American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-02-04

The whole rural world Is In a fer
ment of unrest, and there Is an un
paralleled volume and intensity OF de
termlned, II not angry, protest, and ar
omlnous swarming Of occupationnl con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten
ton. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination. II 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 &c
forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu
slvely 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
II 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 ns
tional annual wealth production and
10 the means Of livelihood Of about 40
per cent Of the population, Il Is OBJ.
vlous that the subject is one Of grave
R0nRQrn 10 ka r..
make up one-half Of the nation, but
the well-belng of the other half de-
Ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, q wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self.sufilciency and
self-contalnment. 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 VI food dlstantly and precari.
Ously, II we do not see to Il 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 nm 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
" being pursued with contentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, 70 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
herculenn efforts, agricultural producl
Ion kept only few weeks or months
ihead Of consumption, and that onl,
~ increasing the acreage OF certain
staple crops AT the cost OF reducing
hat OF others. We ought not To for
ret that lesson when we ponder on
he farmers problems. They are truly
COMMON problems, and there should
'e no attempt to deal with them as
{ they were purely selfish demands
Il a clear-cut group, antagonlstIc To
he rest Of the community. Rather
hould we consider agriculture In the
light OF broad national policy, Just
IS we consider oil. coal. steel, dye
tuffs, and so forth. as sinews of ma
lonal strength. Our growing popula.
lon and higher standard OF living
emand increasing food supplies, and
lore wool, cotton, hides, and the rest.
With the disappearance Of free ~
heap fertile land, additional acreage |
nd Increased yields can come only |
rom costly effort. This we need not
xpect from an impoverished or un.
Apply rural population.
II will not do to take a narrow view
I the rural discomfort, or to appraise
from the standpoint of yesterday. |
his is peculiarly an age Of flux and
hange and new deals. Because
ling always has been SO no longer
eans that It y righteous. or always
'all be so. More, perhaps. than ever
efore, there Is a widespread feeling
mt all human relations can be I'm.
-oved by taking thought. and that n
not becoming for the reasoning ami.
nj to leave his destiny largely to
lance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF
'oduction and distribution In accord
ice with consumption is recognized
wise management In every business
It that OF farming. Yet, I venture
say, there is no other Industry In
hlch II is so important to the pub
to the clty-dweller--that produc
m should be sure, steady, and In
easing, and that distribution should
In proportion TO the need The un
ganIzed farmers naturally act blind
and impulsively and. In conse
ence, surfeit and dearth. accompa
ed by disconcerting price-varlations
rass the consumer. One year pota
rs rot In the fields because Of excess
and there il a scarcity of