The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-30
New Deal For the Farmer

New Zeal fOr the TdIucI
Before the next presidential election rolls around
there must be some solution Of the farmers problem
or the best laid plans CT the politicians will 90
astray The revolt of the corn belt proceeds. For
mcr Governor Lowden of Illinois is being picked
as a leader to bring about solution. unprecedent-
ed prosperity in most industrial lines has empha-
sized the plight of the average farmer In the
main such investments as stocks and bonds have
showed profits ranking from fair to excellent
There is ffty-nine billions invested in farming and
the return is but 81 per cent.
While our national population has increased
seven million in the last five years, million have
moved from the farm into the city and there arc
today than $4,000 deserted farms
How the farming industry has been debated is
shown by the fact that five years ago the Depart
ment of Agriculture reported seventy billions
invested in farming. Twenty billion deflation in
five years surely disproves the charge often made
that farming industry is over capitalized and
has not written off it's initiation as have other
lines Of industry. This deflaton, too has taken
place during five years of exceptional prosperity
in most every other industry.
Such a situation cannot long continue. From a
productive standpoint the farmer has kept pace,
generally speaking, with most forms of industry
In the matter Of distribution he has always been at
a disadvantage. Part of the reason is his own
fault but much of the cause is due to combination
of circumstances over which he had little if any
control.
Senator Capper in recent article in the New
York Times has produced very interesting
figures.
"Simlary' he writes, "B. T.. Yoakunl,
former president of the Frisco lines, found
w. that the farmer received an average of
S $1614 a ton for cabbage, fer which the
consumer paid an average of $50 to $75 a
ton; that the farmer received average
OF $31.97 ton for tomatoes, for Which the
consumer paid average of 500 ton;
that the farmer received an average Of So
cents fer watermelon which cost the con-
sumner from SO cents tc $3.50
LET US reduce the equation to homely
and concrete facts, did Kansas farmer
in letter to me recenty How
be happy selling corn for the local market
price Of SIS cents that costs us 68 cents to
raise?' Or, another farmer points out:
Fifty dollars for set Of harness during
the war; with corn at 1926, all right.
but $55 fer the same set of harness now,
with at 55 cents, is all wrong.
Thus the farmer stands revealed in his
economic disadvantages. He cannot-un-
der the existing system-be assured Of :
have decreed that railroads shall have
return of 575 per cent their investment.
a Moreover have stabilized the
facturers prices and profits, and labors
wage, by protective tariffs. and we have
protected labor in its entirely proper en-
jcyment of the American wage and the
American standard CT living by drastic
immigration restrictions.
'Yet there is disposition TO criticize
the farmer when he asks his Government
to give to the farming industry the
sympathetic consideration it has repeated
~, and in the main entirely properly, given
to other groups in the national commun-
ity. He is too frequently described as
radical Nothing is further from the
truth. The Western farmer is not 'rad-
cal. By and large the Western farmer is
SOBER cear-thnking, straight-voting
chap; more radical in his viewpoint than
is the average business man The farm
or is simply determined that his business
shall be put dependably stable
basis. In bringing this about he should
nave the earnest cooperation of every
thinking citizen. He is asking special
favors, no subsidies paternastic
pertinent. He is merely asking equal con-
sideraton. Surely, none will deny he is
entitled to that"
Il Too often the farmers purpose in presenting
his problems to congress or any legislative body
is misunderstood. The far-minded farmer, and he
by far in the majority, is not asking for special
consideration. Naturally his business is entitled
10 the consideration as is given other interests
Business men who draw their income from strict
~ rural communities should work. toward the prop
er solution Of the agrarian problem. It is the most
important issue for any commercial club or assoc
ciation Of commerce to consider. Real growth and
volume Of business win follow in centers like Bis
marck when agriculture eets some ~ the attention
ayished o. other industry better fortified at Wash
ington - = the various state capitals Of the land