Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-01-25

04AAaWNAS 81 AEtaAAl~ Oh WA14&AAA@AAAAA 49,.
ferences, interest groupings. political
movements and propaganda Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed. Il demands our careful
study and examination. II Is not Ike
d. that six million alOOf and ruggedly
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-
sIveIy proves that, while there Is much
oyerstatement 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 10 relieve their ills with
benefit to the rest o. the community.
This being the case OF an Industry
that contributes. In the raw material
form alone, about one-thlrd Of the ma.
tional annual wealth production and
Is the means Of livelihood Of about AZ
per cent 81 the population, IL j. OBJ
vious that the subject Is one Of grave
concern Not only Do the farmers
make up One-half q the nation, but
the welI-being Of the other half de
ponds upon them
So long as we have nations, wise
political economy viii aim az large
decree u national self-suniciency and
self-cuntaInment- 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 ~ food disgnntly and precarl-
ously. II we do not see 20 Il 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
pOverished countryside exports intelli-
Eence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades u mentality
and character viii remain on, or secl,
the farm. unless agriculture Is CAPABLE
OF being pursued with contentment aEd
adequate compensation. Hence, 90 en-
bitter and lmp0verish the farmer Is 10
dry up and coniaminate the vital
sources % the nation
The war showed convincingiy how
dependent the nation Is on the full
productivity % the farms. Despite
herculean efforts. agricultural produc-
ton kept only q few weeks or months
ahead o. consumption. and that only
By Increasing the acreage Of certain
staple crops az the cost OF reducing
that % others. We ought not 20 for
get that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems. and there should
be no attempt 20 deal with them as
n they were purely selfish demands
OF a clear-cuf group. antagOnistic 20
the rest a. the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture In the
light OF broad national policy. Just
as we consider oil. coal. steel, dye
stuffs and 50 forth, as sinews OF ma
ti0naI strength. Our growing popula-
ton and a higher standard OF living
demand increasing food supplies. and
more wool. cotton. hides. and the rest
With the disappearance Of free OF
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
IL win not do 10 take a narrow view
% the rural discomfort. or 20 appraise
Il from the standpoint OF yesterday.
This Is peculiarly an agel OF fiux and
change and new deals. Because a
thing always has been so no longer
means that Il Is righteous. or always
shall be 50. More. perhaps. than ever
before. there Is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be inn
proved By taking thought. and that Il
Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL 20 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. l venture
90 say. there Is no other industry In
which Il Is 50 Important 20 the pub
nc-to the city-dweller-that produc.
ton should be sure. steady, and In
ereasing. and that distribution should
be On proportion 20 the need. The I'M
organized farmers naturally act blind
~ and impulsively and. In conse-
quence. surfelt and dearth. aecompa-
MED by disconoerting 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
20 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 81 Injuries: and 50 on
Agriculture Is the greatest and fun
damentally the most important Of our
American industries. The cities are
hxvs fha branches % the tree % na-