Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-01-26

termined, if not angry, protest, and an
Ominous swarming of occupational con-
ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such a
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
tiOn. Indeed, it demands our careful
study and examination, 1t Is not like
ly 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-
sively 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
is the means of livelihood of about 40
per cent of the population, it 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-
pends upon them.
So long as we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at large
degree of national self-Sufficier"y and
self-containment. Rome fell wnen the
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture and extend our
sources of food distantly and precari-
ousIy, If we do not see to it 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
poverished countryside exports lntelli-
gence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades of mentality
and 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 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-
| tion kept only a few weeks or months
ahead Of consumption, and that only
! by increasing the acreage Of certain
staDle crops at the cost of reducing
that Of others. We ought not to for
get 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
If they were purely selfish demands
of clear-cut group, antagonistic to
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture in the
light of broadS national policy, just
as we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth, as slnews of ma
tional strength. Our growing popula
ton and higher standard Of living
demand increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest
With the disappearance of free OI
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need moi
expect from an impoverished or un
happy rural population.
: 1t will not do to take a narrow view
of the rural discomfort, or to appraist
II from the standpoint of yesterday
This is peculiarly an age of f1ux ant
, change and new deals. Because {
thing always has been so no Longer
: means that 1t is righteous, or alway.
shall be So More, perhaps, than evel
before, there Is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be i'm
proved by taking thought, and that i
! Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
5 NAL to leave his destiny largely Il
t chance and natural incidence.
= Prudent and orderly adjustment o
production and distribution in accord
ance with consumption is recognized
!, as wise management in every business
but that Of farming. Yet, l ventur,
Z to say, there is no other industry il
which it Is so important to the pub
Iic-to the city-dweller-that produc
ton should be sure, steady, and in
creasing, and that distribution shoulC
he in proportion to the need. The un
organized farmers naturally act blind
Iy and impulsively and, in conse
Quence, surfeit and dearth, accompa
, MED by disconcerting price-variatiOns
= harass the consumer. One year pOta
t toes rot in the fields because Of exces
e production, and there is a scarcity o
the things that have been displace,
t to make way for the expansion of tn
potato acreage; next year the punish
I'd farmers mass their fields on SOM
other crop, and potatoes enter tn
lass of luxuries; and so on.
l Agriculture is the greatest and fun
= .lamentally the most important of ou
! american Industries. The cities ar
,ut the branches of the tree Of ma
\ ional life, the roots of which go deeI
: into the land. We all flourish o
o lecline with the farmer. So, when W
: # the cities read of the present un
V ersal distress of the farmers, OF
n STUMP Oh SIX DllllOH uplldTS III the IuTI
d .alue Of their crops in a single veal
!. II their Inability to meet mortgages o
5 10 pay current bills, and how, seeking
). relief from their Ills, they are plan
G. ming to form pools, inaugurate farm
ers' strikes, and demand Legislation
abolishing grain exchanges, privat
k cattle markets, and the like, we ough
not hastily to brand them as economi
{ heretics and highwaymen, and hurl a
, them the charge of being seekers o
i special privilege. Rather, we shoul,
4 ask If their trouble Is not ours, an,
see what can be done to improve tn
7 situation. Purely from self-Interest
II for no higher motive, we SHOULD
d help them. All Of US want to get bac
J permanently to "normalcy;" but is
d reasonable to hope for that conditio
, unless our greatest and most basic in
. duStry can be put on a sound and soli
{ permanent foundation? The farmer
!, are not entitled TO special privileges
l..