The Mena weekly star., 1922-01-19

e&fmlneds tf not angry, pfotcse @N~
 emiaous swarming of occupational con fsrence5, interest groupings poiitieai movements and propaganda. Such q su1aoii cannot but arrest our stten- son. Indeed, it demands our careful study md examination It is not Ike 1y that six million aioof and rugEedJ Independent men have come together and banded themselves Into active Enions, societies, farm bureaus. and se forth, for no sufficient cause.
 investigation of the subject conclu- xsvely proves that, while there Is much everstatement of grievances and mis- conception of remedies, the farmers are right In complaining of wrongs icng endured, and right in holding that fs Is feasible to relieve their ills with Benefit to the rest of the community. This being ths case of an industry that contributes, in the raw material form alone, about one-third of the na- kional annual wealth production and Is the means of livelihood of about 49 per cent of the population. it is ob- 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 de pends upon them.
 So long as we have nations, @ wise positcial economy will aim at large degree of national self-sufliciency and seIf-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 siistantly and precari- ously, if we do not see to 1t 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 im- poserished countryside exports intelll- 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 eonvinclngly 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 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 to deal with them as if they were purely selfish demands of a clear-cut grean. antagonistic to 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 stuffs. and so forth. as sinews of na- ffonal strength. Our growing popula- ton and 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 un- happy rural population.
 It will not do to take narrow view of the rural discomfort, or to appraise 1t from inc standpoint of yesterday. This Is peculiarly an age of Aux and change and new deals Because fhing 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 feeling that ali human relations can be i'm proved by taking thought. and that It Is not becoming for the reasoning ani- nal 10 leave his destiny largely to chance and natural incidence.
 Prudent and orderly adjustment of production and distribution in accord anee with consumption is reca gn4zed as wise management in every business bet that of farming Yet, 1 venture to say, there IS no other industry In which 1t is so important to the pub hc--to the city-dweller-that produc tioa should be sure, steady, and in eraasing. and that distribution should be In proportion to the need. The un- organized furmers naturally act blind y and ,mpulsively and, in conse cuence, snrfelt and dearth, accompa- nied by disconeerting price-varlatlons, harass the consumer. One year pota- toes rot lo the fields because of excess production, and there Is a scarcity of the things that have been displaced to make way for the expansion of the potato aereage next year the punish ed fgrme-s mass their fields on some other. crop, and potatoes enter the class of iuxuries and so on.
 Agriculture is the greatest and fun damentally the most important If our American industries. The cities are but the branches of the tree of aa- tional life. the roots of which go Goe9- iy Into the land. We all flourish or decline with the farmer. So. when pe ef the cities read of the present uni. y~isal distress of the farmers. of a slump of six billion dollars in the farm 'eiue of their crops in a single year, Of tneir lnaDiuty to meet mortgages or fo pay current bills. and how, seeking relief from their ills. they are plan. ming to form pools. inaugurate farm CTS strikes. and demand legislation soollshing grain exchanges, private cattle markets. and the ike, ue ought mi haaslls. .. h...na Az. .. ------. l. '