Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-02
SAYS WAR MEMORIAL
MAY INCLUDE OFFICES
Recommends Space for Departments in Structure to
Honor Virginians for Part in World Struggle
Not to Pardon Liquor-Law Violators.

oi the Supreme Court: and To nro-
.ue prompt relief to tho Injured EN-.
| proves OF the State, rerommonJ
.a. an adequate appropriation be
| MADE to cover the total amount or
awards made by the commission
.s inc STATE In such cases; and
| mat. jf feasible. some dennito nro.
visions be made to meet this ms,
charge against the state in IN. IN.
turc effectively.
Agriculture.
This has been n very ,,,s,.,ro,,.
year on tho farmer all over ,h,e
country. Prices have taken decline
after decline until they have gone.
| In many instances, below pro-war
levels and below the cost Of produc.
lion. From the first OF July TO the
hrst OF November. 1920. according. to
government estimated yields, there
was decline In the market value
Of farm products or more than ST.
ooo.ooO.Ot0 In the United states.
This runious condition cannot bc
lcSitimntcly blamed upon large crops
or over production. The govern
mcnts reports show that farm crops
ana i've stock were no greater last
year than In 1916. But the worlds
demand for food products is greater
today than ever before. The wheat
crop for 1920 was 100. oo0,0 900 bushels
less than In 1919, and the 1921 crop
ls short OF the 1920 crop by about
27.0OO.O00 bushels: yet the decline ia
farm prices continues with little
beneht to the ultimate consumer.
These conditions cannot be ex-
pected TO continue. Already the
rural population OF our country Is
about 2.0o0.900 less than the ur-
han. The census shows that In some
OF the counties in the richest ngri-
cultural states the number OF farm
owners has decreased il per cent /:
and the number OF farm tenants In
creased 81 per cent.
The most potent cause OF our pros
cnt social unrest and commercial
staEnation today lies In the fact that
there IN no profitable market for
agricultural products. This means
the farmers purchasing power Is
gone.
a prosperous agriculture will start
again tho hum OF mills and the songs
OF workmcn throughout the land. II
hna been 40 I'm all nations and ages.
Tho burning question. however. rcin,-
tive To the farmer ot today. as wen
hs the thing he is demanding. is
economic justice!
Upon agriculture rests the primal
duty of producing sufficient food: and
farmers. dlscharginB this duty To
society. have right to demand such
returns AZ will fairly compensate
them for technical skin. managerial
ability. capital Invested. and social.
educational, and political oppor
tunitlcs Of those In other Industries.
The farmers products. raised after
twelve months gamble. in which
he stakes seed. fertilizer. equipment.
land. and the labor OF himself and
all his family against the weather.
oil fp,E to ain u nd lt,,nl nagu nd
diseases. are cold In market In com
petition with the products of 6.00o.-
900 other similar producers.
These things lead to farm dcpopu-
lation and decline In national viril!ty.
instead OF tho top OF tho hill" In
agriculture. tho goal or necessity to-
day. AT this time only 80 per cent
OF the United states Is under Guilt
walton. and only IL per cent Is under
high state OF cultivation.
The world needs just az many
farmers as can produce what the
world Will take at n profitable price.
n price that Will make agriculture
sclf-subtaining: turn II fair interest
on the investment: pay fair wage
for the mental and physical energy
expended: and take care OF the risks
peculiar 10 farming.
TO make the oft-repcatcd slogan
farmers best efforts must insure him
better home. more conveniences for
the housewife, better roads. and
modern means of transportation. He
must have community centcrs, and
get away from the grip OF Isolation
These well-merited improvements
Will nll follow profitable prices. and
Will Insure increased production and
virilc, contcntcd population OH the
acres OF idle land.
TO make our remedial enactmcnts
effective In the production and dis
tribution OF farm products. and to
sustain the agricultural life In the
race OF decreasing rural population
we must have In our political and
social conferences ample, competent
and sympathetic representatives OF
the agricultural elements. with whom
| other elements must actively and
heartily co operate. the man to
represent the farmer in the iegisia-
tive halls is one familiar with agri-
culture at it's source.
To stem the lido OF never slack
enins movement toward the cities
and the consequential decrease In
form tenantry. we must make the
lure OF the healthful and delightful
country brighter to sound and whole
| some people than the convcnlcnces
continues to drain our rural popula-
ton.
The farmer asks no generosity at
your hands. gentlemen; Justice will
meet his wants.
The earth feeds and clothes us all,
| but she feeds and clothes us by tho
| farmers hand Ho IS her agent.
through whom she confers her most
essential benefits. The farmers oc-
| cupation, being I'm closest touch with
the fertile earth. is the fundamen-
tai occupation upon which all 9TH
| ers rest.
| Fundamental things are easily
overlooked, and so II has been With
the farmer. His contribution TO the
| public welfare has been taken for
granted; like summer and winter,
night and day. No other equal pro-
| portion Of our people has had so
! small a part in the government. or
so small IL share In the benefits of
| progress.
How can the life OF the farm fam
lily DO made fuller of opportunity.
freer from drudgery, more comfort
able, happy and attractive? How can
| life on the farm be kept at the high
est level. be so improved. dignifiesi
| tl,o