Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1920-09-30


60 Oy many livestock producers ant
Feeders, and pointed out the urgen
need OF restoring the balance between
livestock and grain production a
quickly as possible On this subjec
he said:
For two outstanding reasons IN,
maintenance Of a normal balance be
tween livestock and grain production
Is a matter of national concern. On'
Is that we are a meat-eatine people
ana should have fairly uniform sup
| ply at a reasonable price. Condition:
which either greatly stimulate OF
greatly discourage livestock produc
non result in prices altogether TOO high
| tor the average consuming public OF
! altogether too low for the producer
The other Is that the over-stimulation
or grain production depletes the fer.
| nlity OF our land, which Is our great
eSi national asset, and results In a
greater supply than can be consumed
al price profitable 10 the producer,
and finally TO widespread agricultural
distress from which all OF our people
suffer"
Speaking OF the trend OF prices OF
farm products during the next two or
three years, he said that no one could
forecast them with any accuracy. That
as nation we are undergoing the
same experience that the individual
underg0eS when recovering from
long and dangerous illness. And then
he made this significant statement:
ut must he evident however. to any
one who has given the matter even
superficial consideration, that we have
now come to the end Of the long period
Of agricultural exploitation In the
United States. No longer are there
great and easy and awaiting areas of
fertile land awaiting the land hungry.
We have now under the pillow prac-
ucally all of our easlly-tillable land.
though idle areas await reclamation
and development by that genius and
determination which ever have made
nature respond to human needs Adj
ditions OF consequence, 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
arid country, or by taking water Off OF
the swamp lands, Of which we have
large areas In some sections, or by dig
6hib hhC oiulups O1b vi llC NdA-OfN'
timber lands Of the north and south
Other Alternative an Unhappy One.
IF we should unhappily choose the
course of Industrial and commercial
promotion at the expense Of agricul-
ture, cities will continue to grow at the
expense of the rural community, az
riculture will inevitably break down
and finally destroy the finest rural
civilization, with the greatest possibili-
ties the world has ever seen. Decreased
farm production will make dear food
and we shall be Obliged to send our
ships to far-away nations In search OF
cheap foodstuffs, the importation OF
which is sure to intensity agricultural
Encouragement and distress at home.
"lf, on the other hand, we shall de-
termne to build up here self-sus-
tanning nation-and what lover OF his
country can make different choice?
then we must at once set about the
development of system OF agriculture
which will enable us to feed our peo-
Die abundantly, with some spare for
export in years Of plenty, and at prices
which will insure to the farmer and
lis family both financial rewards and
educational. social and religious liy-
ng conditions fairly comparable TO
hose offered by the cities. A sound
ystem OF agriculture can not be main.
aimed on any other basis. Anything
hort of faAE return upon Invested
apital, and fair wage for the labor
which goes Into the crops, and enough
n addition to enable the farmer to
maintain the fertility of his soil, and
insure against natural hazards will
rive large numbers of farmers to the
tiles"
Senator Harding made It perfectly
lear that this Is problem in which |
ity people have just as much interest
s the farmer That unless we can |
york out a rational and fair agricul- |
ural policy. the drift to the city will |
ontinue and our trouble will grow
Instantly worse.
Speaking of farm organizations, he
aid the farm organization of the pres
nj day is quite different from the or
aniZation Of the past; that farmers
ave oouliu piiIINiIJlto Oh Ut
aniZation that they are adapting to
leir work the methods which busi-
ess men and working men have found
uccessful in furthering their own In
erests. He referred especially to the
lccessful organizations established by
he fruit growers of the west and by
le grain growers of the northwest, and
aid the farmers Of the corn belt
ates are also rapidly perfecting the
lost powerful organization of farm
rs ever known in the country He
ointed out very frankly the danger
lat would come to the nation IL the
roblems of the farmer were not
'ankly recognized, and If the farmer
as not given absolutely fair treat.
ent.
He said we have witnessed restrict
! production of manufactures and OF
Dor, hut we have not yet experienced
e Intentionally restricted production
; foodstuffs, and expressed the hope
Iat we never may have that expert
zee.
While frankly recognizing the need
national agricultural policy, he
sclaimed any intention Of suggesting
at the government should work out
elaborate system Of agriculture and
EN- try to impose ii on the farmers
the country. He denounced such an
fort as utterly repugnant to Ameri-
IN Ideals. He said that government
lternalism, whether applied to ag.
culture or to any other Of our great
ltional industries, would stife ambl-
On, impair efficiency, lessen produc-