The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-07

ana to have the statement strone,v
supported, that 100000 bales Of
cotton, raised on American planta-
lions in a given year, will actually
DO worth more to the producers
than 100000 bales would have
oeen. Equally shocking is the state
ment that 700,000.O00 bushels of
wheat, raised by American farmers.
wouia bring them more money than
i'ooo'oo0,000 bushels. Yet they are
not exaggerated statements. In a
word where there are tens of mill
mons VINO need food and clothing
wnicn they cannot get such a condi-
uon ls sure TO indict the social sys-
tenn which makes 1t possible.
In the main. the remedy lies in
distribution and marketing EVERY
proper announcement should be
given to the cooperative keting
programs. These have proven very
heiplui to the cooperating COM
munlties in Europe. In Russia the
cooperative community has become
the recognized bulwark of law and
order, and saved individualism from
engulIment in social paralysis
Ultimately they will be accredited
wit hthe salvation of the Russian
state.
There is the appeal for this ex-
pertinent. Why not try it? No one
challenges the right of the farmer
TO larger share of the consumers
pay for his product, no one disputes
that we cannot live without the
farmer. He Is justified in rebelling
against the transportation cost.
Given fair return for his labor. he
VIII have less occasion to appeal for
financial aid: and give assurance
that his labors shall not be in vain.
we reassure all the people of a pro-
duction sufficient to meet our ma
tional requirement and guard
against disaster.
Deplores Drift from Farms.
The base of the pyramid of civil
ization which rests upon the soil 10
shrinking through the drift of
population from farm to city. For
| generation We have been ex-
pressing more or less concern
about this tendency Economists
have warned and statesmen have
deplored. We thought for a time
that modern conveniences and the
more intimate contact would halt
the movement, but it has gone
steadily on. Perhaps only grim
necessity will correct 1t, but we
ought to find less drastic remedy.
The existing scheme of adjusting
freight rates has been favoring
the basinE points, until industries
are attracted to some centers and
repealed from others 4 grea,
volume of uneconomic and waste
ful transportation has attended
and the cost increased accorc.
ingly. The grain milling = and
meat-packing Industries AMID am
pie Illustration. and = attending
concentration is readily apparent
| The menaces in concentration are
not limited to the retardipg infiu-
ences on agriculture. Manifestly
the conditions and terms of rail-
way transportation ought not be
permitted to increase this undesir.
able tendency.
Must Restore Balance.
We have just pride in our grea
cities. but we shall find a greater
pride in the nation, which has a
larger distribution Of its popu,a
uon into the country. where com.
paratively self-sufficient smaller
communities may blend agrIcul.
tural and manufacturing inter.
ests in harmonious helpfulnes.
and enhanced good fortune. Sucf
a movement contemplates no de.
struction of things wrought, OF
Investments made or wealth in.
VOWED. 1t only looks to =
general policy of transportation
OF distributed industry. and OF
highway construction, to encour.
age the spread of our population
ana restore the proper balance he.
tween city and country. The prob.
lem may well have your earnes,
attention.
IL mas been perhaps the proudes,
clalm of our American Civilization
that in dealing with human reIa.
uonships 1t has constantly moved
toward such justice in DISTRIBUTING
the product of human energy thai
IL mas improved continuously the
economic status of the mass nj
people Ours has been a highl,
productive social organization. Or
the way up from the elementa,
stages of society we have elimi.
mated slavery and serfdom and ar.
now far on the way to the eIimI.
Hatloh or poverty.
Economic Problems.
through the eradication of iIIit.
eracy and the diffusion of educa.
tion' mankind has reached n stap,
where we may fairly saw that IL
the United States equality OF on.
portunity has been attained thour,
al are not prepared to embrace il
Ihere Is. indeed. a too great ~,
Iergence between the economic con.
oItions OF the most and the leas
aNoreo classes in the Community
Dut even that divergence has now
.oihe 10 the point where we bracke
.ne very poor and the very ricf
'oselher as the least fortunat,
classes. Our efforts may well h,
both. STATUS u
"hlie this set of problems i.
commonly comprehended under III,
seneral phrase capital and labor
Is really vastly broader. 1t is ;
auestlon of social and economic or
sahizatlon. Labor has become ;
contributor, through its. saw
ines' TO the stock Of capital. Will,
.ne people who own the largest in
uNIu"ai aggregates of capital ar,
themselves often hard and earnes
i s,o very often II is extremeI,
; uiicult TO draw the line of de-
8 cation between the two groups
10 determine whether a particuIa,
5 INDIVIDUAL Is entitled to be so
uown as laborer or as capitalist, II
, very large proportion of cases h,
, IS ootn' and when he is both he i,
t the most useful citizen.
Labor. Right to Organize.
The right of labor to organize i
Just as fundamental and necessar,