The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-11-06
esM ~ 20
THE NARROWED FARMERS
BY JOEL sHoMAK Err.

BY JOEL SHOEMAKER.
TIME harvest moon shines on MANI western farmers
who do not see the stars of prosperity They are
marooned on the land They objects Of pity. They
are like unto slaves islands of loneliness. They
cannot sail away for they SURROUNDED by the sea
OF capitalism They dare not attempt to fly thru the
it is owned by monoposts They do not possess
suitable vehicles for highway traffic.
Old ideas of riches on the farm giving way to
the more popular thoughts of existence in the city.
The long ago boast that more than Onehalf of the
people of this nation lived the farms is not in
modern The treking from the farm to the city
goes on wherever the farmers able to let loose on
the land and wanderers in quest of Jobs There
are reasons the poverty that falls like cloud on
the farmers
Politics has opened rays of light on modern
farming The western farmers are finding out that
they have been turning wheels of theory The various
bills introduced in congress- for the relief of the farm
ers have set the people to thinking The rejecting of
those remedial measures by antfarming politicians,
has brought about era that means continuous
abandonment of the farms. That means complete
change of agricultural conditions.
The new school politicians demand system of tax
alton that win lower the cost of government. One
wing of the party in power in the state of Washing
ton is fighting for a change. Among the assertions
made by campaign orators some facts that would
be accepted from any authorities but the old parti
sans They tell why the farmers marooned on the
land. The tax collectors demand than the land
produces
Here are some Of the things the politicians are tell
ing In the White River Valley of the richest and
best farming districts Of western Washington the
nuaI tax bills range from sixteen dollars to eighteen
dollars per That is more than the value of some
crops when the cost of production and marketing is
deducted The result is very apparent. The old set
tiers have leased their lands Italian dairymen and
Japanese trucarmers the farms ceased to
profits.
The Yakima Valley of central Washington is one
of the uit growing sections of the irrigated
west Political speakers, of the old party in power
that calls the farmers of that district
about twenty-five dollars per These claims
year and subject to twelve per cent an
nuaI interest not paid promptly. So the Yakima
Valley farmers. who tire of paying out than the
yearly income, have joined the forces of home run
aways expect enlist just they some
way out of the difficulty
I'VE have not had butter in house for three
years" rs the confession of a woman who manages a
dairy farm In Eastern Washington. I'VE live bread
and milk. Our meat consists of chickens we cannot
find market for. Why Mister Writer, I will tell you
that have eaten much chicken, in the last three
years. that fairly AS for getting away from
the farm that is entirely of the question: least
Cor the present"
Why is this woman held a prisoner the farm?
Why children brought up under such unfavorable
eondfaonS7 Let her tell the story It is Just like many
others in the same locality. II applies in many de
tails 20 several western states. reveals the real
condition. It does not hide under the smoke screen
Of theory. Short it Is the story is full Of human
interest and reveals appalling situation.
The folks insisted my holding a farm sale, as
others were doing, get enough money together and