The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-06-03
WOOD DISCUSSES
FARM PROBLEMS
Demands Greater Educational.
Social and Economic Adsan-
tages for Rural Sections.

community snd having spent a large
part Of bis life h environments de.
irving their welfare from agricultural
activities. Leonard Wood possesses
arst-hand knowledge Of the problems
that confront the Americas farmer.
ON this topic. as on all others, his
clear thinking leads 20 clarity Of e
preston, and there Is 40 reason why
sny farmer In the United States
should not thoroughly understand
Woods position on the vital questions
that are involved At this time 10 our
agricultural enterprises. or the farm
err and his problems, Wood says
agriculture is the principal source
Of our wealth. The farmers are the
stable. conservative element. They
stand for good government, for the
rights Of property aud the rights Of
men. The Red Flag never dies over
q farmhouse.
THE decrease in agricultural pro-
duction compared with the increase IN
the population OF the country and
the number OF people who live and
work on the farms is disastrous and
should not continue. In other words
the food supply should never be al
lowed 70 fall below the country's re.
quirements. We ought always 10 be
self sustaining
During the war, under every sort
Of handicap, the far1ners~of America
rendered magnificent service In pro-
ducing the food necessary 10 feed not
only the United States but very largely
our Allies. They 2 their sons TO
wal in spite of the shortage of labor
aud by dint OF increased effort they
tremendously increased this country's
output OF food. Had they not done
so, ii would have been impossible for
US TO have taken our part In the war
as we did. The var would nave drag
ged on and probably been lost. Now
the farmers feel that their service wns
not adequately recognized.
1.-THE farmers constitute a full third
II our population, and the welfare of
the nation Is practically bound up with
theirs. Yet the benefits OF modern
civilization have not been extended
to our rural communities in any such
measure as they have a right TO de-
mand.
Make Farm More Attractive.
Education for farm children should
be universally accessible. Rural
schools should be up 10 the standards
Of city schools In every way. The
little state OF Denmark, we are told,
has managed to build up a system Of
rural schools hat leads the world No
doubt this explains the reason why
Denmark leads the world In agrlcul-
tural productivity per acre under cul-
tivation. There is no reason why we,
with our greater resources, cannot
duplicate Denmark's feat, ever out
strip II. Moreover, If we are TO keep
up our national progress. we must see
TO II that our farming population has
comparatively equal educational. so
clal, political and economic advantages
WIFI oui hiHdH ppBhinNA'b.
"Long hours of labor, lack OF proper
returns, and lack of social and intel
lectual attractions are largely respon-
sible for the constant flow of young
and women from the farms TO the
towns and cities. We have done little
or nothing TO make farm surroundings
more attractive or farm labor less OF
q drudgery. We have not developed
our rural highways and modes of com-
munication as they should be.
Every sound and normal man and
woman should have a fair and work.
able chance to earn a living and 10 re
the benefits of their toll. a fair
and workable chance for a decent. use.
full and desirable life, with q chance
TO marry and support a family. and
give the children a reasonable oppor-
tunlty for a reasonable start.
1.-The farmers have a right TO expect
from every national administration a
OF Agriculture In full and
intelligent cooperation with them and
The great farm organizations OF Ameri.
en-. They deserve 10 be given the re-
OF thorough and intelligent study
as TO the cost Of farm products al
and abroad. and should be fur.
the uncensored facts.
I'VE must keep constantly n mind
one most important fact, which is that
nothing must be permitted 10 interfere
ample production. There must
be no fixing OF prices which viii re
suit 70 the deiriment Of the farmer.
price fixing. especially mini.
mum price liking, should be entered
INTO most cautiously and only when II
5 certain that good and not harm will
Il believe In a far larger measure Of
iirect dealing between producers and
consumers Of food. Today altogether
90 small a portion Of the consumers
8