The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-23
ReSn - -
r>-~s~' 49, . 5
The Rolling Farmer
BY JOEL SHOEMAKER.

- States, in private cars, during Cne SUMNER
of 1926 They used more than three mIlllon
automobiles They were classed as tourists
homeseekers or investors. The machines just
went rolling along carrying passengers from
somewhere to the land of nowhere. Some re-
turned to their homes Others found tempo
rary employment Many are roaming in
strange lands.
Where the money came from to finance the
summer vacation for approximately one-seV-
enth of the people of this nation is an open
question Some families used the savings OF
years to pay. expenses Others borrowed funds
from interest collecting mOney-changeTs,
MANY lust fitted up for the occasion, with the
least cash possible, and lived off the country.
They saw the farms Of the west and were dis
appointed
Another caravan of mixed vehicles lined the
highways of the northwest. 1t was the pro-
'cession of homeless farmers on the way to
reputed cities of refuge. The farms ceased to
pay interest on investments, taxation for cost
of government and the demands of local mer-
chants and transportation agencies The faml-
lies were loaded into ancient wagons, dilapidat-
ed trucks or carts and taken on a pilgrimage
Tor life necessities
The highway travelews4ound that the stories
shout the western farmers rolling In wealth
were mythical. They had their eyes opened
to the false propaganda carried on by capital
istic politicians. They saw the marks of pow
erty. They counted the abandoned farms.
They read the faces of dying women and OBJ
served the tOttering steps OF starving children.
They asked questions and learned why those
conditions prevailed.
Farmers and their families were running
away from their homes. They gathered to-
gether few personal belongings and set out
for the cities where they expected to find work.
They had to get employment in order to keep
away the reaper of death. If the fathers and
10Th ~ 1tob nv fC
meet the daily obligations the children would
have to be called and put m the harness of
slavery.
Nature has not deserted the farmers. The
soil remains fertile The sun continues to
shine. The rains come with the seasons.
This old earth is not a failure. The grass grows
green. The fruits mature and are plentiful.
The fields yield good crops of corn, wheat and
potatoes. The orchards show fine fruits. The
gardens produce splendid crops of vegetables.
The lawns and walks are still ornamented with
flowers. What is the matter?
Man is the power that drives farmers from
their homes. He Is not one of the farmers. He
is one OF the many engaged in the work of
farming the farmers. He lives and thrives on
the profits made by handling the products of
the farm. He may be local merchant, gen.
eral buyer, money lender, transportation agent
or professional man. He may be a town build
er or city booster. He prospers because the
farmers produce things on which he collects
the profits.
The western farmers are face to face with
real conditions. They are not dealing in the
cries. They have long ago cast aside the old
proverbs about farming. They know that the
long worn tales about the law of supply and
demand are mere fables. They are not repeat
ing the warming story about the rolling stone
that catches no moss to their children They
know that the farms do not pay for the rea-
son that the bosses take too much toll.
Farmers are rolling away from the clutches
of enemies. They cannot stand against the
increasing tide of sight drafts on their in
comes. They are tired Of working twelve to
fifteen hours a day. seven days in the week,
for those who toll not neither do they spin but
depend on the farmers for the necessities and
Injuries Of life. The present movement OF
farmers from the land 70 the cities is merely a