Graham guardian., 1922-01-27

terlnlned, il not angry, protest, ana an
ominOuS swarInlng 0f Occupatlonal con
fcrcnres, interest groupings, political
movements and propaganda. Such Il
turmoil cannot but arrest our ntten'
tion. Indeed, II demands our cnrefui
study and examination. 1t Is not like
~ that six million alOnf and ruGgedly
Independent men have come together
and banded themselves into active
unions, societies, fnrm burcuus, and so
forth, for no sufficient Cnuse.
Investigation Of the subject conci,I'
siyely proves that, Willie there Is much
pvcrstatement OF grievances and mis-
conception Of remedies, the farmerF
are right In complaining Of wrongs
long endured, and right In holding that
il 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
tunnl annual wealth production and
Is The means Of livelihood Of about -
per cent Of the population, II is OBJ
vious that the subject is one of grave
concern. Not only do the farmers
make up one-half of the nation, but
the weII-being of the other half de.
pends upon them.
So long rs We have nations, wise
political economy will aim ut lnrge
degree of national self-sutiioiency and
self.cDntninment Rome fell when the
food supply WIS too fur removed from
the belly. Like her, we shall destroy
our own agriculture und extend our
sources Of food diStanlly and precari
OuSly, If we do not see to II that on
farmers Hre well and fairly paid for
their services. The farm gives the
nation men M well rs food Cities
derive their vitality md are forever
renewed from the country. but m I'm
poverlSlcd countryside exports ihtelli
gence and retains upintell lgenGe
CIly the lower grades Of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek
the farm. unless agriculture Is cnpable
Of being pursued with cnHIentmeht md
adequate compensation. Hence, to EN-
bitter and lmpOverish the farmer Is to
dry up and c0ntaminate the vital
sources nf the nation.
The war showed copyincingly how
dependent tie nation is on tho full
productivity of, the farms. Despite
herculeun efforts, agricultural produG.
tion kept only few weeks or months
ahead If 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 TINT 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 to
the rest Of the community. Rather
should we consider agriculture In the
light of brond national policy, just
as we consider oil, conl, steel, dye
stuffs, and so forth, rs Rinews Of nu-
tlonal strength. Our growing popuia-
tion and higher standard of living
demand increasing food supplies, and
more wool. cotton, hides, and the rest,
With the disappearance " frQe nr
cheap fertile land, additional acreage
and increased yields can come only
from costly effort. This we need not
expect from an Impoverished or IN
happy rural population.
II will not do tu take n narrow view
of the rural discomfort. or to Rpprnise
It from the standpoint Of yesterday,
This Is peculiarly an nGe Of fiuS and
change md new deals. Because A
thing always has been So no longer
means that It Is righteous. or always
shall 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 II
Is not becoming for the reasoning AMI
NAL TO leave his destiny largely 10
'hance 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 thar Of farming. Yet, ! venture
to say, there is no athSr industry In
which II Is so important IA the pub
lic--to tho ciiy-dwcler--that prsduG.
tiOn should be sure, steady, Rnd In.
creasing. and thai distribution should
he In proportion TO the need. The IN.
organized farmers naturally net blind.
ly and impulSIvely and In conss-
quence, Surfelt and dearth, accompa.
MED by dlsconccrtlng price.yRrintlnns
hRrass the consumer. one year pOta-
toes rot in the fields because Of excess
production, and there Is n scarcity 0f
the things that have been displaced
to make way for the expansion Of the
potato acreage; next yenr the punish.
ed farmers mass their fields on some
other crop. and potatoes enter the
class of luxuries: and so on.
Agriculture IL the greatest and fun
dnmcntally the most important OF our
American Industries. The cities are
but the branches Of the tree of na-
tlonnl life, the roots Of which 60 deep.
" into the land. We MI flourish or
decline with the farmer. go, when we
of the cities read Of the present uni
versai distress Of the farmers, Of
slump Of six billion dollars in the farm
value NJ their crops In single year,
"f their inability to meet mortgages or
Ia Iiay current bills, and how, seeking
re! # from their ills, they are plan.
ming 10 form pools. inaugurnte fnrm,
crs' strikes, and demand legislation
abolishing grain exchanges, private