Milford chronicle., 1922-01-20

ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such q
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten
ton. Indeed, 1t demands our careful
stady 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 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
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
is 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-belng Of the other half de-
pends upon them.
So long as we have nations, a 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-
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
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 Lne nation
The war showed convincingly how
dependent the nation is ON the full
Of the farms. Despite
herculean efforts, agricultural produc-
tiOn kept only a few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only
BY increasing the acreage of certain |
staple crops at the cost Of reducing
nf Of Va %,
get that lesson when we ponder on +
he farmers problems. They are truly
common problems, and there should
De no attempt to deal with them as
they were purely selfish demands e
4 q clear-cut group, antagonistic to
he rest Of the community. Rather
hOuld we consider agriculture in the o
ght OF broad national policy, just e
8 we consider oil, coal, steel, dye e
tufts, and so forth, as sinews Of ma 81
Onal strength. Our growing pOpula- a
on and a higher standard Of living IL
emand increasing food supplies, and Il
lore wool, cotton, hides, and the rest CT
1ith the disappearance Of free or II
heap fertile land, additional acreage nj
ad increased yields can come only Of
ON costly effort. This we need not q
Lpect from an impoverished or un- C
lppy rural population.
It will not do to take a narrow view pl
the rural discomfort, or to appraise ye
from the standpoint Of yesterday bU
his Is peculiarly an age of flux and kC
lange and new deals. Because q ag
ing always has been so no longer tn
cans that 1t is righteous, or always tn
all be so. More, perhaps, than ever as
fore, there is a widespread feeling gr
at all human relations can be i'm to
owed by taking thought, and that It elC
not becoming for the reasoning ami Of
Il to leave his destiny largely to
ance and natural incidence. ke
Prudent and orderly adjustment of gei
OductiOn and distribution in accord fin
ce with consumption is recognized scS
wise management in every business sta
that Of farming. Yet, 1 venture sci
say, there is no other industry in a
ich 1t is so important to the pub. tai
to the city-dweller-that produc- In
q should be sure, steady, and in ser
asing, and that distribution should ing
in proportion to the need The un- che
anized farmers naturally act blind siv
and impulsively and, in conse- anC
nee, surfeit and dearth, accompa- tro
by dls0oncerting prlce-variatiOns, It
ass tie consumer. One year pota- the
! rot in the fields because Of excess sell
ductiOn, and there is a scarcity of ing
things that have been displaced If t
make way for the expansion of the the,
lto acreage; next year the punish of
farmers mass their fields on some forr
er crop, and potatoes enter the higl
IS Of lUXuries; and so on. v
griculture is the greatest and fun sell
lentally the most important Of our at
arican industries. The cities are he
the branches of the tree of ma He
al life. the roots of which go Deep on
ntO the land. We all flourish or The
inc with the farmer. So, when we duct
he cities read of the present uni that
al distress of the farmers, of a the
up of six billion dollars in the farm NAV
e Of their crops in single gear, pan
heir inability to meet mortgages or win
pay current bills, and how, seeking ~
eff from their ills, they are plan. put
: to form pools, inaugurate farm. nnu
strikes, and demand legislation the
fishing grain exchanges, private eSpe ~.
lie markets, and the like, we ought nlsn
hastily to brand them as economic NUS