Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-03-10

My aim in heading this article as
"The Divided and Henpecked Farm
er" is to show the world at large, the
way the farmer stands down here in
this truck growing section of the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, as seen
by my minds eye. Not only here, but
the, same applies more or less to the
farmer of the whole United States.
1 am only going to use words OF
good common sense in this matter, as
I had the honor Of graduating when l
was in the third reader about forty
three years ago.
Forty or fifty years ago farming
was not considered business as it is
regarded by the world today. } The
farmer Of that age farmed in a one
horse way for a livelihood, with little
expense, as machinery was not
thought of to any extent. Today
farming is the greatest business in the
United States or the whole world. The
farmer is the most important business
man in the country, and he is the most
imposed on of any other business man.
These facts l will now prove. The
farming business of today is handi-
capped by two great leaks. They are,
our buying power, and the selling of
cur product. Now the only way we
e put stop to these leaks in our
business of farming is to organize
combine ourselves in body, use our
Leads more, and hands less. Then
half of the battle is ours. United we
stand; Divided we fall. The farmer
is on the ground floor. All other in
dustries are organized and on the
top floor. Why can't the farmers get
together, organize and raise the
ground floor Of our business up to a
level with other industries. Then and
only then will we have a chance of
existance.
The Farm Bureau of Federation at
Washington is doing all it can to try
s. help the farmer out of this great
difficulty. The press of this county is
also publishing articles in our behalf.
with such efficient leaders before us,
now is the time for the farmer to act.
Demand something for your product.
ind above all get it.
Divided, as we are now we have no
say what price we shall receive for
cur product. Over and above the cost
of production, with living profit ad-
ded, as a business man is what we
should have. Other business enter
krises have attained as much. Why
can't we?
The country could not survive with
out the farmer, still he is henpecked
and, goaded on every side. To illus
trate this fact we 60 to the fertilizer
manufacturer, then we go to the bar
rel man and pay him his price mot
ours) for his product. To the manu.
facturer of farm machinery we do the
same, and so on down the line, each
getting over and above the cost sof
production with his profit added. We
take all these burdens upon our Shout
ders, sow the seeds and fertilizer in
the soil and work from twelve to fif-
teen hours day to produce the crop.
When the time comes to harvest the
crop we pay the laborer his price, haul
the product anywhere from five to ten
miles to the nearest station. Then
when all is taken out the poor farm
er gets nothing for his labor. He is
not considered in the race. And the
majority of the. farmers are content
to submit to this treatment. The last
and only thing we can say is "take my
product and do the best you can for
me-" In other words let the fellow
between the farmer and the consumer
take all they want out Of his product,
regardless of what it has cost him to
produce it and give him back what
others don't want.
Who won't agree with me in saying
that means of marketing our product
is the biggest leak in the greatest
business Of this country? The price
is the most important factor Gin any
line of business. It is not what VIC
produce but what we get for that
product.
Farmers, Stop, Look, and Listen.
There is danger ahead in this bust
ness Of farming. What must the
farmer do? I repeat again, organize;
get together and demand a square
deal and be sure you get it before you
stop. Right here I want to relate an
instance pertaining to myself. A few
weeks ago I went into one Of our
country stores. Having some sweet
potatoes to sell, asked the mer-
chant if he was in position to handle
some potatoes. He told me he could
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