The Glenwood post., 1921-03-26
U. S. Agriculture
NEEDS PROTECTION
Most Important Industry and
Vital to Our Integrity
as a Nation
HARDING FOR FARMERS

Among the many complex problems
none is of greater Importance than that
of agriculture, recognized as the basic
and vital industry Of the country.
I'VE stand" says the Manufactur-
ers' Record of Baltimore, in a recent
editorial, cat the dawn of crucial day
in politics and craftsmanship. Decis-
ions, lasting decisions, are about to be
made which will determine, not for one
decade or one generation, but for ten
decades and for all generations, the fu-
ture and the power of the American
nation.''
Fortunately for the country at large,
President Harding has given this ques-
tion the most serious thought, as was
evidenced in his speech in 1ndianapolis,
when he said:
eff we should unhappily choose the
course of industrial and commercial
promotion at the expense of agricul-
ture, cities will continue to grow at
the expense of the rural community,
agriculture will inevitably break down
and finally destroy the finest rural civ
ilization, with the greatest possibili-
ties, the world has ever seen. Decreas-
ed farm production will make dear
food, and we shall be obliged to send
our ships to far-away nations in search
of cheap foodstuffs, the importation of
which is sure to intensity agricultural
encouragement and distress at home.
Ultimately there will come the same
fatal breakdown and from the same
causes which have destroyed the great
civilizations of centuries past. E.
A frank recognition by all our people
Of this fundamental truth is necessary
if we are successfully to work out this
great national problem"
President Harding thought this then.
There is every reason to believe that he
still thinks it, in spite of the multitude
of advisers by whom he has been be-
seiged in his home town. On the ques-
ton of protection of the American far
mer he has been explicit. Certainly
there was no equivocation, no beating
about the bush, but square stand for
the protection Of the American farmer,
when he said:
"If we are to build up . self -sus-
tanning agriculture here at homo, the
farmer must be protected from unfair
composition from those countries where
agriculture is still being exploited and
whore the standards Of living ON the
farm are much lower than here. {.
In times past duties on agricultural
products were largely in the nature Of
paper tariffs, for we were q great sur
pluAproducing nation. Now that con
sumption at home is so nearly reaching
normal production, the American far.
mer has a right to insist that in our
trade relations with other countries he
shall have the same consideration that
is accorded to other industries, and we
mean to protect, them ALL"
One of the favorite statements of
the late Theodore N. Vail, as sound a
student Of agricultural economics ~
the country has ever known, was that
the community which is unable to
iced itself is inevitably doomed to
bankruptcy and destructon.'
Theodore Roosevelt used to say he
fore he died that he believed the down
fall Of nations in historic days had
been caused, not by battles and cam
paigns, not by the march Of armies,
nor the sweep of navies, but to the loss
of the fertility Of the soil
Surely no senator or congressman,
regardless of party affiliation, will
deny that to preserve this 1t is neces-
sary to have a successful agriculture.
Surely it is equally true that to have a
successful agriculture the prices OF
, agricultural products must show pro-
fit to the producer, or production will
cease. The nation-wid effort to re-
duce prices to pre-war levels must bo
recognized, yet, If this effort contem-
plates the lowest possible prices For
foodstuffs, for all products of the soil,
and hopes, as a result Of this, to drive
/ down the coN of living to such a point
that the wages Of labor can be brought
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