The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-26


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
tlonal annual wealth production and
Is the means OF livelihood OF about ~
per cent Of the population, It 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-being OF the other half de-
ponds upon them.
SO long as we have nations, a wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a large
degree OF national self-sufiiciency 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, 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 we'll as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
poverished countryside exports lntelli
gence and retains unintelllgence.
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 lmpoverish the farmer Is to
dry up and contaminate the vital
sources Of the nation.
The war showed convlncingly how
dependent the nation Is on the full
productivity Of the farms. Despite
herculean efforts. agricultural producs
ton kept only few weeks or months
ahead Of consumption, and that only
by increasing the acreage Of certain
staple crops at the cost Of reducing
that OF others. We ought not to for
get that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems, and there should
be no attempt to deal with them as
II they were purely selfish demands
Of clear-cut group, antagonistic 10
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
stuffs. and so forth. as sinews Of ma
tional strength. Our growing popuia-
ton and a 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 un.
happy rural population.
II will not do to take a narrow view
Of the rural discomfort, or TO appraise
II from the standpoint OF yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age OF huI and
change and new deals. Because q
thing 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
that all human relations can be I'm
proved by taking thought. and that II
Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF
production and distribution In accord
ance with consumption is recognized
as wise management In every business
but that OF farming. Yet l venture
to say, there Is no other industry in
which II Is so important to the pub
lic-to the city-dweller-that produc-
ton should be sure. steady, and In
creasing. and that distribution should
be IN proportion to the need. The IN
organized farmers naturally act blind
ly and impulsively and, In conse-
quence, surfeit and dearth, accompa
MED by disconcerting price-variations,
harass the consumer. One year pOta.
toes rot In the fields because OF excess
production, and there Is scarcity OF
the things that have been displaced
to make way for the expansion OF the
potato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop. and potatoes enter the
class OF Injuries; and so on.
Agriculture is the greatest and fun
damentally the most important OF our
American Industries. The cities are
hut the branehes of the tree OF ma
tional life. the roots Of which go deep
ly into the land. We all flourish or
decline with the farmer. So. when we
OF the cities read of the present uni
yersaI distress OF the farmers, OF q
slump Of six billion dollars In the farm
value OF their crops In single year.
Of their inability to meet mortgages or
10 pay current bills, and how, seeking
relief from their Ills. they are plan
ming to form pools, inaugurate farm
ers' strikes, and demand legislation
abolishing grain exchanges, private
cattle markets, and the like. we ought
not hastily to brand them as economic
heretics and highwaymen. and huri at
them the charge Of being seekers OF
special privilege. Rather, we should
ask II their trouble Is not ours, and
see what can be done to improve the
situation. Purely from self-'nterest,
II for no higher motive, we should
help them. All Of US want TO get back
permanently to "normalcy;" but 10 u
reasonable 10 hope for that condition
unless our greatest and most basic In