The Nevada County picayune., 1922-01-19

ternlneQ, IT not angry, pIoteSl' ahu " ominous swarming of occupationai con- ferences, interest groupings, polltlcai movements and propaganda. Such turmoil cannot but arrest our atten- ton. Indeed, 1t demands our earefui study and examination. It Is not nke- ly 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- sively 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 1t Is feasible to relieve their ills with benefit to the rest of the community. This being the case of an industry form alone, about One-third of the na- tional annual wealth production and Is the means of livelihood of about 49 per cent of the population, 1t is ob- vious that the subject is one of grave concern. Not only do the farmers make up one-half of the nation, but the well-being of the other half de bends upon them.
 So long as we have nations, a wise poltcal economy will aim at large degree of national self-sutticiency and self-contanment. 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 Tot see to it that our farmers are well and fairly paid for their services. The farm gives the nation men as we'll as food. Cities derive their vitality and are forever renewed from the country, but an i'm povershed countryside exports lntelli- gence and retains unintelligeEce. 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, to em- bitter and impoyerish the farmer is to i dry up and contaminate the vital sources of the nation.
 The war showed convinclngly how dependent the nation is on the full productivity of the farms. Despite herculean efforts, agricultural produc- ton kept only few weeks or months ahead of consumption, and that only by increa aSing the acreage of certain stable crops at the cost of reducing that Of others We ought not to 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 clear-cut group, antagonstic 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 na- 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 l and increased yields can come only from costly effort. This we need not expect from an impoverished or un- happy rural population.
 It will not do to take a narrow view of the rural discontent, or to appraise 1t from the standpoint of yesterday. This is peculiarly an age of flux and change and new deals. Because thing always has been so no longer means that it is righteous, or always shall he SO More, perhaps, than ever before, there Is a widespread feeling that all human relations can be im- proved by taking thought, and that 1t Is not becoming for the reasoning ami nal to leave his destiny largely to 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, I venture to say, there is no other industry in which 1t Is so important to the pub llc-to the ity-dweler-that produc- ton should be sure, steady, and ln- creasing, and that distribution should be in proportion 10 the need. The un- organized farmers naturally act blind ly and impulsiyely and, in conse- quence, surfeit and dearth, accompa- nied by disconcerting price-yariations, harass the consumer. One year pota- toes rot in the fields because of excess production, and there Is scarcity of