Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-01-11

termlned, IL not angry, protest, ana an
ominous swarming Of OccupatiOnal con-
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
tlon. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination. II is not like
IL that six million aloof and ruggedly
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions. societies, farm bureaus, anu so
forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation OF the subject eonclu-
siyely proves that, while there is much
oyerstatement Of grievances and mis-
conception Of remedies. the farmers
are right IN complaining of wrongs
Tong endured, and right In holding that
IL is feasible 10 relieve their ills with
benefit TO tine 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
tlonal annual wealth production and
is the means Of livelihood OF about 40
per cent OF tile population. IL is OBJ
vious that the subject is one of grave
concern Not only do the farmers
make up one-haIf If the nation, but
the wcll-belng Of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim az large
degree OF national self-suiliciency and
self-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 precari-
Ously, If we do not see 10 ii 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
poverlshcd 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, 10 EN-
bitter and impoyerish the farmer is 10
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources OF the nation.
The war showed convincingly how
dependent the nation is on the fun
productivity OF the farms. Despite
herculean efforts. agricultural pToduc-
ton kept only a few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only
by increasing the acreage of certain
stanle crops at the cost of reducing
that OF others. We ought not 10 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 clc:Sreut group, 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 ma
tional 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.
Ii will not do to take N 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 a
thing always has been so no longer
means that II is righteous, or always
shall be so. More, perhaps. titan ever
before. there is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be i'm
proved by taking thought. and that IL
is not becoming for the reasoning ami
nal IN leave his destiny largely 20
chance and 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 il is So important 10 the pub
lic-to the city-dwellcr-that produc-
ton should bee sure, STEADY, and in
creaSing. and that distribution should
be in proportion 10 the need. The IN
organized farmers naturally act blind
" and impulsively and, in conse-
uuerce. surfeit and dearth. accomna-
MED by disconoefting price-variationS,
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
notato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop, and potatoes enter the
class &c Injuries: and 50 on.
Agriculture is the greatest and fun
Gamcntally the most Important If our
American industries. The cities are
l.ut the branches OF ;he tree OF Ia
tic-a! life. the roots of which - deep
~ into the land We all flourish or
decline with the Turner So. when we
uf the cities read of the present uni
ve.sal distress 81 the farmers. Of 4