The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-01-20


ermined, If not angry, protest, and a
luminous swarming of Occupational COZ
erences, Interest groupings, politics
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest u atter
Ion. Indeed, 1t demands our careful
study and examination. 1t Is not like
y that six million aloof and rugged.
Independent men have come togethe
md banded themselves into activ'
inions, societies, farm bureaus, and 81
'orth, for nc sufficient cause.
Investigation Of the subject conclu
lively proves that, while there is much
reinstatement Of grievances and mis-
conception Of remedies, the farmer.
ire right In complaining Of wrongs
song 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
hat contributes, in the raw material
'orm alone, about one-third Of the ma
iOnal annual wealth production and
s the means Of livelihood Of about ~
per cent Of the population, 1t IL OBJ
'ious that the subject is one Of grave
,oDcern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the nation, but
he %well-being Of the other half de-
)ends upon them.
SO long as we have nations, a wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at q large
iegree of national self-suficiency and
self-containment. Rome fell when the
God supply was too far removed from
he belly. Like her, we shall destroy
'ur own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food distantly and precari-
)usly, II we do not see to 1t that our
farmers are well and fairly paid for
heir services. The farm gives the
nation men as we'll as food. Cities
ierive their vitality and are forever
'enewed from the country, but an i'm
)Overished countryside exports intelli-
yence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades Of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek,
he farm, unless agriculture is capable
IF being pursued with cOntentment and
adequate compensation. Hence, to en-
bitter and i%mpoverish the farmer Is to
Try up and cOntaminate the vital
sources Of the nation.
The war showed convincingly how
the nation Is on the full
productivity Of the farms. Despite
le%rculean efforts, agricultural produc-
Ion kept only a few weeks or months
'head Of consumption, and that only
" increasing the acreage Of certain
Itaple crops at the cost of reducing
hat Of others. We ought not to for
'et that lesson when we ponder on
he farmers problems. They are truly
problems and there should
no attempt to. deal with them as
{ they were purely selfish demands
L a clear-cut group, antagonistic to
he rest of the community. Rather
Mould we consider agriculture in the
Ight OF broad national policy, just
s we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
tufts, and so forth, as sinews of ma
lonal strength. Our growing popula-
on and a higher standard of living
emand increasing food supplies, and
lore wool, cotton, hides, and the rest.
WITH the disappearance Of free or
heap fertile land, additional acreage
increased yields can come only
'Om costly effort. This we need not
Kpect from an impoverished or un-
Apply rural population.
1t will not do to take a narrow view
the rural discomfort, or to appraise Z
from the standpoint of yesterday.
his Is peculiarly an age of f1ux and :
lange and new deals. Because a
ing always has been so no longer f
cans that 1t is righteous, or always &
all be so. More, perhaps, than ever S
fore, there is a widespread feeling q
at all human relations can be i'm l
owed by taking thought, and that II t
not becoming for the reasoning ami c
to leave his destiny largely to Il
ance and natural incidence. n
Prudent and orderly adjustment of o
and distribution in accord q
&c with consumption is recognized C
wise management in every business
I that Of farming. Yet, | venture p
say, there is no other industry In y
Itch IT is so important to the pub. b
to the city-dweller-that produc- k
n should be sure, steady, and in a
and that distribution should Il
In proportion to the need. The un- Il
farmers naturally act blind al
and impulsively and, in conse- g.
snce, surfeit and dearth, accompa- te
d by disconcerting price-variations, ell
ass the consumer. One year pota- OF
s rot In the fields because Of excess
duction, and there is a scarcity Of k
things that have been displaced g
make way for the expansion OF the fl
alto acreage; next year the punish sc
farmers mass their fields on some st
crop, and potatoes enter the sc
IS of Injuries and so II. a
Is the greatest and fun ia
nentally the most important Of our In
industries. The cities are sc
the branches Of the tree of ma In