Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-01-19

ominous swarming of 0ccupational con
fsrences, interest groupings, politica
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten
ton. Indeed, 1t demands our carefu
study and examination. 1t Is not like
ly that six million aloof and rugged,
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and &c
forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation of the subject conclu
sively proves that, while there Is much
ovorstatement Of grievances and mis-
conception of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining Of wrongs
long 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
10 the means of livelihood of about 40
per cent of the population, 1t is OBJ
vieus that the subject is one of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the nation, but
tho well-being Of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at large
degree Of national self-sufficiency and
self-containment. Rome fell when the
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
sources Of food dlstantly and precari-
ously, II we do not see to it that our
farmers are we'll 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 lntelli-
gence and retains unintelligence.
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 en-
bitter and impoverish the farmer is to
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources Of the nation.
The war showed convlncingly 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 increasing the acreage of certain
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
II they were purely selfish demands
Of clear-cut group, antagonlstic to
the rest Of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light Of broad national policy, just
a. We consider oil, coal, steel, dye
stunts, and so forth, as sinews of ma
tional strength. Our growing popula-
Ion and a higher standard of living
demand Increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton, hides. and the rest
With the disappearance of free or
heap fertile land, additional acreage
md increased yields can come only
rom costly effort. This we need not
xpect from an impoverished or I'M
Apply rural population.
II will not do to take narrow view
( the rural discomfort, or to appraise
from the standpoint Of yesterday.
HIS is peculiarly an age of flux and
hange and new deals. Because a {
hing always has been so no longer
leans that II is righteous, or always G
hall be So More, perhaps, than ever S
efore, there Is widespread feeling a
lat all human relations can be Inn 1
roved by taking thought, and that II {
not becoming for the reasoning ami c
al to leave his destiny largely to II
lance and natural incidence. n
Prudent and orderly adjustment of o
and distribution in accord q
ice with consumption is recognized c,
wise management In every business
It that Of farming. Yet, l venture p
say, there is no other industry In Y,
hiCu IL 10 50 liupOTldnt 10 the DuD- Dl
to the city-dweller-tha produc- k,
N should be sure, steady, and In az
easing, and that distribution should tn
in proportion to the need. The I'M tn
ganized farmers naturally act blind as
and impulsively and, in conse- gr
ence, surfeit and dearth, accompa- to
ID by disconcerting price-variatlons, ell
rass the consumer. One year pota- Of
q rot In the fields because of excess
and there is scarcity of Ike
} things that have been displaced ge
make way for the expansion of the fin
tato acreage; next year the punish SCI
farmers mass their fields on some st,
Ter crop, and potatoes enter the SCI
% of Injuries; and so on.
agriculture is the greatest and fun tai
mentally the most -important Of our in
,erican Industries. The cities are sci
the branches Of the tree of ma ms
nal life, the roots of which go Deep CHI
into the land. We all flourish or siy
line with the farmer. So, when we an