The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-24

needed IL fair prices; and very we'll
know that the farmer wants to get
out Of debt rather than to get fur
there into debt. But II Is my opinion
that both these ends will be much
more quickly accomplished through
this new system Of agricultural
credits.
Exhaustive study TO Problem.
THE legislation enacted by Con-
gress does not by any means measure
the attention Congress has given dur
ing the past two years to the needs
of agriculture. People who have not
been familiar with what has been
going on in Congress can little ap-
the appropriate committees OF Con-
gress have given to our agricultural
problems.
DAY after day. and week after
week, and month after month these
committees have held hearings. They
have considered every conceivable
measure suggested for relief. They
came to them. They enacted legis-
lation which seemed to promise real
help. They did not enact nearly all
the measures which were suggested.
because after the most exhaustive
study they become convinced that
no help but might aggravate an al
ready bad situation.
Go back with me for just one
glance, in conclusion, at the steps
which have marked the rise OF agri-
culture to this. its new estate. We
need to go back but very few gen
eratlons to the time when the title
to land represented no moro than
the within OF a despot or the shifting
and uncertain fortunes OF a military
edventurer. The agricultural work
er was a serf. mere human chattel,
bound to the soil on which he lived
and to the service Of the particular
the permutations OF fortunes and of
favor, CHANGED to hold the land.
o o O
Political Status Nil.
I'm the view OF his masters, he
had no rights which could command
respect, his political status was nil,
and he was permitted the least pos
sible share in tho fruits of his toll
on which he could keep together his
soul-if indeed 1t were conceded that
he had soul--and his body, SO as to
perform. the gruellins toll of tasks
that were regarded 81 utterly mental.
All agricultural operations were
crude, inefficient. barbaric. The
great light with which science and
organization and efficient methods
have illumined the art of agriculture
over the desolate and dehumanized
landscape of the rural countryside.
The old-tirpo picture Is one to make
women weep and men despair of
their kind.
But somehow the life OF the open
places. under a sky which Inspired
always the longing for a fair chance;
~ - IatI ut hn
mighty forces Of mother nature in
all her wondrous moods; somehow
the dim realization that there was
yet something beyond and above the
sQualor and misery Of his immediate
81 rroundings-someho through the
centuries OF his serfdom, these things
kept the farmer mindful Of posslbili-
fates; kept him longing for liberty;
inspired him in the age-lonE strug-
gle to lift himself up to wider
vision of life; moved him to eternal
revolt against the letters which
bound; gave him courage for the
tiny.
1.-THE centuries passed. ard untold
millions went to their graves despair
ing. But other millions followed. to
seize the torch and bear It q little
further on the road. Tho slave be-
came a vlllein, the villein a peasant;
and yet the grim struggle went on,
with political rights and economic
emancipation as its twin goals. Pain
fully. doggedly the men of the soil
toiled under their dual burden OF
furnishing sustenance for humanity
and keeping alight tho flame OF that
consuming purpose to achieve free
dom and human equality.
Down to times SO near our own
that they are but the yesterdays of
history, tho outcome OF tho struggle
seemed In doubt. But mankind's
darkest hour was followed by the