The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-02
A WISCONSIN FARMER
New York T'imes)

Glenn w. Bright, soldier who
began farming in Southeastern
Wisconsin in 1919, liberates his
soul about legislative remedies
for agricultural depression. He is
a part of the distress. He stocked
and equipped his 240-acre when
prices scraped the skies. Aside
from the ordinary annual loss in
the last three or four years, in his
first year and half there was a
depreciation of 60 per cent in his
investment. Naturally he would
jump at any promising sound pro-
posal to help farmers. Most plans
OF politicians for the purpose
would merely enlarge production
and make the agricultural prob
lem" harder. The Federal Govern
ment employs millions of tax
money on irrigation and drainage
products in regions remote from
markets. Let the waste land alone,
says our farmer, till there is suffi-
cient market for existing produc-
ton.
Whatever may be thought of this
view, our farmer is on sure ground
in objecting to expensive State and
local imitation of paternal cod
ding:
County agents, demOnstra-
ton farms, expensive equip
ment and personnel, all have
aided in the uneconomic over
supply of farm products.
"Diversification" is solemnly
prescribed. The value of it de-
ponds largely upon the nearness OF
the farm to industrial centers
The comparatively better condition
of the Wisconsin farmers is caused
more by the great urban pOpula-
ton than the LOB holding farm
advisers" who take the credit fol
it. The artificial uneconomic low
ering of freight rates won't give
the farmers prosperity. Mr.. Birk.
EFT says a good word for the meat
packers and even for that hOrren.
dous bogy, the middleman:
The general agitation
against middlemen is not so
great as 1t was several years
ago. Instead of fighting them
and looking upon them as rob-
'bers i don't say they never
are-we are beginning to look
on them as middle service
and an agency which assists in
creating a market value for
our products. One valuable
result of cooperative selling is
the realization that there is
middle service and that it is
expensive. When we join
coop" we think that now we
are about to overcome our pro-
duction losses by making the
miGileman's profit. At least
that is the way felt, and nat
urally was disappointed
when the prospective profit
turned into an actual loss. In
the coop" to which | belong
we learned that middle service
in regard to milk costs more
than production.
A farmer must understand an
accept the hazards of business
Many farmers have been misleL' b.
paternalistic legislation and tn
overlooking sympathies of politi
clans to think that the Government
must keep on trying to help then
out Of a hole. AS a banker VIII
. deals with farmers says, 9TH
; farmer has heard 80 much abou
his troubles, about being a victim
about being poor farmer, that n
has settled down to being a poo
farmer" Paternalism sticks it
nose into the schools and the tax
payers pocket. Local and pro
fessional boosters have begun t
reform Us through our children.
Steep local taxation depreciate
farm values. Everybody" admits
taxes are too high. Every candi
, date for office swears to brin
them down. Even the fertile ere
ators of commissions and jobs, Q
"a host of advising and interferin
public Officials" sigh over the bur
den on the farmers back. Nothin
is done. Taxes are transferred
. not reduced.
| Mr.. Birkett shows us the happ
result in twenty-Odd years
LaFollettism in it's home:
Taxes on farm property in
the region are absorbing
, over half of the net rental
, value. Consequently land val
, ues are decreasing. Owner
ship of land, instead of being
an asset, is becoming a liabil-
ity. Between 1900 and 1922
expenditures of the State of
Wisconsin rose from $2,997, 155
r to $32,191 ,049 per annum.
There is no group of peOp
who would benefit so much by tt
+ elimination of public servants, o
f fees and paternalism in general
farmers We need help
the retrenchment of public expe
ses." A self-reliant and though
= ful man. this Mr.. Birkett.