Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-20
FARMER NOW
IS ADOPTING
SIMPLE Ways

John Clay in the Live Stock Reporter.
There are signs of improvement.
riffs in the clouds all over the western
country. 1t comes slowly, a some
what wounded dawn after year of
murkey night. This recovery is aided
by the return of a sanity. SO far as
labor conditions are concerned. The
unionized labor is still holding stiff
upper lip, but the economic conditions
are against tho tyranny that Is worse
than slavery. The slow descent from
war prices, both of commodities and
labor began on the farm, the ranch
and the feed lot. 1t was evident last
year on the bare slopes of New Eng
land hills, and it has been sweeping
gradually westward. Today We are
getting back to normal. Farm labor
has declined one half--thc SIS month
sheep herder is now $50 and by July
first will decline further.
But deeper, more drastic than the
above are the methods used by tho
individual farmer. He is working
himself. employing little outside help.
spending practically nothing. An old
farmer who lived near my childhood
home, was asked by my father how
he had accumulated so much money.
Easy. sir. easy" was his reply, II
sell everything and buy nothing" Not
| very noble or enlightened sentiment,
but our farmers and ranchmen ara
| economy.
In my travels thru the West during
| the past two weeks or more l noticed
| many changes. The buggy in many
places has supplanted tho motor; tha
four horse team and wagon the truck.
| Travel on the highways has declined,
| so far as automobiles arc concerned.
Driving southwark one day from Miles
City. Mont. forty-five miles. We did
| not meet motor. Across a stretch OF
s. miles on a main road in South Da-
kota We met one auto. 1t is not
good condition, we admit. but 1t shows
| that our western farmers and ranch
men are meeting tho issue From the
extremes of extravaganza. they have
dropped to the ground floor OF econ
omy. On this basis they will build
a new fabric of prosperity.
Physically. the western country never
looked better. Winter losses of stock
were far below normal There Is q
sucpr- abundance of feed; moisture up
to date has been ample the growing
crops are away ahead of an average.
There IL a note of optimism in tho air.
The lethargy of the past nine months
is gradually disappearing. As the days
roll by losses viii fade away--they will
, not be forgotten, but the sharp edge,
tho painful sensation will be meilowcd
by time and the resolution that spring.
up in every true patriotic heart to do
the best he can to recover from = cy-
clonic war.
financially we are not In good eon-
dition. The terrific drop In farm pro-
ducts and live stock came 10 sudden
ly that the whole country stAGgered
under the blow. The shock ab0orber
was the Federal Reserve bank. It has
stood the test we'll. being moro lib
cral to some districts than others. II
has saved the country panic such as
We had in 1898 and 1907. Thru its
agency. thru economy. thru cheaper
production. thru giving business-sma II
and grcat-a chance to recover, by
wise government measures that foster
instead of throttle industry. by poll
ticians paying less attention to the die
tatc- OF labor leaders. We shall 70
ahead and prosper.