News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1922-01-25

termined, If not angry, protest, and an
omnous swarming Of occupational con-
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such a
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, it demands our careful
study and examination 1t Is not like
y 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
| overstatement of grievances and mis-
| conception Of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining of wrongs
Tong endured, and right in holding that
it is feasible to relieve their Ills with
| benefit to the rest of the community.
! This being the case of an industry
| that contributes, in the raw material
| form alone, about one-third of the ma
tional annual wealth production and
per cent of the population, it is OBJ
vious that the subject is one of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the nation, but
the wel-being of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, q wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at large
Of 1t.,1 col c,,H ioi nd
Self-cOntainment. 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 precar,
Ously, if we do not see to it 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- |
gence and retains unintelligence |
only the lower grades of mentality |
and character will remain on, or seek, |
the farm, unless agriculture is capable j,
of being pursued with contentment and |
adequate compensation. Hence, to en- |
bitter and impoverish the farmer is to
dry up and contaminate the vital |
sources of the nation.
The war showed convincingly how |
dependent the nation is on the full |
productivity of the farms Despite
berculean efforts, agricultural produc-
ton kept only few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only |
by increasing the acreage of certain
staple 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, antagonistic 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 ma
tional strength. Our growing popula-
tion and a 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
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort This we need not
expect from an impoverished or I'M
happy rural population.
II will not do to take a narrow view
# the rural discomfort, or to appraise
{ from the standpoint, of yesterday
This is peculiarly an age of f1ux and
'hhnge and new deals. Because
hing always has been so no longer
means that it is righteous, or always !
hall be so. More, perhaps, than ever $
'efore, there<is widespread feeling Z
hat all human relations can be i'm
'royed by taking thought, and that 1t t
5 not becoming for the reasoning ami {
nal to leave his destiny largely to I
hance and natural incidence. r
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF d
reduction and distribution in accord q
nee with consumption is recognized c
: wise management in every business
mt that of farming. Yet. I venture | 2
D say, there is no other industry in y
'hich il is so important TO the pub b
on should be sure, steady, and in "A
reasing, and that distribution should Il
2 in proportion o>the need. The I'M Il
rganized farmers naturally act blind a
and impulsively and, in conse- g
1ence, surieit and dearth, accompa- t.
led by disconcerting price-variations, 81
arass the consumer. One year pota- Of
ies rot in the fields because Of excess
and there is a scarcity Of &
ie things that have been displaced q
make way for the expansion Of the fiji
,tato acreage; next year the punish Sc
! farmers mass their fields on some ST
her crop, and potatoes enter the sc
ass Of Injuries; and so on. a
Agriculture is the greatest and fun ia
mentally the most important Of our in
merican industries The cities are Sc
It the branches u the tree Of ma in
lnal life. the roots Of which 20 deep eli
into the land. We all flourish or si