Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-01


ominous swarming Of occupational con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten
ton. Indeed, 1t demands our careful
study and examination. 1t is not like
ly that six million aloof and ruggedlA
independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and 81
forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu
sively proves that, while there is much
overstatement of grievances and mis-
conception of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining of wrongs
long endured, and right in holding thai
1t is feasible to relieve their ills with
benefit to the rest Of the community
This being the case of an industry
that contributes, in the raw material
form alone, about one-third Of the ma
tional annual wealth production and
Is the means Of livelihood of about 40
per cent Of the population, 1t is OBJ
vious that the subject is one Of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the nation, but
the well-being Of the other half dc
ponds upon them.
SO long as we have nations. wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self-sufliciency and
self-containment. Rome fell when the
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food distantly and precari
ously, il we do not see TO it that oul
farmers are well and fairly paid foi
their services. Tile farm gives the
nation men as we'll as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country, hut an i'm
poverished countryside exports intelli
gence and retains Gnintelligcnc".
Only the lower grades OF mentality
and character will remain on, or seek.
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
OF being pursued with contcntment ana
adequate compensation. Hence, to EN-
bitter and impoverish the farmer is To
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources of the nation.
The war showed convincngly how
dependent the nation is on the full
productivity of the farms. Despite
hcrculcan efforts, agricultural produc.
ton kept only few weeks or months
ahead Of consumption, and that only
by increasing the acreage OF certain
staple crops at the cost OF reducing
that OF others. We ought not to for
get that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems, and there should
he no attempt to deal with them as
II they were purely selfish demands
Of clear-cut group, anta.onistic +"
the rest of the community. Rather
should We consider agriculture in the
light Of broad national policy, just
Ms we consider oil, coal steel, dye
&tuffs, and so forth, as sinrWs OF ma
tional strength. Our growing pnpula
ton and higher standard Of livin.
demand increasing food supplies, and
more wool. cotton, hides, and the res,
With the disappearance OF free 81
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need MOI
expect from an Impoverished or un
happy rural population.
It will not do to take narrow vfen
of the rural discomfort, or to appraise
it from the standpoint Of yesterday
This is peculiarly an age OF fiux ans'
change and new deals. Because II
thing always has been SO no Longer
means that it is righteous, or always
shall be so. More, perhaps, than ever
before, there is a widespread feeIin-
that all human relations can be i'm
proved by taking thought. and that il
is not becoming for the reasoning ami
nal to leave his destiny largely t.
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment o.
production and distribution in accord
ance with consumption is recognized
MS wise management in every business,
but that of farming. Yet. venture
to say, there is no other industry in
which it is SO important to the pub
lic--to the city.dweller--that produc
ton should be sure, steady. and in
crcasing. and that distribution sEoul,
I've in proportion to the need. The I'm
organized farmers naturally act blind
~ and lmpulsively and, in conse
qucnce, surfeit and dearth, acconpa
MED by disconcerting price-variatinnS
llarass the consumer. One YEAR pota
toes rot in the fields because OF excess
production, and there is scarcity o'
the things that have been displaced
to make way for the expansion OF .h'
potato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on SOM
other crop, and potatoes enter thu
class Of luxuries; and SO On.
Agriculture is the greatest and fun
damentally the most important Of on
American industries. The cities ar
hut the branches OF the tree of M
tional life, the roots of which go deer
~ into the land. We all flourish Q
decline with the farmer. So, when
Of the cities read Of the present "
vnrssl ,liStrosS rs the farmers of