Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1922-01-20

paralleici volume and intensity OF De-
termined, IL mol angry. protest. and an
oninons sVeria.ag OF occupational con-
ferences. interes, groupings. political
movements and propaganda. Such
turmoil cannot but arrest our atten-
ton. Indeed, il demands our careful
study and examination. IL Is not like
~ that six million aloof and rnggedlg
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
slyely proves That. while there Is much
oyerstateinent of grievances and mis-,
conception of remedies, the farmers
are right in complaining OF wrongs
long endured, and right in holding that
II 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
Is the means OF livelihood OF about 40
per cent OF the population. Il Is OBJ
yions that the subject Is one OF grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-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 a. large
degree of national self-suiileiency and
self.coniainment. Rome fell when the
food supply VAS too far removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture and extend our
sources OF food distantly and preeari.
ously, II we do not see 10 Il that our
farmers are we'll and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
nation men rs we'll as food. Cities
derive their vitality and are forever
renewed from the country, but an I'M
poyerished countryside exports lnteili-
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 ana lmpoyerish the farmer IS TO
dry up and connmInate the vital
sources Of the nation.
Tie war showed eonvlnclnely how
dependent the nation Is on the full
productivity Of the farms. Despite
hereulean efforts, agricultural produc-
ton kept only few weeks OF months
ahead of consumption. and that only
by increasing the acreage Of certain
staple crops Al the cost Of reducing
tint Of others We ought ut 70 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
II they were purely selfish demands
Of a clear.cut group, antagonistic 10
the rest of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture IN the
light of broad national policy, just
rs we consider oil, coal steel, dye
stufs. and 50 forth, as slneYs of ma
tional strength Our growing popula.
tlon and 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 appraise
II from the standpoint of Yesterday.
This Is peculiarly an age OF fiux and
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 widespread feeling
that nil 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 cf
production and distribution in accord
ence with consumption IS recognized
as wise management In every business
but that Of farming. Yet, | venture
10 say, there Is no other Industry In
which II Is so important TO the pub.
lic--to the clty-dweller-that produc.
ton should be sure, steady, and in.
ereasing and that distribution should
be in proportion 10 the need The I'M
organized farmers naturally act blind.
ly and impulsiyely and. in conse-
quence, surfeit and deartli, accompa.
MED by disconcerting price-variations, /
harass the consumer. One year pota.
toes rot In the fields because of excess
production, and there Is a 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 and fun /,
damentally the most important OF our |
American Industries. The cities are
but the branches OF the tree Of ma
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