Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-02-17
A PLEA FOR
THE FARMER

the first industrial pursuits engaged
in after the creation of man. The
first child born into the world, became
a farmer. The second a stock raiser.
The first pfferlngs made to the Crea>
tor, of wnlcn we nave any account,
were the fruits of the field and past
ure.
I From that time until now, these
two Industries have been the basic
industries of all nations. From these
come the raw materials from which
are manufactured most of the articles
that are essential to human existance
and the maintenance of civilized life.
The greater the number of people
| who engage in these two industries,
the more plentiful the necessities upon
which the human family subsists and
the more prosperous the people asa
whole. Every class must look to these
| for their daily food supply. Without
these everything must collapse. Every
kind of business would go to pieces.
LuXuries would become thing of the
past. People can neither eat, drink,
or wear coal, iron, gold silver, bonds
or stocks. The miner, manufacturer,
the banker, the buyer and seller, the
professional man and all others, must
and do look to these two classes for
their daily food. -
These things being true, there are
no other two or one hundred classes
of people under the sun who deserve
as much kindly and grateful consider
| OF, OF fho ha IL nf fhn
public as these do. Both of these
classes may be genelalized under the
single name, Farmer.
/ 1t is passing strange that Tiers
should be any opposition, whatever, to
any kind of legitimate movement on
| the part Of farmers to improve their
material condition, by making Their
business more profitable, through
increased production and securing
better and more remunerative prices
for their products. Some years the
farmer realizes less than the actual
cost of production, when his time and
the money invested are considered.
For example we will say that mis- crop
in given year has market value
of $1,000.00. He has given twelve
months of his time TO its production.
He has used two horses in which he
has invested three or four hundred
dollars. Their feed costs $4,000.
Farm implements $500. Wagon
| $4,000 Taxes $4,000. Upkeep of
| property $4,000 and the other items
of expense aside from living and
school expenses and benevolence. If
a clerk is worth $4,000 per month,
and an official $4,000 per month, is
the farmers time not forth as much :?
Then where is the profit? Where is
the living? This is figured on the as
sumption that this is his first years
farming. But if not and the above
equipment is already his, still he
comes out in debt.
| | have not written these things to
discourage the farmer, nor to deter
| any one from going to the farm, but
| to show that the farmer needs to avail
| himself of every possible means,
whereby he may secure the best pos
sible returns for the time, money ana
/ labor invested.
| Who would dare deny to the farmer
| the right to organize for the more ct
ficient and profitable handling of the
fruits of his labor. Who would deny
to him the right to purchase in the
open markets, either by individual or
cooperative buying at the lowest pos
sible prices? Do not others do it!
| None but the soulless and selfish who
fear that their profits may be less,
would do so. If any one is afraid that
his profits may shrink because, the
| farmer proposes to take care OF hmr
self, let him go to the farm. There
| are hundreds of acres untitled.
Has it ever occurred to you that the
farmers of this country hold the key
to the material situation should they
choose to use it? But they are too
magnanimous to use it. A national
combine of farmers, binding them
selves to produce, for one year, only
enough for their own consumption,
" ould bring every person in the Uni
tel State to their knees, begging them
to produce more By virtue of their
position they hold in their hands the
destiny of the nation should they be
disposed to use their power.
During the late war no class was
more ardently appealed to as the
| farmer. He was urged to increase
production, in order that our armies
might be fed and that we might sup
ply food for the allies. They respond
ed nobly and the war; was won, no less
by the farmer who stayed at home
than the man who went to the front.
| Had he refused to respond to the call
of his country to produce the neces-
| sary supplies, the allied cause must
lhave gone down in defeat.
Give the farmer his dues. Help him
all you can. He is only trying to get
Justice for himself and family. He is
not trying to crush any business or
any body. Just as you help the farm
or you help yourself and every other
material interest. You are much more
dependent upon him than he is on you.
| There ought not to be any antago-
slisms between the farmer and any
other business. Others organize and
combine capitol to secure greater sue
cess for their business. Haven't farm
ers the same rights? We are all fell
How citizens. One has no super
rights and privileges over another.
When each comes to recognize the
rights Of the other, then will the lion
and the lamb lie down together, but
not with the lamb inside the lion.
Here in the Goth century, in the most
Iadyanced Christian civilization the
world has ever known, there should
lie exhibited more of the spirit Of him