Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-02-14

The whole rural world IS In fer
ment of unrest, and there is an IN
paralleled volume and Intensity OF de-
ternined. II not angry. protest. and an
0miEoGs sWarming OF Occupati"nai con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such a
turmoil cannot but arrest eur aitsh-
ton Indeed, il demands our careful
study and examination. II is not like
ly' that six million alOnf and russsdly
Independent men have come together
AMI banded themselves into active
unions. societies, farm bureaus, ami So
forth, fur no sufficient caHsc.
Investigation nf Tie subject cunclu-
sively proves that, wh!ie ,.c-e l. mach
oyerSiaiemcn, OF grievances and mis-
conception of remedies the farmers
are right Ia complaining of wronss
long endured. ANA right iu holding that
II Is feasible Go relieve ;hc.r ills with
benefit tu the resi- oi iie community.
This being The case of an industry
that contributes, IN ,hr raw material
form alone. about oHc-ihird of the ma
,lolm annual wealth. production and
Is the means rC livelihood of about 80
per cent ol ,ac jnlulion, IL is oh
vi6us llu, lhc subject is one "f grave
concern Not only d. ihr farmers
make up nnc-hJlc of the nation, hut
tlls- well-briu- ut The other half de-
penis upon them.
So long Is We have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy Will aim at large
degree al national sclf-Sulli'icncy and
Sc'f-cmlainmcut. Rome fell when lie
food supply was t"u f2r removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture AMI extend our
sources of food diStantly and prccari-
ouSlN, il We do not see 20 il That our
farmers are well and fairly paid lor
their services. The farm gives She
nation men as well rs fool. cities
derive their vitality and. are forever
renewed from the country, hut IN i'm
povCrished countryside exports ln,eli
gence and retains Unintcllisence.
Only the lower grades of mentality
and character will remain on. or seek
the farm, unless agriculture is caI'ablt
of being pursued with conlentueut AM
adequate compensation. Hence, Ia EN-
bitter and impoNerish the farmer Is Il
dry up ana cuntaminate the Win
sources Of the nation.
The war showed c0nyincinely how
dependent the nation IS uu the ftil
productivity IL the farms. Despite
herculvun efforts. agricultural pruduc
ton kept only iew weeks or month
ahead of consumption, and thai "ul!
by increasing iae acreage 81 certain
staple crops al the cost VI rr'lucin:
that 81 others. We ought hot to for
g-t that lesson when W. ponder %
lh. farmers problems. They are trul,
cululaon problems, and There sh"ulf
be uo attempt Co deal with them ~
II they we're purely selfish demands
Of a clear-cut group, mtag"nisi'c &
the rest ~ the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture In the
light Of broad national policy. just
as we consider oil, coal. steel. dye
siuffs. and so forth. rs sinews Of ma
tlonal strength. our growing pQpuls
tion and a higher standard OF Twins
demand increasing food supplies. and
more wool, cotton, hides, and the Nst
With the disappearance of free oi
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need not
expcct from an impoverished or un
happy rural population.
ftewill no; do To- take narrow view
OF the rural discomfort. or 10 appraisc
II flom the standpoint of Yesterday.
Tlns Is peculiarly an age of iluX and
cllancc and new deals. Because %
ihlng always has been 80 no longer
means that Il Is righteous. or always
shall be So. More, perhaps, than ever
before. there Is n widespread feeling
that all human relations can he I'M
proved by taking thought, and that II
Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
nal to leave his destiny largely TO
chance and natural Incidence.