Evening star., 1923-01-18

iHdL al LiliSldl ECSlTdlHL Oh OUTPUT, a
defenseless waste. is not confined 70
coal mining, although it is perhaps
more fragrant in mining than in other
forms Of industry. The one form Of
production which it has not yet con-
taminated with it's false doctrine is
agriculture. Farmers have no unified
control and, therefore, their output
is limited only by their individual
suesses as to market conditions and
by individual energy. The result is
that farmers have been the greatest
victims of the methods of super
organized production of what they
have to buy, while they must sell
what they produce only according to
what the weather has permitted them
to grow and harvest, in proportion 10
the demand of the market So the
| farmers waste their energy not, as
often alleged. through overproduction.
out through lack of scientific distribu-
ton.
1t Is unsafe to make that statement
IN he nearing of certain schools OF
Iarm economics, which aIlege Cand
proVe) that often farmers make more
net proht when they have small yields
than with bumper crops" The prov
ing OF that claim does not, however.
constitute an answer TO the problem
or restraint of production, for the
reason is that when our farmers have
snort yields, and high prices il is due
TO restricted distribution. and not to
| a quitting of the world needs.
Now there is a distinct plan being
perfected by certain congressman to
organize all the farmers into a great
farm trust. sanctioned by a proposed
law: This farmers trust proposes Ia
pledge at least e. per cent of the
farmers Of America to reduce their
acreage of the STANDARD grain crops
according to what percentage the
| managers estimate will be NECESSARY
to restrain production, so as to main
tain prices. Any farmer who refuses
10 Join the corner will find his barn
painted yellow by rowing bands OF
the regulars" and he and his fam;Iy
will be boycotted.
Not alone the farmers will be
urged into this union, but also the
millers and elevator firms, SO that
all such will pledge that they will
not not BUY :y, from any yellow" farmer.
ana viii buy only from the "reglI-
lars at the stabilized" price In
that way the stabilized" price will
be maintained, the yellow" farmer
VIII be without market (until he
IS boycotted into joining the regu-
lars). and the millers will be forced
10 stand by the regulars, under pen
a Ity Of having their supplies shut
OFF and their mills thrown into idle
ness.
The essential part -of this proposed
farmer combine is the agreement 10
restrict acreage-to leave a certain
percentage of every farm lie idle.
1t might be put into some other than
the standard crops or it might lie
fal1
ment, the land must not be put int8
the crops that the state or national
managers do not indorse. The whole
object is to lessen the world supply
of food in order to force the market
to maintain prices. Millions will go
hungry-will starve to death-by
reason of reduced world supply
but. Theoretically. the FARMERS who
thus curtail at the fountain head will
get their price. II is Identical is
principle with the surplus coal miner
situation. The farmers and tllc
miners want their price. regardless
of time and acreage wasted Yet
time and idle land wasted are wasted
forever.
This statement that even land left
idle is an eternal waste is made in
the knowledge that falIow land, ii
duly cultivated, while fallow. takes
on increased fertility, and will pro
duce more abundantly the succeeding
years when it is cropped All that
is familiar to the promoters of this
cornering and crop-reduction plan. 50
that the increased fertility of faI.
low land will be taken into consiri1
Grafton in the allotting of acreage
| for the following years.
As for changing off into other crops,
nobody who is at all acquainted with
! the lethargy of the mass of farmers.
in the face of the urging by scientific
teachers recommending crop rotation
Will count seriously on a sudden
awakening to the possibilities of in
Producing new crops where habit has
persisted in only few old crops. Like
! the coal miners, they will work along
the old lines or they will not work
and idle energy is lost energy. and is
irretrie BILE waste.
j. r = ::
Z Lest the reader pass too lightly
over this scheme to curtail acreage
by thinking it but gossip, let it be
stated that one Of the Oldest and most
experienced agricultural members OF
the House is working out the meas
ure to introduce it as soon as the
Norris bill is killed--or at the coming
session-and he has the backing OF
some of the agricultural publishers.
The Norris bill proposes that the
government so into the business OF
cornering the grain market. by buy
ing all that the farmers produce. at u
fixed and guaranteed price and then
selling d 1 the market price, the gem!
eral taxpayer to stand the inevitable
loss. This new measure will stop
overproduction at the fountain head !"
and by cornering the entire output.
force the world to support the farm
ers. while they lessen the food. The
farmers will then be on the same
footing as the surplus miners are to-
day. -