Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-01-27

ment of unrest, and there is an I'M
paralleled volume and intensity of de-
termined, if not angry, protest, and an
ominous Swarming of occupatlonal con-
ferenceS, interest groupings, polltlcal
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, it demands our careful
study and examination. 1t 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 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
il 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 ma
tinaal annual wealth production and
is the means of livelihood of about 10
per cent of the population, it is OBJ
vlAuS that the subject is one Of grave
concern Not only do the farmers
make up one-haIf Of the nation, but
lie Well-bein- OF the other half de-
ponds upon them
50 long as we have nations, wise
pts:tcial economy viii aim at a large
da nee of national Self-sutticIency and
So Commitment, Rome fell when the
f.- q supply was too far removed from
III" belly Like her, we shah destroy
,4,- own agriculture and extend our
rces of food di~,artIy and preeari-
if we do not see to it that our
-.ers are well and fairly paid for
services. The farm gives the
IN men as well as food. Cities
IKE their vitality and are forever
ewed from the country, but an i'm
ts.erished countryside exports lntelli-
geace and retains unintelIi-euce.
iy the lower grades of mentality
a- character will remain on, or seek,
t.a ta-m. unless agriculture is capable
~ pursued with contentment ana
late compensation. Hence, 10 en-
~ and impover-Sh the farmer is t0
up and contaminate the vital
'ns of the nation.
tt' war showed convincingly how
4euv,.Gent the nation is on the full
}ryllctivity of the farms Despite
f-rrulean efforts, agricultural pruQuc-
pit only a few weeks or montha
If consumption. and that only
ereasing the acrea-e of cerraiR
crops at the cost Of reducing
If others We ought not to for
that lessen when we ponder Oh
farmers problems. They are truly
On problems, and there should
10 attempt to deal with them so
'Hy were purely selfish Demands
slear-cut group, antagoniStic t.
r. rest of the community. RathsF
sid we consider agriculture in &c
at of broad national policy. just
we consider oil, coal. steel, dye
Is. and So forth. as sineWs of rs
aal strength Our growing popula-
n and a higher standard Of living
demand increasing food supplies, and
rurc oleI. cotton. hides, and the rest
Win the Disappearance Of free OF
cheap fertile land. additional acreage
a43 increased yields can come only
f'or. costly effort This we need not
Il from an Impoverished OF un-
A. py rural population.
It will not do t" rake a narrow view
af the rural discomfort, or to appraise
If from the standpoint of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age of tiuX an&
Il nee and new deals. Because @
tl.ng always has been so no longer
means that it is righteous, or always
shall be so More. perhaps, than ever
before, there is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be irn-
proved by taking thought, and that e
is not becoming for the reasoning an
nal to leave his destiny largely 6e
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment &C
production and distribution in accord
ance with consumption Is recognized
as wise management in every business
but that of farming. Yet I venture
10 say, there is no other industry in
which it is so important to the pub
lic-tO the tydweller-that produc-
ton should be sure, steady, and H.
creasing, and that distribution should
be in proportion to the need The uG-
organized farmers naturally act blind
" and impulsively and, in conss-
auerce, surfeit and dearth aceompa-
MED by disconcerting price-variationg,
harass the consumer One year pOte-
toes rot in the fields because of excess
production, and there is a scarcity Of
the things that have been dlsplaceG
TO make way for the expansion Of the
potato acreage; next year the punfss-
cd farmers mass their fields on sOzSe
other crop, and potatoes enter eSg
class Of Injuries; and so on.
Agriculture is the greatest ana fe&-
damentally the most important OF SCR
American industries. The cities are
but the branches of the tree Of NJ
tional life, the roots of which go deeP-
" into the land. We all flourish or
decline with the farmer SO, when we
Of the cities read of the present uni
xeFnGl distress of the farmers, Of a
dump Of six billion dollars in the farm
.yslue Of their crops in single year,
OF fheir inability to meet mortgages q
to pay current bills, and how, seeking
relief from their ills, they are pisa
nlug to form POOLS inaugurate farm
4 - strikes, and demand legislafim
ing grain exchanges, pfiva1o
1Ekets, and the like, we oug4
Il to brand them as econoln6R
"a highwaymen, and hun g
s charge of being seekers q
a 1rilege. Rather, we shouD0
I trouble is not ours, a11
q NJ be done to improve IT,
nrAay from self-interest,
q (igher motive, we should
4! A1l III as want 70 get baek
ltly % @n0fmalcy;;" but r. ~