The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-01-26
DEFENDS THE ATTITUDE
or AMERICAN FARMERS

That the American farmer is stand |
ing up 10 the rncksand taking his medi-
cine mRufulIy. even though ii Is bitter
10 the taste, and does not contribute 10
he fattening OF & lean pocketbook, is
shown by the figures Of the exports OF
farm products when measured By bush
els and pounds instead OF dollars.
By that criterion the exports Of farm
products have been 80 per cent greater
this year than last
AIea sured by dollars returned 10 the
producer they have ben 10 per cent less.
That fact explains why the farmers
are not buying with their usual freedom
which has its Influence on the sta gina !
| ton OF business.
Selling products grown On q war
time basis of wages and material at less
! than pre-war prices. hns not only elm
mated their profits bur IL has made
serious inrOads on their capital They
are economizing not because they Ike
II, but because they have to.
/ II IS idle 10 talk Of enlarged mark
/ cts for farm products" The markets
are already as wide as q hungry world
\ but that world has little money 10 nav
/ for the necessities Of life
| In spite of this fact the American
| IN rIner sent abroad IN the first ten
months OF 1921 over 400 millions OF
bushels OF wheat, corn. barley, oats and
rye against Pol million bushels OF the
same products in the corresponding
months of 1920. These great exports
| sold for 90 Millions Of dollars In 1921
against CD millions in the correspond
/ Ing period or 1920 Exports of cotton
/ up 10 November. 1921, We're nearly half
/ 4 million bales greater than during the
same period in 1920. but they brought
/ less than half as much money. This
/ explains why the farmers are not buy
/ ing with their usual liberality; 1t ex-
plains the constant drift from the farms
/ To the city. winch is causing the sOciol-
/ ogiSts so much worry.
/ As the farmers constitute the largest
single class Of producers in this coun-
/ try, il is plainly evident there can be
no general prosperity in which the
| farmers do not share. They cannot be
/ blamed for turning TO other things
when their farms fail TO return a profit.
| IL il a deplOrable situation, but one
/ that will bring its own remedy in time
| Everyone must continue TO eat and
IL enough farmers cease 10 produce
| foOdstuffs TO supply the demand. prices
| viii inevitably advance To point
where they will again prove attractive
! 20 tiliers Of tine soil. When that time
| comes. self interest viii draw the farm
| ers back to the farms. But that may
! De- a long time coming. and a country
with the wonderful agricultural posi-
| Utilities of the United States cannot
| afford TO let them remain undevelOped.
/ Every possible obstruction 10 the per
| mancut prosperity of the farmers should
/ be removed, SO far as IL is possible for
I ~
do H. There are problems OF transpor-
/ tation. Of distribution and cooperation.
| the solution of which might H. helped
| by wise legislative action. The agri-
cultural department has done much for
Z the farmers in the way of Introduction
of new and valuable plants, methods Of
| culture. and keeping insect pests under
control. For all that they are duly ap-
Ipreciative and grateful. If now the in
/ Vulnerable parasites who prey on the
| farmers products as il passes ON its
1 way 20 the consumer, can he eliminated
| they will have additional cause for
| gratitude