South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-05
After a Terrific Struggle, Bet
ter Days Loom up for the
American Farmer.
BY JAMES b. HOLM


BY JAMES b. HOLM
The American farmers is coming
back
He is beginning 10 emerge from the
tremendous slough OF despair and
suffering, in which he has founder
ed for the past 20 months. His head
is once more above water and he
feels that the crisis is past. He be-
lieves better times are coming. al
though almost imperceptibly slow.
The farmer himself says this:
In a 25OO-mile trip through the
the heart of agricultural America I
have learned the true conditions
from the man with the hoe and the
man behind the pillow. I have talked
with the dirt farmer" the rich and
poor, landlord and tenant, with the
country banker and the country farm
bureau agent.
/ have learned first-hand of the
tremendous struggle the farmer has
had TO make both ends meet during
the past year and a half.
Literally. the farmer has suffered
not only from want or the comforts.
but of the necessities of life that
America and the world might eat.
1t was told how the value of his
land shot downward with a thud
that meant ruin to many who had
toiled years for a little gain. 1
learned how prices of crops and pro-
duce faded away; how many were
gOuged and swindled by profteers;
how there was suffering for lack of
the comforts of life; how the young
men left the farm for the city and
how crops were lost for want OF help
to harvest them; how the farmers
morale was shot to pieces.
For a year or more he felt himself
beaten man for whom the future
held but little.
Now his courage has returned. He
has faced about with the light of
new spirit in his eye.
The practical American farmer is
not claiming that prosperity is here.
Far from il. But he believes il is on
the way. slowly coming nearer every
day
All Optimistic.
] heard everywhere. I'VE lost
money last year This year we ex-
pect TO break even or perhaps make
a little money. Things look better"
All this Is Of tremendous i'm
portance 10 the country. Farming is
by far the largest of all the nations
activities. They call it the basic
business or industry Of the country
and maintain there can be no last
ing prosperity until the farmer is
prosperous and contented With the
farmer prosperous and spending his
money, the whole country should
then experience better times.
In this swing through the garden
OF America" l learned of men who
had virtually worked for nothing in
the past year if a fair rate of inter-
est be allowed on their investment.
Or. If a very small wage be allowed
TO them as workers, then their farm
as a business. lost money.
/ was told OF men. supposedly
wealthy through inheritance OF rich
farms. clear of debt, who had to Dor
row money enough 10 pay their
taxes. They couldn't make enough
from their farms.
Families were found whose cash
income would not exceed $500 for
the year, in addition, of course, TO
rent and a part of their food.
These do not mean extreme cases,
such as the shiftless, the ignorant
and the unfortunate. With hard
work. good crop returns and good
luck. still there was no money TO be
made.
Pre-war prices for his crops and
wartime prices for his machinery.
groceries. clothing, etc, were bad
combination.
Said an Indiana farmer: It's bad
enough when a man mas no work
and Therefore Bc ray. But It's
worse yet when you put in full time
and get no pay fCr vrat you do"
UsuaII. sccretive.
The average farmer is cJriOuslv
secretive about MS 57ar cial income
Sometimes il is Rc,sSse he himself
Z esnt know and hates 70 admit 1t.
But i TAXED witt rra1y farmers in
Missouri, Iowa. I',:foIs Kentucky
Inc.ana crd Ohio about their income
and etout Their ntishaor's income.
IL was always ire same
Il c0u.nn't make n decent living
last year" they woJli rsy.
L : government rel orts, based
on sur~tss in 1875, showed the aver
a &c farm snco n thei. 70 be about
$500 Ter year. q Which 5000 was