The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-28

BY yAKS b HOLM.

ne Hemeuaoue slough q de1oaif
and sufferiug. In which he hos
noundefsd the past 20 months. His
head II once more shove water and
he feels that tho crisis II past H
believes better times are coming,
although almost lmpefreptibly slow.
The farmer himself says this.
In = 2,6oO-mile trip through the
heart Of agricultural America l
have learned the true condition
from the man with the hoe and tho
man behind the pillow. ! have
talked with the dirt farmer" the
rich, the poor, landlord and tenant,
with tho country banker and the
county farm bureau agent.
have learned first-handed Of the
tremendous struggle the farmer
has had to make both ends meet
during the past year and a half.
Literally. the farmer has suffered
not only from want Of the comforts,
but Of the necessities of life, that
America and the world might eat.
It was told how the value Of his
land shot downward with thud
that meant ruin to many who had
toiled for years for little gain.
learned how prices Of crops and
produce faded away; how many
were gouged and swindled by prof.
teers; how there was suffering for
lack of the comforts Of life; how
the young men left the farm for the
city and how crops were lost for
want of help to harvest them; how
the farmers morale was shot to
pieces.
For a year or more he felt him
self beaten man for whom the
future held but little.
Now his courage has returned.
He has faced about with the light
OF a new spirit in his eyes.
The, practical American farmer ia
not claiming that prosperity is here.
Far from 1t. But he believes 1t is on
the way. slowly coming nearer
every day.
All Optimistic.
I heard everywhere, I'VE lost
money last year. This year We ex-
pect to break even or perhaps make
a little money. Things look bet
ter"
All this is Of tremendous impor-
lance to the country. Farming is
by far the largest OF all the nations
activities. They call 1t the basic
business or industry of the country
and maintain there can be no last.
ing prosperity until the farmer /,
prosperous and spending his mon
ey, the whole country should ther
experience better times.
In this swing through the gar
den OF America" l learned OF mel
who had virtually worked for moth
ing in the past year, II fair rate o
interest be allowed on their invest
nrent. Or, If very small wage b.
allowed to them as workers, thel
their farm as q business, lost mon
ey.
/ was told Of men. supposed.
wealthy through Inheritance o
rich farms, clear Of debt, who ha,
to borrow money enough to pa.
their taxes. They couldn't max
enough from their farms.
Families were found whose casl
income would not exceed $500 70
the year, in addition. Of course, Z
rent and q part Of their food.
These do not mean extreme cases
such as the shiftless, the ignoran
and the unfortunate With har'
work. good crop returns and goo
luck, still there was no money Il
b. made.
.Pre-war prices for his crops AMI
wartime prices for his machinery
groceries, clothing, ETC., were bal
combination.
Said IN Indiana nxmer: It's bal
enough Vhea . man has no worl
and therefore NO pay. But its wors
when you put tn full time and &c
no pay for what you do"
Usually Socfct1vA
Tho average farmer is curiousl
secretive about his financial in
come. Sometimes It 10 because b
himself doesn't know and hates I
admit II
But talked with many farmers 4
Missouri, Iowa, Illinois. Kentuck,
Indiana and Ohio about their In
come. Il was always the same.
II couldn't make . decent livin
last year." they would say.
United States government report
based on surveys IN 1915. Shove
the average farm income then to b
about $500 per year. OF which $40
vas in cash. This was in the bes
three agricultural states.
New surveys are being made TIL
year. No report 10 yet available
hat It will show a change for tn
worse. The farmer may be takin
In the same amount Of money
before. but Il goes only half 4
far.
II $500 was the average income i
1916, the income of those below tn
average can be readily imagined
In some cases 1t was as.low - 500
4 family nowadays doesn't ltv
very high ON $500 per year.
Reasons for Change
The reasons for the change Z
feeling by tho farmers are variet
80 single: thing seems to hay
caused the change.
'Some think that recent ana
pfice raises will cununue-to tn
tsnefit Of the hrmsr.
Some expect considerable bnell
from recent legislation forced b
the farm bloc In congress-
Many believe the growth Of e
operative buying and selling OF
terprises will help much.
The activities Of the farm bures
and government agencies In educa'
ing the farmer to produce more q
cnomically. will help wonderfully
50 many believe.
Money ID easier to Get at II
hanks. too, which VIII also b {
help.