The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-01-25

90 = . s. =
The whole rurai world is in fer
msnt Of unrest, and there is an un'
paraileled volume and Intensity OF De
termined, If not angry. protest, and an
oEniuous swarming Of occupationat con
ferences, interest groupings, political
Hsovements and propaganda. Such q
turmoil cannot but; arrest our atten'
,tion. Indeed, 1t demands our careful
study and examination. 1t is not like
II that SIX million aloof and ruggedis
Independent men have come togetheT
ana banded themselves into active
unions societies, farm bureaus, and 30
forth, for no suf1cieat cause.
Investigation Of the SUBJECT conclu-
siyely proves that, while there is mitch
;overstatement Of grievances and mis-
conception OF remedies, the farmers
ere right In complaining Of wrongs
long endured, and right 10 holding that
It 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
! ID the means Of livelihood Of about 49
per cent Of the population, it is OBJ
vious that the subject is one of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make Up sone-half, Of the nation, but
the well-being of. the other half de-
pends upon them.
So long as we lave nations, q wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at large
degree Of national self-sufdciency aaG
self Rome fell when 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-
ously, Il 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 Inn.
poyerished countryside exports intelli-
gence and retains unintelligence.
Only the lower grades Of mentality
and character viii 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 ups and consaminate the vital
sources Of the nation.
The War showed convincingly how.
sdeho ion IS on full
16dpctavity of the farms. Despite
sherculean efforts, agricultural produc-
tion kept only few weeks or months
ahead Of consumption, and that only
by Increasing the acreage, Of certain
staple crops st 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
ff they were purely selfish demands
Of clear-cut group, antagonistlc to
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture ih the
light Of broad national policy. just
as we consider Oil, coal, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth. as sinews of ma
tional strength. Our growing pQpula-
tion and a higher standard of living
demand Increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton. hides, aad 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 un-
happy rural population.
It will not do to take narrow view
OF. the rural discomfort, or to appraise
it from the standpoint Of yesterday.
This is peculiarly an age Of flux and
change and new deals. Because a
thing always has been 90 no longer
means that it is righteous, or always
shall be so. More. perhaps, than ever
before, there is q widespread feeling
that all human relations can be I'M
proved by taking thought, and that 1t
is not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL to leave his destiny largely to
chance and natural incidence:
Prudent and orderly adjustment OF
production and distribution in accord
ance with consumption is recognized
as wise management in every business
but that Of farming. Yet, venture
TO say, there is no other industry in
which IT is so important to the pub
He-to the city-dweller-that produc-
ton should be sure, steady, and in
;creasing, and that distribution should
be in proportion to the need. The un-
organized farmers naturally act blind
" and impulsiveiy and, in conse-
auence, surfeit and dearth. accompa-
MED by disconcerting price-variations,
harass the consumer. One year pota-
foes rot in the fields because Of excess
production, and there is scar y OF
the things that have been dis. .,iaced
to make way for the expansion of the
potato acreage; next year the punish
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop, and potatoes enter the