The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1922-02-03

lerlnlneu, IL not angry, protest, anu az
ominous swarming of occupational con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination. 1t is not like
ly that six million aloof and ruggedly |
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active |
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and so |
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 that
it 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 wel-being of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
SO long as we have nations, wise
political economy will aim at large
| ,f cole an an NOV, nj
elf-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 precar-
ously, If we do not see to it that our
farmers are well and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
nation men as well as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country, but an i'm
poverlshed countryside exports intelli-
gence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
of being pursued with contentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to en-
bitter and impoverlsh the farmer Is to
dry up and contantnate the vital
sources of the nation.
The war showed convincingly how
dependent the nation is on the full
productivity of the farms. Despite
herculean efforts, agricultural produc-
ton kept only a few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only
by increasing the acreage of certain
, staple crops at the cost of reducing
r that of others. We ought not to for
get that lesson when we ponder OF
= the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems, and there SHOULD
be no attempt to deal with them rs
, If they were purely selfish demands
d, Of a clear-cut group, antagonistic t
, the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in tn,
- light of broad national policy, jus
S as we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
/ stuffs, and so forth rs snews of ma
d tional strength. Our growing popula
ton and a higher standard of Twin!
e demand increasing food supplies, an,
a more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest
v With the disappearance Of free o
Il cheap fertile land, additional acreng
= and increased yields can come on
ID, from costly effort. This we need ne
expect from an impoverished or ur
happy rural population.
p 1t will not do to take narrow vie'
q Of the rural discomfort, or to apprais
y it from the standpoint of yesterda!
6 This is peculiarly an age of ttuX an
i change and new deals. Because
Il thing always has been so no longe
\ means that 1t is righteous, or alwaS
shall be so. More, perhaps, than eve
Is before, there Is widespread feelin
4 that all human relations can be in
proved by taking thought, and that
Is not becoming for the reasoning an
nal to leave his destiny largely
chance and natural incidence.
n Prudent and orderly adjustment
n production and distribution in accor
u ance with consumption Is rccogniz,
e ms wise management in every busine
x but that of farming. Yet, l ventu
n to say, there is no other industry
II which 1t is so important to the pu
n lic-to the citydweller-tha produ
ton should be sure, steady, and
rreasing, and that distribution shou
n be in proportion to need. The u
organized farmers naturally act bin
Is and impulsively and, in con.
4 uucnce, surfeit and dearth, accom-
q MED by disconcerting price-variatiol
& Harass the consumer. One Yea" POI
u toes rot in the fields because of exec
production and there is a scarcity
the things that have been displaC
n TO make way for the expansion Of I
X potato acreage; next year the puni
II ed farmers mass their fields on so
N other crop, and potatoes enter
n class of luxuries; and So on.
u Agriculture is the greatest and q
laneutally the most important of
American industries. The cities
but the branches of the tree Of
n tional life, the roots of which go de
z ~ into the land. We all flourish
decline with the farmer So, when
of the cities read of the present
yersal distress of the farmers, %
slump of six billion dollars in the ID