The log cabin Democrat., 1922-01-28

pAraleied volume and intensity or ue- termined. if not angry, protest. and an SmiNous Swari-tng of OCcupGtiOnal con fcrelccs, interest groupings, political movements a1G propaganda. Such q tIrmoii cannot hut arrest our attcn ton. Indeed, il demands our careful study and examination. IL is not like ly that six million aloof and ruSGediy Independent men have come together end banded themselves into active snions. societies, farm bureaus, and so forth, for no sufficient cause.
 Investigation Of the subject conClu sively proves that, while there is much Oyerstatement 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 heneft to the rest of the community. This being the case of an industry that contributes, In the raw material form alone, about onethird of the na ttOnal annual wealth production and Is the means of livelihood of about 49 per cent of the population, 1t Is ob- viOus that the subject Is one of grave concern. Not only do the farmers make up one-half of the nation, but the weil-being of the other half de- pends upon them.
 Sc long as we have nations, wise poiitcial economy will aim at a large degree of national self-sufficiency and Belf-centainment. Rome fell when the food supply was too far removed from the belly. Like her. we shall destroy OUT own agriculture and extend our sources of food distantly and precari- ously, if rc do not see to it that our farmers, fare we'll and fairly paid for their Services. The farm gives the 91ticn men as well as food. Cities derive their vitality and are forever renewed from the country, but an i'm pOverished countryside exports intelli- Gence and retains unintelligence Oniy the lower grades of mentality md character will remain on, or seek the farm, unless agriculture is capable ef being pursued with contentment and adequate compensation. Hence, to em- bitter and impoverish the farmer is to 1ry 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 hercuiean efforts. agricultural produc- ton 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 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 clcar-cut group, antagonistic to the rest of the community. Rather should we consider agriculture il the light of broad national policy, just as we consider oil, coal, steel, dye Etuffs, and so forth, as sinews of na- G6nai strength. Our growing popula- tlon 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.
 It will not do to take a narrow view of the rural discontent, or to appraise 1t from the standpoint of yesterday. This Is peculiarly an age of Aux and change and new deals. Because a thing always has been so no longer means that 1t Is righteous, or always Ohaa be SO More, perhaps, than ever before, there Is widespread feeling that all human relations can be i'm proved by taking thought. and that 1t Is not becoming for the reasoning ani- sm1 to leave his destiny largely to Ehaace and natural incidence
 Prudent and orderly adjustment of production and distribution h accord ance with consumption is recognized as wise management in every business but that of farming. Yet, I venture tD say, there is no other industry in which It is so important to the pub Nc-to the city-dweller-that produc- tion should be sure, steady, and in- creasing, and that distribution should be In proportion to the need. The un- organized farmers naturally act blind ly and impulsively and. In conse- quence, surfeit and dearth, accompa. cied by disconcerting price-vsriations. harass the consumer One year pota- toes rot in the fields because of excess production, and there Is a scarcity of ffie 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 luxuries and so on
 Agriculture Is the greatest and fun damentalIy the most important of our American industries. The cities are