The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-03-10
SOME ASPECTS Of FARMERS PROBLEMS
By Bernard M. Baruch

} The whole rural world IL In a fer
ment of unrest, and there Is an I'M
paralleled volume and intensity Of de-
termined, II 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-
ton. 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
1t is feasible to relieve their ills with
beneflt 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
uonal annual wealth production and
y the means Of livelihood Of about 40
per cent Of the population, it Ii OBJ
vious that the subject 10 one Of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up cne-half Of the nation, but
the well-being of the other half de-
Ponds upon them.
So long as we have nations, . wise
political economy will aim at a large
degree Of national self-sufficiency and
eelf-containment 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, II we do not see to 1t 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,
poverlshed countryside exports intelli-
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 impoverlsh the farmer Is to
dry up and contamnate 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-
ton kept only a few weeks or months
ahead of consumption, and that only
by increasing the acreage Of certain
staple 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 broad national policy, just
as we consider oil, coal, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth, as sinews Of ma
N2nal strength, Our growing popula.
ton and i higher standard 9if Living
demand increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest
With the Qisappearance Of free OF
cheap fertile land. additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort This we need not
expect from an impoverished or un
hoG,,v ,,ro1 aop,,lo ton
Ii will not 90 to jake q narrow view
of the rural discomfort, or to appralse
1t from the standpoint Of yesterday
This is peculiarly an age Of flux and
change and 9sY deals Bseavpss /
saii;Srg always has been 50 70 ionssi
&c fieans thai It Is righteous, Of always
shall be So More, perhaps, than ever
before, there Is widespread feeling
that all lumnn relations can be i'm
proved by taking thought, and that !,
Is not becoming for the reasoning ami
NAL to leave his destiny largely tC
chance and natural incidence.
Prudent and orderly adjustment Of
production and distribution in accord
nnce with consumption is recognized
rs vase EltIUs ,eiitiit III every ouSiHeS'
but that Of farming. Yet, | venture
10 say. the"e Is no other industry IL
which it is so important to the pub
lic--to the city-dWeller--that produc
t:,Y shc.l' hN sure, steady, and in
creasing and that distribution shoult
be in proportion to the need The I'm
organized farmers naturally act blind
~ and inpulsively and, In conSe
uupnce, surleil and dearth. accompa
MED by disconrertng price-variations
harnss HE consumer. One year pota
toes rot in the fields because of excess
production ANA there is scarcity o
the things that have been displace
to make way fg tie expansion of I'll
potato acreage: next year the punish
90 ~rwers mass their fields on som
- ,Tp. and potatoes enter tn
injuries and so on
nture is the greatest and fur
,lI,, ,Ba ,,,nct ir,nnrfnnt nf m,