Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1922-02-09

bNht w uhlCSt, anu lneiE 10 uh uh
pArnlleled volume and intensity Of de-
termined, II mol angry, protest, and an
eminous swarlnlng of occupatIonal con
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda Such a
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten'
tion. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination 1t Is not like
iy 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-
siyely 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
II 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
70 the means Of livelihood of about 40
per cent Of the population, II 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-being Of the other half de
ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self-sufiiclency and
seif-containment. 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 dlstantly and precari-
eusly, II we do not see to II that our
farmers are well and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
nation men as well as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country, but an i'm
poyerished countryside exports intelli-
Gence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades of mentality
inc character will remain on, or seek,
the farm. unless agriculture Is capable
Of being pursued with contentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to en-
bitter and impoverish the farmer Is to
dry up and contamlnate the vital
sources of the nation.
The war showed convincingly how
dependent the nation Is on the full
productivity Of the farms Despite
herculean efforts, agricultural produc-
tlon kept only few weeks or months
ahead Of consumption, and that only
BY Increasing the acreage Of certain
staple crops at the cost Of reducing
tI,M OF others We ought not to for
ket that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems. They are truly
common problems. and there should
be no attempt to deal with them as
n they were purely selfish demands
Of q clear-cut group, antagonlstic to
the rest Of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light Of broad national policy. just
ss we consider oil, coal, steel, dye.
stuffs, and so FORTH as sinews Of no.
tional strength Our growing popula.
tion and higher standard OF living
demand Increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton. hides, and the rest.
With the disappearance of free or
cheap fertile land. additional acreage
and increased Yields can come only
frem costly effort This we need not
eapect from an impoverished or IN
happy rural population
II will not do to take narrow view
Of the rural discomfort. or to appraise
II from the standpoint OF yesterday
This is peculiarly an age of flux and
change and new deals Because
thing always has been so no longer
means that II is righteous, or always
shall be So. More, perhaps, than ever
before, there Is widespread feeling
that all human relations can be i'm
proved BY taking thought, and that II
Il not becoming for the reasoning ami
nal 10 leave his destiny largely to
chance and natural Incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment of
prodpction and distribution In accord
ance with consumption is recognized
% wise management In every business
but that of farming. Yet, venture
90 say, there Is no other Industry In
which II Is so important TO the pub
le-to the city-dweller-that produc-
lion should he sure, steady, and In
ereasing. and that distribution should
he In proportion TO the need The un-
Organized farmers naturally act blind |
" and impulslvely and, In conse-
quenee, surfeii and dearth. accompa.
nied by disconcer,Ing price-variations,
Lerass the consumer One year pota-
toes rot In The fields because of excess
ss..ael-riian. rnG ihere is scarcity OF
tie things that fave been displaced
10 make way for the expansion Of the
nntato acreage; next year the punish.
Cd farmers mass their fields on some
cther crop, and potatoes enter the
class Of Injuries; and SO on
Agriculture Is the greatest anG run
damentally the most important Of our
American Industries. The cities are
INT the branches Of the tree of na.
t1snal life. the roots OF which 90 deep
II info the land. We all flourish or