Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-08-03
DIS TRESS RAMPANT
AMONG FARMERS IN
NEW ENGLAND n D v
Effects of Protective Tariff Max
ing Itself Felt Among Agri-
cultural Classes
MANY FARMS FOR SALE
Editors There Console Selves
Win Thought That Things
Are ''Worse in the VEST

BOSTON, Aug. 3.-Distress
among the farmers of New Eng
land. which is much nearer to its
market than Western States are to
theirs, is reported to be as wide
spread and serious aa it is among
the agricultural populations in the
trans-Mississjppi region. The
Springfield, Mass, Republican, an
independent newspaper of Repub-
hcan prepossessions, publishes a re-
view of conditions in New Eng
land and shows that while the far
mers are selling their products for
bare cost or less all that thew buv
Is growing dearer.
There are more farms for sale
IN New England than there have
been for years, the Republicans re-
port states and adds that "there are
practically no buyers"
The scarcity and rising cost of
labor are enumerated among the
factors which are impoverishing the
farmers of New England, the Re-
publican says, but these are not
the only adverse influence. Deeper
than the labor shortage lies the
cumulative Encouragement of low
prices for farm products while the
costs of everything the farmer
buys is climbing higher, the Re-
publican says, and continues:
The lament is by no means con-
centrater in the veteran corn belt
and grazing country. 1t rises as
loud from the New England coun-
tryside as anywhere else. 1t is the
first and last topic of conversation
at any farmers gathering. The
report then goes on to say that
many farmers in New England are
so poor that they can't afford to
pay annual dues of from 50 to
SIS for membership in farm bu-
reaus.
I'm Connecticut, the State Board
of Agriculture reports 148 farms
for sale 80 more than have ever
been reported BEFORE" says the Re-
publicas5, story.
DR.. c. D. Woods. director of in
formation of the Massachusetts De-
partment of Agriculture, is quoted
S~ stating that there are more
n 100 farms listed for sale in the
Bay State. 1t is much easier to
buy good farm today than it has
been for years. DR. Woods told the
Republican. The Republican then
gives DR.. Woods explanation of
the agricultural depression as fol
lows:
He sees the cause of the sell
ing of farms as deep-seated dis
enlargement with the condition
that faces the farmer who has to
sell his products at approximately
pre-war tEices and has to pay
double pre-war prices for his ma
chinery, his clothing, household
needs and practically all purchases.
Glenn Sevey, editor of New
England Homestead, is somewhat
consoled by the fact according to
the Republican, that the situation
in New England is not so bad as it
is in the Middle West and the Far
West.
"Mr. Sevey declares conditions
in the Midwest are worse. On a
trip to Michigan he found hun
dreds of farms going to decay in
idleness."
For many years Senator's Con-
gressmen from New England and
other Eastern States have made
Republican tariffs almost to their
own liking. PAYNE, Aldrich, and
Dingley recall Republican states
men from the East. The present
Forney- Cumber Act, although
it bears the names of a Congress
man from the Middle West and a
Senator from the trans-Missouri
section, was practically dictated by
Eastern and New England inter
ests. including the Wool Trust, the
Cotton Textile Trust. the Silk
Trust, the Steel Trust, the Glass
Trust, and the Clothing Trust.