The St. Johns herald., 1922-01-26

paralIeled volume and intensity or oe- termined, If not angry, protest, and an ominouS swarming of occupational con ferenceS, interest groupings, political movements and propaganda. Such turmoil cannot but arrest our atten- ton. Indeed, it demands our careful study and examination. It is not like Iy that six million alOof and ruggeoly 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 it 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 na- tional annual wealth production and is the means of livelihood of about 49 per cent of the population, it is Ob- 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 pends upon them.
 So long as we have nations, wise pOlitciai economy will aim at 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, 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 tAe country, but an i'm poverished countryside exports intelll- gence and retains unintelligence. Clly 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 em- bitter and impOverish the farmer is to dry up and cOntaminate the vital sources of the nation.
 The war showed convincingly how dependent tie nation is on the full productivity of the farms. Despite herculean efforts, agricultural produc- tion kept only few weeks or months ahead of consumption, and that only .s by increasing the acreage of certain a staple crops at the cost of reducing S that of others. We ought not to for get that lesson when we ponder on he farmers problems. They are truly common problems, and there should
 no attempt to deal with them as f they were purely selfish demands of a elear-cut group, antagonistic to 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 na- tional strength. Our growing pOpula- tion 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.
 It will not do to take a narrow view of the rural discomfort, or to appraiSe it from the standpoint of yesterday. This is peculiarly an age of Aux and change and new deals. Because a thing always has been so no longer means that 1t is righteous, or always shall be so. Mere, perhaps, than ever before, there is a widespread feeling that all human relations can be inn proved by taking thought, and that 1t is not becoming for the reasoning anil nal to leave his destiny largely to 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, venture to say, there is no other industry in which 1t is so important to the pub lic-to the city-dweller-that produc- tion should be sure, steady, and tn- creasing, and that distribution should be in proportion to the need. The un. organized farmers naturally act blind Iy and impulsively and, in conse- Quenee, surfeIt and dearth, accompa' nied by discoRcerting 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