Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-02-01

termined. II not angry, protest. and an
omInous swarmlug q occupational con
ferences, Interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Sueh q
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton Indeed. Il demands our careful
study and examination II is not Ike
~ that six million alO0f and ruggedly
independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions. societies. farm bureaus, and 50
forth. for no sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu-
sIvely proves that, while there Is much
overstatement o. grievances and mis-
conception q remedies. the farmers
are right On complaining az wrongs
long endured, and right In holding thar
Il Is feasible 10 relieve their Ills with
benefit TO the rest u the community.
This being the case % an industry
that contributes, In the raw material
form alone. about One-third Of the ma
tionaI annual wealth production and
Is the means of livelihood " about -
per cent u the population, II Is oh
vlous that the subject Is one OF grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up One-half Of the nation, but
the well-belng Of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, a wise
political economy viii aim at a large
decree u national self-suiliciency and
self-contaInment Rome fcll when the
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture and extend our
sources II food distantly and precarl-
susly. n we do not see 90 Il that our
farmers are well and fairly paid FOR
their services The farm gives the
nation men as wei as food Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country. but an lm-
puverlshCd countryside exports iutelu-
rence and retains Uniuteiligencs
only the lower grades 81 mentality
and character win remain on. ~ seek,
the farm. unless agriculture Is capable
OF being pursued with contcntment AMI
adequate compensation. Hence, 90 EN-.
bitter ana Impoyerish the farmer Is 20
dry Up and c0ulaminlte the vital
sources % the nation
The war showed cOuvincluEly how
dependent the nation is On the fun
productivity ~ the farms Despite
herculean efforts. agricultural produc-
ton kept only a few weeks Or months
ahead ~ consumption. and that only
hy Increasing the acreage 81 certain
staple crops az the cost ~ reducing
that 20 others We ought not Go for
get that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems. and there should
Re M attempt 90 deal with them rs
N they were purely selfish demands
~ q clear-cut group, antagonistlc 90
the rest u the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture In the
light ~ broad national policy, Just
as we consider oIl. coal. steel, dye.
stufs. and So forth. - sinews ~ ma
tIonaI 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 II free ~
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and Increased Yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need not
expect from an impoverished or IN
happy rural population
IL win not d. a. take a narrow view
q the rural discomfort, or 70 appraise
4 from the standpoint Of yesterday.
This Is peculiarly an age Of fux and
change and new deals. Because a
thing always has been 50 no longer
means that Il Is righteous, or always
shall be So. More. perhaps. than ever
before, there = a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be Inn
proved b. taking thought and that Il
Is not becoming for the reasoning AMI
NAL 20 leave his destiny largely 20
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment q
production and distribution IN accord
ance with consumption g. recognized
a. wise management In every business
but that o. farming Yet. ! venture
90 say. there Is no other industry In
which it Is 50 Important 20 the pub
lIc-tO the c.fy-dweiler-that produc-
ton should be sure, steady, and In
creaslng. and that distribution should
be in proportion 10 the need The IN
Organized farmers naturally act blind
u and impulslvely and, in oonse-
quence. surfelt and dearth. nccompa-
MED BY dlsconcerting prlce-variatlons.
harass the consumer. one year pOta-
toes rot IN the fields because % excess
production. and there Is a scarcity Of
the things that have been displaced
10 make way Tor the expansion 81 the
potato acreage: next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop. and potatoes enter the
class OF Injuries: and 50 on.
Agriculture Is the greatest and fun
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