The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-02-02

On ulSpO9ftl0n o dEY49 DfiC0n
There seems, on the contrary, 70 be q
commonly beneficial purpose 10 realize
stability that will gfvo an orderly
and abundant how Of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro.
ducer. {. -
In view Of the supreme Importance
to the national well.being Of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, wo should be prepared to 70
. long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share Of the wealth
they produce, through the inaugura.
tion Of reforms that will procure q
continuous, and increasing stream Of
farm products. They are far from get.
ting a fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put In by the average farmer and his
family, he 10 femunerated less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, reli.
gious and lay. Though We know that
the eSpresent general distress Of the
farmers Is exceptional and is linked
with the inevitable economic readjust.
ment following the war, It must be
remembered that, although represent.
Ing one-third Of the industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation, the rural communities ordi.
narily enjoy but nfth to q quarter Of
the net annual national gain. Notwith.
standing the taste Of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
IL to-day q lower standard sf lfvins
among the cotton farmers sf the South
than In any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion. 1t seems to me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for q gen.
orally beneficial intsgration Of their
business, Of the Same kind and charae.
ter that other business enjoys. II II
should be found on examination that
the attainment Of this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should We not sympa.
theticaliy consider the plea fer ths
right to cooperate, IL only from our
own enlightened self Interest, In Oh.
tanning an abundant and steaay Cow Of
farm products1
In examining the Agricultural situa
ton with n view to its improvement,
we shall be most helpful II We main.
tain a deta ched and judicial viewpoint
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident Of unsyrhmetri.
cal economic growth instead Of q. crea.
tion OF malevolent design and conspira.
cy. We Amer ans are prone, AZ Pro
fessor David Friday well says In his
admirable hook, profits. Wages and
Prices" to seek q criminal intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
nomic situation" I can positively az
sert from my contact with men OF
large affairs. including bankers, that
as a whole. they are endeavOring ia
fulfill as they see them the obligations
that 10 with their power. Preoccupied
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks Of their own immediate affairs
they nave not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their construo
tive abilities to the deficiencies Of agri
cultural business organization. Agrt
culture, II may be said, suffers from
their prc occupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them They ought now to begin to
respond to the farmers difficulties
which they must realize are their own
On the other hand my contacts with
the farmers have filed me with respect
for them-for their sanity, their pa.
t!ence. their balance. Within the last
year. and particularly at a meeting
called by the Kansas State Board OF
Agriculture and at another called BY
the Committee Of Seventeen, / have
met many of the leaders Of the new
farm movement, and I testify In all
sincerity that they are endeavOrlag to
deal with their problems, not as pro
moters of a narrow class Interest, no!
as explolters Of the hapless consumer
not as merciless monopolists. but al
honest ment bent on the improvement,
of the commCn veal.
We can and must meet such men
and uot cause half way. Their
business Is our bus. ness-the nations
business.