The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-12

ferences, interest groupings, pollueal
movements and propaganda. such q
turmoil cannot but arrest our atien-
ton Indeed, il demands our careful
study and examination Il is not Ike
~ 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 apd mis-
conception of remedies, the farmers
are right In complaining Of wrongs
long endured, and right In holding that
il 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
is the means Of livelihood Of about 40
! per cent of the population, IL is OBJ
yious 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, a wise
POLITICAL economy viii aim at a large
degree of national self-suaicieney 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 dist9ntly and precari-
ously, If we do not see 10 IL that our
farmers are well and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
nation men as well ms food Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country. but an i'm.
pOverished countryside exports Inteli-
gence and retains unintclligence
only the lower grades Of mentality
and character will remain on. or seek.
the farm, unless agriculture is cupable
Of being pursued with contenlmenl and
adequate compensation. Hence. 10 EN-
bitter and impoyerish the farmer is to
dry up and cuntaminate 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 increasing the acreage of certain 4
staple crops AT the cost of reducing /
that Of others. We ought not to for /
get that lesson when We ponder on 4
the farmers problems They are truly .
common problems, and there should .
be no attempt To deal with them as
IL they were purely selfish demands
OF a clear-cut group, antagonlstic 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
stuifs. and so forth, as sinews OF ma.
tional strength Our growing popula.
iion 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
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 10 take a narrow view
" the rural discomfort, or 10 apprsise
L from the standpoint OF yesterday
This Is peculiarly an age OF Aux and
change and new deals. Because a
hing always has been so no longer
means that Il Is righteous. or always
shall be SO More, perhaps, than ever
before, there Is a widespread feeling
hat an human relations can be Inn
proved by taking thought. and that Il
: not becoming Tor The reasoning AMI
nal 10 leave his destiny largely 10
nance and natural Incidence
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF ,
PRODUCTION and distribution IN accord
nee with consumption Il recognized ,
IS wise management in every business
nj that Of farming Yet. venture
q say. there Is no other Industry IN ,
which IL is 80 Important "a the pub /
lc- b the city-dweller-th produc. J
ion should be sure. steady. and In 4
reasing. and that distribution should Z
Il n proportion 10 the need The az. /
rgauizei farmers naturally act blind q
y and lmpulsiyely and. In eonse- !
uence. surfeif and dearth accompa 4
lied hy discoucerting price-variatlons. =
arass the consumer one year p0ta 3
les -uf ID the fields because 20 excess
ro8ucf On, and there 6 scarcity 81 I
BE- things that have been displaced /.
b make gay ~ the erpanslau - fhe 3
otato acreage ncu year The punish. !.
3 farmers mass Their feids ~ some !.
Their crop. and potatoes enter The 4
lass - iuxuries and s. -
Agriculture l. the greatest and fun Z.
neniallE the most Important q aui 4,
merIcan Industries TIE cities ars 3.
10 tie branches q the Tree - % r
anal life. the roots o whlet ~ deep a
into ne land We I'll flourish Or :.
eellne with the farmer s.. when We Fl
, tire cities read r the present uni n