The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-01-27

leffnlned, II moi angry. protest, and an
ohlinoas syarming OF occupational CON
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such q
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination II Is not like.
ly that six million aloof and ruggedIy
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 thar
il Is feasible to relieve their ills with
benefit to the resi- of the community
This being the case of an industry
thar 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 10
per cent Of the population, ii 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 de-
Ponds upon them
So long MS we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at d large
degree OF national seIf-sufficiency and
Self-containment Rome fell when the
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
EoHr own agriculture and extend our
sources of food distantly and precarl-
ously,. il 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 inn
poverished countryside exports intelli-
gence and retains unlnteIligenee.
only the lower grades of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek,
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
5of being pursued with contentment and
adequate compensation Hence, to EN-
bitANl- anu ltiC is 10
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources of the nation.
The war showed convincingIy how
dependent the nation is on the full
productivity of the farms. Despite
herculean 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
if they We're purely selfish demands
OF clear-cut group, antagonistic to
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light of broad national policy, just
;Js we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth, as sinews of ma
rfonal 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 I'M
happy rural population
Ii viii not do to take narrow view
Of the rural discomfort, or to appraise
it from the standpoint of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age of fltx and
change and new deals. Because a
thing always has been so no longer
means thai it is righteous, or always
shall be 81 More, perhaps, than ever
before, thcre Is widespread feeling
that all human relations can he inn
proved rs taking thought and that il
sis not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL 10 leave his destiny largely to
chance aud natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF
production and distribution in accord
ance 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 1t is. so important to the pub
lie--to the city-dweller--that produe-
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 impulsively and. In conse-
qaence, surfeit and dearth, aeeompa
MED by diseoncertlng prlee-yariations,
harass the consumer. One year pota.
toes rot IN 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 acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some.
other crop, ard potatoes enter the
class Of luxuries; and SO on.
Agriculture is the greatest and fun
damentally the most important of our
American industries. The cities are
but the branches of the tree of ma
ttonal life, the roots Of which go deep.