Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1922-01-19

II
terlnned, if not angry, protest and nm
ominous swarmins of occupational con- !
ferences, interest groupings. polltical,
movements and propaganda. Such a |;
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, it demands our careful
study and exa1Gnation. II Is not like
" that six million aloof and ruggedly
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and 80
forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu-
sively proves that, while there r much
Oyerstatement 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 ma
tional annual wealth production and
Ia the means Of livelihood Of about 40
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,heing Of the other half de-
ponds upon them,
30 long as we have nations, q wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self-suttic cheney and
self commitment. 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 precarl.
Qusly, 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 we'll as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country, but an i'm
poverlshed countryside exports intelli-
gence and retains unintelligence
Only the lower grades of mentality
aud character will remain on, or seek,
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
of being pursued with contentment and
ss,sp ~ ~ Fs'Egmp ehsation" Hence; to EN-
$tlttN and lBpSe the f {aFHsl - 70
atyy up aaHt}a! eoptatplRats The vital
S9YEes Of the nation, - ="
d # var showed epnvincingly how
aepAafAf ths nation is on the full
4 productivity 0f the ffarHls. Aesnite
.lle1hleaH efforts, agricultural pFOtf4p-
I tiof kept only a few weeks or months
\ al1ad Of consll ption, and that only
. By increasing Ne acreage of certain
\ sHrle crops at the cost of reducing
\ ttT Of others. we ought not to for
n At that lesson when we PONDER on
| de farmers problems. they are truly
! cmmpn problems, and there should
y b no ATTEMPT to deal with them az
:. they were purely selfish demands
I n clear-cut group, antagOnistlc tn
. te rest Of the community. Rather
senlA we consider agriculture in the
\ khF 8f broad national policy. just
] { i've EpHsider oil, coal, steel, dye
u (Nas, and So forth, Rs sipews Of ms
\ hnal strength, Our growing poplla-
\ ton and q higher standard of living
81 RIaana Increasing food suppflea, and
more wool. cotton, hides. and the rest.
with the disappearance Of free or 4
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. sS
It will not do to take narrow view
jof the rural discomfort, or to appraise
}it from the standpoint Of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age of flux and
change and new deals. Because a
thing 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 inn
proved by taking thought. and that 1t
Is not becoming for the reasoning AMI
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
hit that 6f ttaaifnih Yet, 4venture
i Il ~ $} ER2 TIE Sp &
lio--to the aity:dwell eF-=tlat .nroadiuc.
ton should be- sure. steady, and In
creasing, and that distribution shouIti
he In proportion to tile need. n: Tie I'M
organized. farmers naturally act blind
lyys and impulsively and, Il I'M c0nse-
quence, surteit and deartll. accon,pa.
MED by disconcertlng price.varattons,
harass the consumer. One year' lpota,
L toes rot In the fields because. If efcess5.
production, and there is a scarcely of
/ the things that have beens disphced
/ & f ts5t make way for the expansion q the
potato acreage next year the publish
led farmers mass their fields On aomeS
other crop, and potatoes enter the [
FSclass Of sluxuries; and 50 on!
Agric u1tureiis the greatest and suf.l
danentally the most important ofour
American Industries. The cities are
hut the branches Of the tree 81 81 i ina ma
ttStional Nfe, the roots Of which SO eep
n. 10 tl,n lind We ntls f1Ourihl IL X