his tory. At the present time probably one-half of the high priced land in the corn belt states is farmed by men who because of lack of capital, find ir nee essary to rent This increase In ten ancy brings with 1t evils which are c real menace to national welfare The tenant who lacks sufficient working capital and who too often is working under a short time lease is forced to farm the land to the limit and rob 1t of Its fertility in order to pay the rent Amid such conditions we have inefi cient schools, broken down churches and a sadly limited social life. We should therefore concern ourselves not only in helping men to secure farms of their own and in helping the tenant secure the working capital he needs to carry on the best methods of diversi- fed farming, but we should work out a system of land leasing which, while deing full justice to both landlord and tenant, will at the same time conserve the fertility of the soil.
 Transportation Systems.
 eIxth.-We do not longer recognize the right to speculative profit In the operation of our transportation sys- tems, but we are pledged to restore them to the highest state of efficiency as quickly as possible. Agriculture has suffered more severely than any other industry through the inefficient rail road service of the last two years. Many farmers have incurred disas- trous losses through inability to mar ket their grain and live stock. Such a condition must not be permitted to  continue We must bring about con- ditions which will give us prompt serv- ice at the lowest possible rates.
 Seventh.-We are pledged to the re- vision of the tariff as soon as condb tions shall make 1t necessary for the preservation of the home market for American labor, American agriculture and American industry. If we are to build up a self sustaining agriculture here at home the farmer must be pro tected from unfair competition from those countries where agriculture Is still being exploited and where the standards of living on the farm are much lower than here. We have asked for higher American standards; let us maintain them
 So long as America can produce the foods we need am in favor of buying from America first.
 Fewer Land Hogs.
 Under a sound system of agricul- ture, fostered and safeguarded by wise