The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-03-09
Some Aspects of the
Farmers Problems
(Reprinted from Atlantic Monthly
BY BERNARD M. BARUCH

hCAt VI ualcol, anu tuClC ID Ill ILL
paralleled volume and intensity of de
terlnined, If not angry, protest, and al
ominous swarming of occupational con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten
ton Indeed, 1t demands our careful
study and examination. 1t is not like
ly that six million aloof and ruggedly
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and 80
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
that contributes, in the raw material
form alone, about one-third of the ma
tional annual wealth production and
IL the means of livelihood OF about 40
per cent of the population, 1t 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 well-being of the other half de-
ponds upon them
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a 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
our own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food distantly and precari-
0usly, 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
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 convincingly 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
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
problems, and there should
be no attempt to deal with them as
II they were purely selfish demands
OF a clear-cut group, antagonistic to
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light Of broad national policy, just
rs we consider oil, COAL steel dye
stuffs, and so forth, as sinews Of ma
.ional strength Our growing popula-
ion and 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
Ind increased yields can come only
rom costly effort. This we need not
'xpect from an impoverished or I'M
'appy rural population.
1t will not do to take narrow view
+ the rural discomfort, or to appraise
from the standpoint of yesterday. |
his Is peculiarly an age of fux and
hange and new deals. Because a c
hing always has been so no longer I
leans that 1t Is righteous, or always e
hall be so. More, perhaps, than ever S
efore, there is a widespread feeling q
nat all human relations can be i'm Il
roved by taking thought, and that 1t t
not becoming for the reasoning ami c
nj to leave his destiny largely to II
nance and natural incidence. n
Prudent and orderly adjustment of O
and distribution in accord q
ace with consumption is recognized c.
J wise management In every business
1t that of farming. Yet, l venture pl
say, there Is no other industry in "
hich 1t Is so important to the pub 81
ito the ity-dweller-that produc- k'
IN 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- or
ence, surfeit and dearth, accompa- to
ed by disconcerting price-variations, ell
rass the consumer One year pota- OF
% rot in the fields because Of excess
oduction, and there is a scarcity Of Ike
. things that have been displaced &c
make way for the expansion Of the mn
tato acreage; next year the punish Sc
farmers mass their fields on some sts
Ter crop, and potatoes enter the Sc
SIS Of luxuries and so on
Agriculture is the greatest and fun tai
mentally the most important Of our in
lerican industries. The cities are SCI
the branches of the tree of ma ine
nal life, the roots Of which go deep CHI
into the land We all flourish or siv
line with the farmer So, when we an
the cities read of the present uni tro
sal distress Of the farmers Of 1t
mp Of six billion dollars in the farm the
ne Of their crops in single year, sci