The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-12
Reconstruction Rests With Ag-
riculture-JOnathan Davis.
Governor-EIect Speaks to the
Knife and Fork Club of H. G.
INCOME OF ONLY S1S5 A YEAR
Average Amount for Last Three
Years on Farms of Z. s.
He Contrasts Conditions With
Wealth of Industries.

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 12.-'The
burden of reconstruction rests more
heavily upon the agricultural classes
than upon any other class in America
Jonathan NJ. Davis, governor-elect OF
Kansas. told members of the Knife
and Fork club last night at a dinner
at the City club.
Mr.. DAVIS, who entered the guber-
material race in Kansas as a dirt
farmer" candidate, reflected the sem
timents. of the agricultural classes in
his address. pleading their cause as
one who spoke from experience.
"Will it he said by the h. .storians or
the future" Mr.. Davis asked, that.
surrounded by luxury, enjoying their
pleasures, the great organizers or en-
ergy, our captains of industry, who
have so materially aided in the ad-
vancement of American industry and
commerce, played golf while America
was destroyed 2 ,"
Need Higher Prices.
1.-The great need of the farmer" Mr..
Davis said, lis either to raise the price
of his commodities or lower the cost
of manufactured commodities he con-
sumes.
The farmer, despite reverses. with
stood the shock which fell upon in
dustry at the close of the war, This
great industry cannot be destroyed. be-
cause, like the giant of old, it has It's
feet in the soil at the sources of orig
be harassed, rendered less profitable
and made a burden to those engaged
in it. Impairment of its prosperity Is
SO closely interlinked with impairment
of other industries and activities thai
it's condition always is a matter OF
concern to the serious minded men or
affairs"
According to Mr.. Davis. the income
of the farmers in the United States in
1920 was 1902 million dollars. This
amount. divided by the 61& million
farm families in the United States, Mr..
Davis. continued, left a little less than
$1S5 for each farm family as the aver
age income for that year. Conditions
were equally as bad in 1921 and 1922.
Mr.. Davis said.
Farmer Income of S1S5.
"Out of this $1S5," Mr.. Davis con-
tinued, "the farmer must educate his
children, pay his church and hospital
bills, provide his amusement, and re-
pair his buildings, and pay off or re-
duce the loan of Indebtedness he has
with the insurance company or the
bank. There can be no reason for be-
lieving that conditions prevailing
abroad where our surplus must be
sold, will relieve this condition speed
lily. Nor can there be, according to my
belief any relief from the new tariff !
bill, since it will have a tendency to
increase in price what the farmer
buys, with no power to increase the
price of what he has to sell. With
ably sets forth the true situation
prevalent in this country. can anyone
wonder that the farmer is crying for
lower taxes. for better credit facilities.
for lower freight rates, and for some
measures of relief against the prof
iteer?
Contrast with Industries.
Contrast this situation with a re-
port carried recently in daily paper
where announcements were made IN
one column that the Standard Oil
company of Kansas declared 80 per
cent stock dividend; the Bank OF Man
haitian company of New York a stock
dividend of 100 per cent; the Dupont
company a dividend of SO per cent.
the directors of the Vacuum Oil com
pany of New York a dividend of 500
per cent; and that the Studebaker
Corporation had declared a dividend
of 25 per cent. With these bad con-
ditions prevailing with the farmers.
and with these announcements made
by those who profit from the products
of the farmers energy. do you wonder
that there is discomfort, with meas
ure of radicalisn reported in the
Iand?"
The governor-elect declared he was
certain the conditions existing today
warranted the statement that the de-
struction or impairment Of the pros
perity of the farmer directly threat
ened to lower the standard of living
that has been attained in this country