The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1922-01-20


toEznlned, if not angry, protest ana an
eminSus swarming Of occupational con-
tsreAees. interest groupings. politeai
AAsvaments and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
sea Indeed, It demands our carefui
aeuAy and examination. It Is not IKE
IL that six million alOof and ruggedly
snAApendent men have come together
ana banded themselves into active
uniOnA societies, farm bureaus, and 80
eosth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu'
avsly proves that, while there Is much
evoratatement Of grievances and mis-
SpAesptiOn Of remedies, the farmers
are right In complaining OF wrongs
ishs endured, and right 10 holding that
4 Il feasible to relieve their Ills with
benefit 70 the rest Of the community.
Ihis being the case Of an industry
hat contributes, in the raw material
epem alone. about One-third OF the ma
nenal annual wealth production and
q the means Of livelihood Of about 40
per cent Of the population. It Is OBJ
vieus that the subject il one Of grave
eoncsrn- Not only do the farmers
maks up one-half Of the nation, but
the wsll.bolng Of the other half de-
ponds upon them.
30 long as we have nations, a wise
political economy will aim at large
degree Of national self-suficiency and
Nelf-consainment Rome fell when the
tod supply was too far removed from
he belly. Like her, we shall destroy
eur own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food dlstantly and precari-
eualy, II we do not see to It that our
farmers are well and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
aation men as well as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
eoAewea from the country, but IN i'm
beveEished countryside exports intelli-
Homeo and retains unlntelligence.
Only the lower grades Of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek,
the farm, unless agriculture Is capable
ok being pursued with cOntentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to EN-
Natksr and impoverish the farmer is to
dry up and cOntaminats the vital
sources Of the nation.
The war showed convincingly how
dependent the nation Is on the full
productivity of the farms. Despite
heTeuiean efforts, agricultural produc-
aiOn kept only few weeks or months
aAaad Of consumption, and that only
~ Increasing the acreage OF certain
staple crops at the cost Of reducing
dat Of others. We ought not to for
aes 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
Ie tAey were purely selfish demands
az q cleaF-eut group, antag0nistic to
eAa rest o. the community. Rather
mAouid We consider agriculture In the
Hight Of broad national policy, just
ae we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
nauEea. and 30 forth, as slnews OF ma
Ssenal strength. Our growing pOpula-
tea and q higher standard Of living
awnand Increasing food supplies, and
msaa wooi, cotton, hides, and the rest.
with the disappearance Of free or
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and iAcreased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need not
expect from an impoverished or I'M
happy rural population.
50 will not DO to take narrow view
e the rural discomfort, or to appraise
Is 3rom the standpoint Of yesterday.
This Il peculiarly an age Of fiux and
change and new deals, Because q
tAiAg always has been 20 no longer
means that II II righteous, or always
shall b %. More. perhaps, than ever
before, there IL q widespread feeling
that all human relations can be I'M
RFeved by taking thought, and that II
q net becoming for the reasoning ami.
nal TO leave his destiny largely to
chance and natural incidence.
FFuAent and orderly adjustment Of
pRoduction and distribution in accord
aAca with consumption is recognized
as wise management in every business
Bet that Of farming. Yet, ] venture
Do Uay, there ID no other industry IN
wAieA II 80 so important to the pub
Ne--&o the city-dwOller-that produc
zion nheuld be sure. steady, and in
eSaasang, and that distribution should
b IN proportion to the need. The un
organised farmers naturally act blind
q and impulStvely and, In conse
auanea, surtelt and dearth, accompa
Mlod BY dlseOncertinG price-varlations
hAEass the consuuaer. One year pota
toes rec n the fields because of excess
production, and there is scarcity Of
che things that have been displaced
d make way for the expansion OF the
notato acreage; next year the punish.
"a farmers mass their fields on some
OtHar crop. and potatoes enter the
class OF Injuries; and 90 on.
Agriculture Is the greatest and fun
6anentaIly the most important OF our
American industries. The cities are
bat the branches Of the tree Of ma,
VssnAi life. the roots Of which 90 deep
iy into the land. We all flourish oil
daelina With the farmer. So. when We
Of tie clties read Of the present uni
varnal diatTess OF the farmers, Of 9
sau@n &c SIX billion dollars In the farm
xalRk q thslT crops in s'ngls year