The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-11-04
BONNIE TERRE

/ have felt enough interest IN the
deliberations of this congress to come
a long distance to address the agri-
culturists here assembled in the hope
that may be able to assist in restor-
ing the farmer to the prosperity that
he is entitled to enjoy. He is the bas-
is of industry and the foundation of
progress. Food and clothing are the
first necessities and the farmer fur
nishes both. In the struggle for ex-
istence he would be the last to die as
he was the first upon the scene when
civilization began. The farmer can, if
necessary, produce the food and cloth
ing necessary for himself and family.
If he did no more, all would be COM
PEELED to farm. The prosperity of the
city rests upon the prosperity of the
farm; the city cannot live independ-
emily of the country. If the farms are
abandoned, the cities would soon de-
cav and, on the other hand, the farm
err cannot be prosperous alone. The
city quickly shares in any revival
that comes to those who till the soil
For this reason thereought to be a
clear understanding Of the relation
ship between the city and the coun-
try-but the country must be consid-
cred first for the protection Of both.
The farmers condition is worse to-
day than it has been in thirty years
worse even than it was in '93 for two
reasons. First, the fall in farm pric-
es has been sudden and, second, other
prices have not fallen with his. In
1913 prices were low but they had fall
len gradually and the farmer could
buy on the same low price level on
which he sold. This year, the farmer
finds himself at the foot of the hills
with drop Of one-half or more in his
prices in single year. He has been
debated and is back to pre-war lev
ell. In many cases he has to sell his
produce at low price after having
raised them on a high price level. His
land is settling down to the level of
his prices and many who bought on
time will lose their farms and all that
they have paid upon them. l need not
dwell upon the situation. the farmers
distress is too well known to need
elaboration.
What can be done? ! venture to
suggest several remedies. First, the
farmers must stand united against
the present effort to shift the burden
of taxation from the privileged few
to the masses. The obvious purpose
to the revenue bill now under dis
cussion in congress is to relatively de-
crease the taxes Of the rich and rela-
lively increase the taxes of the poor,
The revenue bill as it passed the
House, removed the tax from excess
profits and bestowed upon the profit
GERS a gift estimated at $45O,OOO,OOO.
Remember that the tax thus removed
is on EXCESS PROTESTANT is, profits
that are excessive and that mean un-
reasonable and unjust profits. If there
is any who can afford to pay taxes,
it is the man who collects money that
he ought not to collect at all. If he
were to turn over to the government
all that he collects in excess of yea
sonable profit. he could not complain.
But he is not only relieved from taxa
ton for the future but the bill as pre-
pared by the House Committee went
so far as to make repeal retroactive,
which would have allowed him to re-
tain all of the excess profits collected
this year. The bill also reduced the
tax on big incomes, repealed all the
income tax about 80 per cent, which
means reduction of one-half on the
largest incomes. There are less than
five thousand of these but they paid
tax of ninety million dollars. Here is
another large gift to the very rich
and this, too, was made retroactive in
the bill as prepared. This gift to the
profteers and to the men with big in
comes was such gross favoritism that
a Republican caucus struck out the
retroactive clause but permitted the
repeal to stand for the future. Equl-
ty in taxation is the first thing to be
insisted upon. Until the farmer can
secure what he is entitled to he must
resist unfair. unjust levies upon what
he does receive for his crops.
Second, the farmer must give at
tention to the middle man. Statistics
will show that the middle men have
increased in number and in the per-
centage which they take as their pro-
fit. The farmer receives too small
percentage of the price paid by the
ultimate consumer. The middle mans
toll is divided between excess freight
rates, excessive commissions and ex-