The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1922-01-27

The whole rural world is In fer
ment of unrest, and there Is an un-
paralleled volume and intensity Of de-
termined, IL not angry. protest. and an
ominous swarming Of occupationai con-
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propa ganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
tion- Indeed. II demands our careful
study and examination. 1t Is not like
ly that six million aloof and ruggedly
Independents 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, IT 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-belng Of the other half de-
pends upon them
So long as we have nations. wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at q large
degree Of national selfsufiiciency and
self-contsinment. 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 dlstantly and precari-
cusly, Ii we do not see 10 II that cur
farmers are well and fairly paid fer
their services. The farm gives the
nation men as we'll as food Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country. but an Inn
poverished countryside exports lntelli-
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 em-
bitter and impoverish the farmer Is TO
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources OF the nation.
The war showed convlncingiy how
dependent the nation is on the full
herculean efforts, agricultural prOduc-
tion 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
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
be no attempt 10 deal with them as
n they were purely selfish demands
OF q clear-cut group. antagonlstic 10
the rest OF the community Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light OF broad national policy. just
as We consider oil. coal. steel. dye
stufYs. and so forth. as sinews OF na-
tional strength. Our growing popula-
tion and a higher standard OF living
demand increasing food supplies. and
more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest
With the disappearance OF free or
cheap fertile land. additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need not
expect from an impoverished or uh-
happy rural population.
IL will not do 10 take a narrow view
OF the rural discomfort, or 20 appraise
IL from the standpoint Of yesterday.
This Is peculiarly an age OF hux and
change and new deals Because a
thing always has been so no longer
means that II Is righteous. or always
shall be So More, perhaps. than ever
bsfsre. there Is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be Inn
proved by taking thought. and that Il
Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL 10 leave his destiny largely 10
chance and natural incidence
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF
production and distribution in accord
ancs with consumption Is recognized
as wise management In every business
but that OF farming. Yet, / venture
TO say. there Is no other Industry IN
which IL Is 30 important 70 the pub
lic-to the city-dweller-thst produc-
ton should be sure. steady. and In
creasing. and that distribution should
be In proportion TO the need The un-
organized farmers naturally act blind
ly and impulsiyely and. In conse-
quence. surfeit and dearth. accompa-
nied by disconcertlng prlce-varIations.
harass the consumer. One year pots-
toes rot In the fields because OF excess
preduction. and there u = scsTeitY OF