The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-11
Farmers of
Europe Are
American Sale of Foodstuffs
Overseas May Not Be Bene-
fitted by Normally
On Continent.
Livestock Is Increasing
BY MARK SULLIVAN.
SpecinI Dispatcb 10 The Omaha Bee

Washington. May 10.-7The theory
lield by the leaders of the American
Farm Bureau federation and farm
Lloc, and widely disseminated among
the American farmers themselves dur
ing the past four or five months, is
that when Europe becomes stabilized
the market for American farm goods
will increase to the point of bringing
the American farmers condition back
to prewar prosperity. This theory
has been made the basis for a move
ment among American farmers look
ing to pressure on our government
toward helping to hurry Europe back
toward normal.
On paper, and from point of view
1000 miles west of Europe. in the
Mississippi valley. the theory looks
sound. In Europe. however one be-
gins family, at least, to question il.
II may be that with the wheatraisers
cf Russia. Roumania and elsewhere in
Europe. back to normal production,
they will be able TO supply Europe its
own wheat and other foodstuffs to a
greater degree than before the War.
Farmer Coming Back"
Throughout all Europe. the farmer
is the one man who is coming back"
and coming back fast. Everywhere.
he has paid off his mortgage in de-
preciated currency. A continental
European farmer. who, before the
war, was burdened with a heavy
mortgage, is now able to pay the IN
terest in deprecated currency with
dozen eggs. and to pay the principal
with COW. The farmer is conspicu-
ously the rising class in Europe.
Everywhere, he is adding a horse
or COW or a few more sheep to his
stock, or buying better farm ma
ehinery. In many European cities
YOU can find distress and starvation,
but go 10 miles out into the country
and you find prosperity and comfort.
The farmer may not have much
nioxe money in terms of gold than
any Of the other classes of Europe.
but he has his farm, his shelter. and
plenty to eat and wear. Because his
mortgage has been paid off. practi.
'eally his only necessary outgo is the
taxes. And the growing political
power of the farming class is such
that they are able TO keep their taxes
down.
Russian Peasant Secure.
Even in Russia. the peasant is now
secure in the possession OF his land
on tho payment of a tax to the COM
munist government, whiAh averages
A.t Tx. L.
CARDS lard, the communist theory has
now receded to the point where the
Russian farmer is permitted to be
practically as secure in the tenure 10
bis land as the American farmer
Everywhere. throughout the conti-
nent of Europe, the resurgence of the
farmer, the increase in his stock, the
upift in his prosperity. and the in
crease in his productivoness is the
universal phenomena OF hope and
achievement. Great Britain is an ex.
ception. The British farmer has not
adopted modern machinery to the ex.
tent that the continent has.
Omitting Great Britain, i'm the rest
Qf Europe the progress OF the farmer
in produetiveness and otherwise is
probably the most conspicuous of the
newer phases of European conditions.
1t is possible that after stabilization
is complete the European farmer.
with his increased use of machinery,
may be able to supply Europe with
its foodstuffs with much less depen-
dence on America than Europe for
merly had. All this. OF course. ap-
plies TO foodstuffs only. and not to
cotton. The southern cotton.raising
cities Of America are sure to profit
greatly when Europe gets back to
normal.