The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-12-21
How to Get Our Problems Solved
By cHA LLOYD JONES

We have heard much through the last two years
about the farm bios. When this movement began
most people looked upon it as a political curiosity.
But il drew to its support 50 many conscientious
and earnest men that the nation began to realize
that there was something elemental in the idea that
must demand serious national consideration.
The Non-PartiSan League was a forerunner Of
this protest. II advocated a right program for its
members. But il could prosper only in a state like
North Dakota where the larger majority Of the peo-
pie are engaged in Just one buSineSS-grain grow
ing. 1t could not spread. We can't have a govern
ment Of grain-growers. Any one vocation govern
ment is o~ligarchy, There is where this right pro-
test took on impossible political form.
The Populist party back in the SOS and early
COS that Powered in Kansas was the beginning of
the present farm bloc movement.
Cities live on the soil. The big city lives on the
little city, and the little city lives upon the farm.
Science has come along with the automobile, the
telephone and hundred things that multiply efici-
ency, speed ur industry with economy, but always
with the economy that costs. We have been learn
ing how to live better. The lesson has gone out to
the open acres, Fifty years ago few farm boys had
ever tasted ice cream. The soda fountain today is
a village need, and the movie a community demand.
Minnesota eats Florida fruit. There are a thous-
and legal, economic, marketing, industrial prob
lens today where Fifty years ago there was one. In
consequence the cost of administering all govern
ment, township, town, county, state and nation, has
mounted with the multiplication Of the problems
that grew out of our ever increasingly intricate life.
All these make taxes.
In a normal farming community in Nebraska the
tax rate on TILED land has gone from 500 to S494
in just six years. The farmer says. he can't stand
the gaf. The tax cost is exceeding the profit on
production,
The same complaint eomeS from the city banker
and manufacturer. The farmer has no monopoly on
tax complaints, Did you ever hear of a popular
tax?
II doesn't cost anything TO live in wilderness.
We want all things that progress has brought us.
We don't want to part with the soda %founain or the
telephone. We can't give up the auto or the uni
versity extension. Very well, then, what are we
going to do?
New England had a great idea in the town meet
ing. Philadelphia with her nearly two millions of
people, is now talking the town meeting idea. Out
in the corn belt Of the middle west the town meet
ing is again taking hold. And when, in a town of
only 800 people surprise was expressed because
over 200 were in attendance, the answer came,
We have TO go to the town meeting. Its the only
way we can ever solve our problem"
That's the only way we ever can.
Public ownership of public utilities and a scien-
tifc marketing system of the products of the land
will both save our civilization and supply its cost.
The only way we are ever going to get there is to
get together, talk il over and thresh it out. Find
out what We can do, what we want to do, and then
send to our state legislatures and to our Congress
not a set of country lawyers but practical producers
men who know what we want done and who will
do II.