Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-17
FARMERS HAVE BEEN 'DEFLATED" WITH A
BRUTAL THOROUGF1NESS.

For the other eight years of the decade ii
was below the average. Judge by this
measure Of an incomes value the average,
all over the country, dropped from 1888 in
1919 to $3.50 in 1920. But the farmers
income, Judged by exactly the same stand
ard of comparison, dropped from $947 In
1919 to S543 in 1920.
The average value of the average in
come of the entire income-earning pop
u1ation Of the country for the ten years
was 1851. It fell to $3.50 in 1929. But the
farmers average income fell to $54S. The
reduction of the average income in all in
dUtries was from 1857 to $3.50, i. e. a re-
duction of $107. The reduction of the
farmers income was to s545. i. e. cut of
$414.
This cut was In actual dollars. When
it comes to the buying value of the dol
lars, the reduction was even more drastic.
From a total income worth, as measured
by the 1910 standard, Sc, 100, 600, 900, the
farmers were sliced down to a total income,
measured by the same standard, of S.
500, 900, 000-eGnsost one-41a.hf But the
cut in the average income of the average
Garner, all industries being considered, was
| only about one-tenth.
Perhaps you don't like figures and find
! It hard to understand them Shake,
| brother! That's me, too! I'd rather hoe
an acre OF corr in a field of quack-grass
| any time, than tackle lot of figures. But
needs must, when Aud Clootie drives I
shouldn't really pick out a job of hoeing
corn in a quacl1-infested field as my idea.
| of recreation. But it's a task which has
to be performed, nevertheless, when the
quack is there and is going to smother cut
| the corn If it isn't taken care of. Similarly
shall never choose monkeying vita fig
| ures as an amusement. But once in 4
while, we all have to undertake things we
don't like. That's exactly what I'm do
ing this morning.
I'm not bucking away at these figures
because it's any fun to me. Nor, honestly
BECAUSE think you're at all hungry for
them I've too much respect for your ma
tive good sense
Tho truth is that I've heard, just once
too often the complaint that farmers ar,
making great fuss about being hurt 3 Ii
tie, when really they're no worse off than
the rest of the country. and arc esttirs
Just about as fair a deal. It is a com
plant, sometimes a sneering and hostile
one, too widely and too frequently made b.
non-farmers. It is based on the theore1fa
assumption by it's promulgators that
"everybody's getting it in the neck am
one about as hard as another"
That assumption is purely theoretic and
won't stand UP for one minute against &C.
tual facts. That's why in this admittedly
dull talk, I've marshalled a few Of the
demonstrated facts against it. When
some shallow fellow begins to pooh-pooh
the farmers assertion that he isn't get
ting a square deal and a fair show. that
he's being used as a door mat an undue
proportion of the time-then it may be
well for Mr.. Farmer to have a few facts
and figures handy to show that he isn't
merely an unreasonable whisperer.
When little whiffet dog begins t,
snarl and growl and nip at your ankles
you shoe him off good-naturedly for {
time. But if he keeps it up and won't lis
ten to soft words the time eventually come.
when real lifting kick from subscan
TALLY shod foot seems to be about tn,
proper treatment indicated
Not that it need be administered witt
any great show of anger. But if it is tn