Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-01-25

uent of unrest. and there Is an un-
paralleied volume and intensity Of de-
termined. II not angry, protest, and an
ominous swarming of occupationai con-
1erences. interest groupings, political
Movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
Hon. Indeed, It demands our careful
sfcdy and examination. 1t Is not like
b that six million aloof and ruggedly
independent men have come together
md banded themselves into active
unions, societies, farm bureaus, and so
Forth, for no sufficient cause.
Investigation of the subject conclu-
lively proves that, while there Is much
overstatement Of grievances and mis-
eonception OF remedies, the farmers
are right I'M complaining Of wrongs
long endured, and right in holding that
& 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
Honal annual wealth production and
s the means of livelihood of about 40
pr cent Of the population, 1t is OBJ
y1ous that the subject is one Of grave
eoncern- Not only do the farmers
make up one-haIf of the nation, but
the well-being of the other half de-
pends upon them.
So long as we have nations, wise
Doliteial economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self-sufiiciency and
1ood supply was too far removed from
TIE belly. Like her, we shall destroy
ear own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food distantly and precari-
ously, II we do not see to 1t that our
1nrmers are well and fairly paid for
xlzeir services. The farm gives the
nation men as well as food. Cities
renewed from the country, but an Inn
poverished countryside exports intelli-
renee and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek,
the farm, unless agriculture is capable
81 being pursued with contentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to en-
bitter and impoverish the farmer is to
dry up and contaminate 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-
Hen kept only few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only
staple crops at the cost Of reducing
that of others. We ought not to for
Gct that lesson when we ponder on
the farmers problems, They are truly
common problems, and there should
~ no attempt to deal with them as
X they were purely,s selfish demands
q clear-cut group, antagonistic to
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture In the
Hight OF broad national policy. Just
as we consider OIL, coal, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth, as sinews Of ma
tional strength. Our growing popula-
tim 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
from costly effort. This we need not
expect from an impoverished or I'M
happy rural population.
1t will not do to take narrow view
|of the rural discomfort, or to appraise
Il from the standpoint of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age of fiux and
change and new deals. Because
thing always has been so no longer
means that 1t is righteous, or always
shall be So More. perhaps, than ever
before, there Is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be i'm
proved by taking thought, and that it
a not becoming for the reasoning ami
nal TO leave his destiny largely to
chance and natural incidence
Prudent and orderly adjustment Of
pfbduction and distribution in accord
nnce with consumption is recognized
q wise management in every business
bnt that Of farming. Yet, 1 venture
TO say, there is no other industry in
which ii Is so important to the pub
1e-to the city-dweller-that produc-
tien should be sure, steady, and in
creasing, and that distribution should,
be in proportion to the need The I'M
orEanized farmers naturally act blind
" and impulsiyely and. in conse-
quence, surfeit and aearth. aecompa
MED by diseoncerting price variations,
harass the consumer One year p0ta
toes rot in the fields because of excess
production, and there is a scarcity of
the things that have been displaced
90 make way for the expansion Of the
potato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop. and spotatoes enter the
class of Injuries: and so on.
\ agriculture is the greatest and fun
dalnentaliy the most important Of our
american industries. The cities are
but the branches Of the tree of ma
lional life the roots of which 90 deep
II into the land We all flourish or
feciine with the farmer. So, when we
81 the cities read OF the present uni
xarsal distress Of the farmers. Of a
siam, ef sis billion d.ilgTs in the farm
Assts@ .f 'lseir crasss single gear