The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-16
Message Of Cheer for Kansas
Farmers by Jardine.
Our Complaints Childish When
Compared With Europe.
AMERICA HAS ADVANTAGE
Wages Here Enormously High
and Meet H. C. L,
Fa0mers Live In Paradise Be-
side Brothers Abroad.

Wellington, Kan. Feb. 15.-Count
your blessings; cease TO exaggerate
the problems that confront you, and
cheer up This was the message OF
optimism delivered by President W.
NJ. Jardine ,of the Kansas State Agri-
cultural college. in an address at the
cbau1ber of commerce here tonight
Il am an optim.st and believe that
the United States is solvent. from the
big business of the east TO the soma
agriculture of the west, president
Jardine said. He declared that our
c,on1pla tnts look selfish in the light or
European ailments" He emphasized
the need of Individual effort. not over
looking the need of cooperation on
: uart of farmers to establish efficient
sales 4 organization equal to the selllnS
organizations that are behind other
industries"
Big Tasks Are Ahead.
But while we are approaching the
advantages we have, we must not for
get that there is a big job ahead OF
us,~ lie continued, "a job to try the
metal Of which we are made. We
must build our foundation upon good,
plain lard business sense, and not
iuSt sit down and wait for the federal
and state governments to legislate us
ont OF our difficulties. We will never
get out if we do.
''Welc living costs are very high
in TINS country. being approximately
- per cent higher than in 1918, yet
when We consider the suffering
that prevails i'll Europe and other
countries at this time we should be
more than thankful for our good for
tune. In Austria the skilled workman
receives ia" equivalent IN our money
Of only SC g month; women and chill
dren receive 81 a month: clerks and
ct n
SIS; specially qualified men $3.50. In
Poland on, mark in 1914 would pur-
cha-e as much food. heat and light
AS 340 marks will purchase now. in
Italy living is five times higher than
in 1919. These are only Il few in
stances th9t .ght be cited and should
prove an ample check rain to our
complaints and criticisms.
Our Money Not Debated.
Perhaps there would be some
grounds for complaint if our money
had deprecated in value SO per cent
as has Gernany's money, or So per
cent as has that of France, SO per cent
i'm Bel~tum. &c per cent in Italy. or
even IS per cent as has England s
r ",ow is the time to look on the
p I-.--l. side OF things. Instead of hunt
H.; for something to calamity howl
f-u.. think of the things we have to
LIl .llkLul Tor. Idkc our 6uuCdLIODdl
p; vout0ges as compared with those
o. twenty-five years ago. Be thankful
tsst your children have the oppor-
/ mites they have for educational
t-aining and advancement.
appreciate the fact that there are
such things as free high schools in
this country something that is true
OF no other country in the world. In
proportion to our population we have
ten times as many students enrolled
in our high schools as do foreign coun-
tries. The same ratio hold good for
college and university enrolment. g,
Farms Are Modern.
Consider our modern homes
equipped with furnaces, hot and cold
water. baths. electric lights, tele-
the comfort and enjoyment of the
ences in the cities but our 1920 census
reports that 644,OSS of our farm
homes, or one out of every ten, had
water piped into the house. Gas OF
electric lights are in Assoc, or pei
cent of all our farm homes
We should appreciate our i'm
proved farm machinery, which makes
Tor more and better farm operation
We should think Of modern machinery
and safety devices in our industrial
organizations. We should not forget
the automobile which affords the
means Of bringing about closer an6
better relationship between the city
dweller and the people living in the
country"