The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-03-02


ferences, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such o
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten.
tlon. Indeed, II demands our careful
study and examination. II 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.
slvely proves that, while there is much
overstatement Of grievances and mis-.
conception Of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining OF wrongs
Tong endured, and right in holding that
1t 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-thlrd OF the ma.
tlonal annual wealth production and
Is the means of livelihood Of about 20
per cent Of the population, It Is oh.
yious that the subject Is one Of grave
concern Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the natlon, but
the well-belng OF the other half de
ponds upon them.
SO long us we have nations, wise
POLITICAL economy will aim at q large
degree OF national self-suhiciency and
col q ful faII A..
food supply was too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture and extend our
sources Of food dstantly and precard.
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 i'm.
poverlshed countryside exports lntelll-
gence and retains unlntelllgence
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 lmpoverlsh the farmer is TO
dry up and contaminate 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-
tion kept only 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 10 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
IL they were purely selfish demands
Of n clear-cut group, antagonlstlc 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.
tional strength. Our growing p0pula-
ton and a higher standard OF living
demand increasing food supplies, and
more wool, cotton, hides, and 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.
II will not do to take narrow view
OF the rural discomfort, or to appralse
II from the standpoint Of yesterday.
This Is peculiarly an age OF flux ana
change and new deals. Because
thing always has been so no longer
means that II Is righteous, or always
shall be so. More, perhaps, than ever
before, there Is a widespread feeling
that all human relations can be i'm.
proved by taking thought, and that II
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 II Is so important to the pub
llc-to the city-6weller-that produc.
tlon should be sure, steady, ana IN.
creaslng, and that distribution should
be In proportion TO the need. The nm
organized farmers naturally act blind.
~ and impulslvely and, In conse
quence, surfelt and dearth, accompa-
MED by disconcerting prlce-varlations.
harass the consumer. One year pota
toes rot In the fields because OF excess
and there is scarcity OF
the things that have been displaced
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
class OF luxurles and so on.
Agriculture Is the greatest ana fun
the most important OF our
American industries The cities are
but the branches OF the tree OF ma.
tional life. the roots of which 20 deem. |
~ into the land. We all flourish or
decline with the farmer. SO, when we |
5f the cities read OF the present uni. |
veIsal distress OF the farmers. OF n
slump Of six billion dollars IN the farm
value Of their crops In single year /