The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-10
MOhler Urges Farmers To Use
"GOod Horse Sense"
He Warns Against Professional
Friends and Propagandists.
TO MIX BRAINS AND BUSINESS
Must Be Developed
by Farmers, He Says.
Steady Down and Forget Fast,
Is His Advice.

Sounding a warning against the
professional friends" OF agriculture
and the propagaEdists, against the
cure-aIls and avalanche of panaceas
for the present economic conditions,
the state board of agriculture advised
Kansas farmers to exercise good
horse sense and individual RESPONSE
biIity during the coming season, in
statement issued at state headquarters
here today by Secretary J. c. Mohler-
The message to the farmers or the
state is one of hope. II urges the
farmer not 20 allow himself to be
carried away by the agita ton which,
it says. has been disseminated from
the platform and thru the press Inc
farmer is assured that the degree of
his success will depend upon the
brains mixed with the business Bet
ter farm management ana co-opera-
ton are recommended to the agricui-
tural manager as the best methods
for improving his present situation
Farmers Must Help Themselves.
The board of agriculture's statement
in part follows:
I'VE must rot place too much reli-
ance on any remedies other than those
developed by the farmers themselves.
Legislation can be expected to do ut
tie more than enable the farmers to
help themselves individually and thru
organization and cooperation Meth
DDS resulting from years of experience,
under which the country's business is
Systematically conducted, cannot be
replaced in a day or year with some
thing better
'sSeff-styled economists, professional
friends of the farmer, and propagan-
dists have seized upon the depression
in agriculture as a means OF access
to press and platform. to eXpounc
widely different methods of rescuing
the industry from the direful fate
which they profess to see impending.
Many have been visionary; some VI
cious This has been most harmful
and disconcerting TO those who have
been faithfully working the land, to
say nothing of its baneful effect upon
business. In short, it makes bad
situation worse
1t Depends on Brains.
''As the problem of markets. trans
portation, finance and taxes are
worked out, the individual farmer. as
the individual in other industries. can
rest assured that the degree of his
success. hereafter as heretofore. will
depend upon the brains mixed with
the business. In the avalanche of
panaceas cure-alls and remedies that
has descended upon us to confuse.
mystify and disturb. we must not lose
sight of the m ost essential thing of ali
Individual responsibility in improv-
ing conditions thru matters largely
under individual control.
'It would be shortsighted not to
give Intelligent attention to the larger
and then not to vigorously support
those agencies striving for their solu-
tion, but we must not allow agitation
of these questions to divert us from a
proper realization of individual re-
sponsibility.
In agriculture. better farm man
a cement is medium thru which each
individual farmer may improve his
situation If every farmer in Kansas
will give close study to the manage
ment of his own particular farm and
community with a view to more eff
ciency-both in production and mar
keting. we would see developed a di-
Versified agriculture in this state that
would do more to restore the industry
of agriculture and place it upon a per-
manently profitable basis than any
other one thing And this lies with
the farmers themselves.
What We Need Now.
What We need today is to steady
down. to count our blessings, to forget
the past except as it may teach us
useful lessons. and turn to the future
with a determination that its hopes
and aspirations shall be abundantly
realized thru hard work and capable
management.
Good fortune is in sight for agrf-
culture. Recent signs strongly indi-
cate that the tide has turned. Prices
of the more important products of the
farm have made decided gains, while
dairy and poultry products main
tanned high values when other COM
modities were slumping. Breeding
cattle have been tenaciously retained
to replenish our herds. Life-saving
moisture, for which the l15OOOOO
acres of fall-sown Kansas wheat were
thirsting, came and conditions are ia
Vorable for the planting of spring
crops. Agriculturally. the new year
is opening auspiciously.
Let the producers of Kansas enter
into the spirit of the refreshing sea-
son of spring and share the inspira-
ton of its eternal promises. And fur
ther. and all important. let US all use
good horse