South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-29
MEN GIVING MORE
THOUGHT TO FARM
PROBLEM, He SAYS
Worlds Basic Industry Holds
Attention of Foremost
Thinkers.
BY VICTOR MURDOCH.
Member OF the Federal Trade
Commission


All men are taking more thought
OF the farm problem. The basic In
dstry is agriculture. Bread and
butter - the foundation OF material
thrift, and - has also 20 do with the
spirit
Six startling features II the farm
problem have arisen 10 inconven-
fence those with ready remedies.
F1rst-Tenantry. which is not best
for agricultural thrift, is increasing
by leaps and bounds
Second-In the richer regions,
farms are increasing in average
size.
Third-Great areas Of tillable land
in tillable sections. are not titled.
Fourth-There is measurable
exhaustion OF cheap available land
in new states.
Fifth-The cities are gaining
heavily in population at the expense
OF the country.
Sixth-The annual food reserves
81 the nation are gradually dimin-
ishing despite increased machine
production.
solution OF the problem will not
solve II. This IS the essay periodic
ally written by the city dweller urg-
ing the delights and advantages OF
the farm on his fellow citizen
Another aid that will not solve II
IS the occasional easy preachment
or the city economist 20 the farmer
that the farmer has the best OF It,
Still another aid that will prove
equally impOtent IL the city theory
OF a multiplication OF creature COM
forts and social DELEGATIONS in ru-
raj districts.
The nation is not coming to a
solution Of the problem in any rich
fashion. The nation will not come
10 any solution until It radically re-
forms It's concept of the farm and
the farmer.
Here are some things which the
nation as a whole could helpfully
ponder:
One-Farms are not merely fenced
fields which respond 10 cultivation.
Farming is a profession which must
be learned
TwO-Farms do not yield through
the device OF applying labor cheer
fully 20 fertile soil There is an
other essential notwithstanding
capital. For farming is not only a
prOfession-it is business.
Three-Farms do not show profits
by adding together at the end OF the
season the sales realizations OF their
products. There are material and
labor costs. insurance. taxes. hazard
and depreciation in the profit COM
putation. For farming is not only
a profession and a business. il ia
also the most intricate accountancy.
Having given these factors
thought, II might be well TO take a
few close views Of the farmer.
First-The farmer unites in him
self both capitalist and laborer. Ec-
onomically he is a unit. an individ-
ual unit with no factional advantage.
Second-The farmer is operating
for the most part on competitive
principles in a community where
other labor and other capital are
highly organized.
Third-The farmer. by nature.
comes to know value Of things and
the value OF service. He Is IN ever
lasting opposition 20 charges for
services not performed
That is 10 say. the farmer in his
profession, business and account
fancy. Is a capitalist who works.
takes the profits and losses OF sup
ply and demand. but objects to ar
tifcial interferences with the supply
and demand. lie still has the old
fashioned virtue OF frugality. He
still holds 10 the belief that the
command to earn bread by sweat