The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-01-20

ment of unrest, and there is nm I'M
paralleled volume and intensity OF de-
termined, if not angry, protest, ana an
ominuus swarming of Occupatlonal con-
rerences, interest groupings, politicai
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our alien
ton. Indeed, it demands our careiui
study and examination. 1t Is not like
~ that six million alOof and rugsedly
independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, ana so
forth. for no sufficient cause.
Investigation of the subject conclu-
Sively proves that, while there Is much
nverstatcment of grievances and mis-
conception of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining Of wrongs
long endured, and right in holding that
il 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
tionaI annual wealth production and
is the means of livelihood of about 40
per cent of the population, it is OBJ
vlOus 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-
,,opds r,,nn thnm
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at large
degree of national self-Sufliciency and
self-cnntainment. 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 Instantly and precari-
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 i'm
pGvcrished countryside exports lntelii-
gence and retains GnintelliSenc@.
Only the lower grades Of mentality
HHu W III INIiIfllII UNI vi ''NNs
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
of being pursued With contentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to EN-
bitter and impoveriSh the farmer is To
dry up and coLtaminate the vital
sources of the nation.
The war showed cOnvincingly how
dependent the nation IS on the full
f,-sf ,.f In T.tpt a
herculean efforts, agricultural produc-
ton kept only Il 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 were purely selfish demands
nf clear-cut group, antagoniStic to
1he 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 ma
tional strength. Our growing popula-
tinn and Il 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.
1t will not do to take a narrow view
Of the rural discomfort, or to appraiSe
il from the standpoint of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age of tluX and
change and new deals. Because Il
thing always has been. so no longer
means that it is righteous, or always
stall be So. More, perhaps, than ever
before. there Is widespread feeling
that all human relations can be inn
proved by taking thought, and that it
is not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL To leave his destiny largely to
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment of
production and distribution in accord
ance with consumption is recognized
~ wise management in every business
hut that of farming. Yet. / venture
Ia say, there IS no other industry in
which it is 50 important to the pub
licT-to the clty>dweller-that prOduc-
ton should be sure, steady, and in
creaSing. and that distribution should
he in proportion To the need. The I'M
organized farmers naturally act blind
ly and impulSively and, in conse-
querce, Surfeit and dearth, accOmpa-
MED by disconcerting price-variations,
harasS the consumer. One year pota-
toes rot in the fields because of excess
production, and there Is scarcity of
the things that have been displaced
tn make way for the expansion of the
potato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop, and potatoes enter the
class Of luxurles; 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
tional life, the roots Of which go deep
" into the land. We all flourish or
decline with the farmer. So, when we
Of the cities read of the present uni
versal distress of the farmers, Of 3