The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-12
FARMER looks
FOR JUSTICE
( IN NEW ONION
Cure for Crisis Presented in
Announcement at Albany
From Leaders.
Nv j. r.. WATSON.

ALBANY, N. Y, Feb. Ire
view of practical farm problems by
a dirt farmer" is presented to the
public in this weeks statement from
the Political Union for Progress In
Government, made public here to-
night. This is a summary OF the
second pamphlet issued by this Or
ganization.
Both the producers OF farm proc.
ucts and consumers are oppressed
by encompassing Industrial ,organi-
cations and politicians, the farm
analyst asserts. Cure for the crisis
arising is summed up as follows:
THE need of the world today
is an assurance Of a full supply OF
food and this must come from the
farms.
ITO insure this supply, we must
encourage production by paying
the farmer enough for his products
to make the farm pay a reasonable
profit.
ITO do this without increasing
the cost to the consumer, we must
reduce the cost Of distribution.
Function of State.
at is a proper function Of the
State to see that necessar facili-
ties are provided, SO that food may
be distributed eff GENTLY and eco
nomically, free from speculation
and manipulation of prices.
''The State Department of Farms
and Markets has not worked as sat.
isfactorily as its founders antici.
pated, and the failure has been due
entirel to political interference.
The State Department of Agri.
culture and Markets should be re-
sponsive to the needs of the farm
ers and directly accountable to the
producers and consumers of the
State.
There should be a revision and
recodification of the agricultural
laws. and removal of all anti
quated and unavoidable provisions,
contradictions and jokers.
"Since eighty per cent OF the
population and ninety per cent Of
the wealth of the State lie within
five miles. Of the barge canal and
Hudson River, and since the State
has built the waterway 1t should
be the function of the State to
stimulate its use, especially in the
movement of food.
When Best Work Is Done.
Farmers will do their best work
for themselves, and when they do
this they do their best work for the
state and nation. And that can be
only when they control the state
offices which have direct control of
farm problems.
Agriculture is the football Of poll
tics.
Work OF Old Bodies.
The old State Agricultural Society
was composed largely of a lot OF
'agrtcultudists' who never got milk
on their boots.
Then came the farm bureau,
which was to do wonders for the
farmer. Like the Agricultural So.
ciety, II is long on making two
blades OF grass grow where before
there was but one, but short on
showing the farmer to grow two
blades more cheaply and how to mar
ket them and get the price Of two
blades instead of one at present.
Politics in Action.
Albany tells the executive COM
mittee of the Farm Bureau what to
do, and whenever the interests of
the political leaders conflict with
the farmers interests, the latter have
about as much chance as a peach
blossom struck by black frost.
Il regret to say that my obserya.
tons and experience bring me to the
conclusion that one political party -
as bad as the other so far as giving
the farmers a square deal is con-
cerned.l
81 realize that he farmers are not
the only ones who have their troubles
in getting a sqaure deal at Albany.
/ can see no harm and look for much
good in this movement to organize all
OF the progressive and independent
electors Of the State with q view to
compelling their Legislative and nd.
ministrative representatives Mt Al
bany to act more in accord with the
common welfare of the people Of
the State"
The Political Union believes that
this cannot be accomplished until
the people arm themselves with the
most effective weapon of democracy.