The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-09-09
A Square Deal for The
Farmer
BY T. F. PECK
Commissioner of Agriculture

hhOW kh0t WACn hhC A0AihCk 0CH0
his fat cattle from 3 to 6 cents a pound
on foot and goes into frst-class rest
aurant and pays 80 cents TO Sl.5o for
guod teaf steak. he feels that he has
not got his rightful share out of the
cattle sold by him; and he has not.
When he sells bushe of tomatoes for
less than a dollar and pays quarter
for one average size tomato sliced and
served in dish, or sells his clip wool
at 10 cents pound and buys it back
in suit of clothes at from SIS to $40 q
pound, the conviction grows stronger
that he is not getting square deal.
He sells his fat hogs at frcm to 10
cents pound and pays from 40 to rs
cents for an order of ham or breakfast
bacon, And so with verything ne pro-
duces on the farm for market.
IF the farmer were like some other
classes, he would go on a strike so far
as producing a surplus Is concerned.
When he figures his cost of production
for the past year. he cannot see any
profit for him in his work on the basies
of what be receives for bis surplus.
The msnufacturer. when the market
gets oyerstocked and the price of his
product does not Weld hi profit.
shuts down his plant SO does the nine
operator, The merchant will not buy
goods unless their sale will yield prof
1t, When the railroad companies find
that trains are ro; profitable, they are
annulled.
"tIow what would hspl en- If the
q ners n, ul do as pe1pe in tth /
ia.s of sctiv.y 70 WHEN certain of
their operations cease to be profitable? !?
II the fsrmer ceased to produce a sur
plus, all other activities would cease,
because all other activities are d4perd-
ent upon the surpluss products of the
farmer for their lite. sPeope in /
lines Of activity must ear. and they are
dependent upon the farmers surplus
fv- food.
"lf the farmers were inclined, they
could stage a strike with competent or
ganiz alton that would come nearer eL-
forcing their demands than any strike
that has ever been called. They could
produce a surplus. producing only enough
to sustain themselves and their families
True they would be denied some of the
conven ences of prt sent day civilization
which many of them now enjoy, But
when their forefathers as pioreers
wrested tais country from the savage,
they lived md prospered without whatthe
farmer of day would hsye to deprive
himself.
But farm rs are not going to strike
They are going right a!oag producing,
but they are waking up to some mis-
takes they have 10 the past been max.
ing 10 marketing. They are going to
approach closer to tie consumer with
their products, They are simply going
to adopt some Of the practical business
methods employed by those producing
and marketing other products. fhey
are going to do 1t by merchandising
their products instead Of dumping them
without regard to market demands.
They are going to do It hy co operative
community effort, by cohesive organ
izatiop, never BY striking aud demoral
izing the country. And there .is one
thought that should get fixed in the
minds Of every non.producer of farm
products that 10 that he Is q consum-
er Of food and bis only available source
Of supply IL the surplus produced for
market BY the farmer. He should
know that the farmer can live, with
nconveniences witoout producing much
surpius. but that be 1.-THE non-proaucer)
cannot live without the farmers eur.
plus. aud for THAT reason. II no other,
be should lend his cooperation In every
way possible to aid the farmer In get
ting fair margin OF profit for his labor.
"When sensible people realize to the
full the important part the farmer
plays in the very life Of the country,
they will help instead Of hinder him. A
policy that is 9 handicap to the prosperi-
ty Of the farmer is a. unwise a. was
the tabled foolish fellow who killed the
goose ths, lsyed the goldsn egg.
'Tf We AM TO insure q surplus Of
foodst If being produced by the farm
ers. they should ie helped to build
good roads. good schools and churches
in the country. When those sdvsnta-
ges are providedin the country districts,
uou-producers Of farm products In the
cities and industrial eerters heed have
no fear Of shortage Of farm PRODUCTS.
Without such facilities. here nay be
grave fears ofsleh ealsmiry.