The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-10
Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Tribune)
There is rapidly developing in the middle west q
distinct sectional consciousness Nowhere is the
citizen more American; nowhere is there richer
American heritage. But your middle westemer is
learning that he belongs to particular segment Of
America Though this consciousness is strongest
among the farmers, the common feeling transcends
social racial, occupatona and political lines of d.
vision. The middle west has been informed that it
is 1.-THE middle west" 1t used to receive that informa
ton in spirit resembling humility. Today's tend
ency is to welcome the news and cast back with
pride. owe certainly are the middle west and we'll
fight it out on that line if it takes until l92s-or
80:
1t has still to be demonstrated whether this middle
western spirit is good for the country as whole.
for the middle west itself, or for the rest of the
country. Whether it is good or not, its present
phase is inevitable Many causes have contributed
to bring the situation about.
The Of the middle west waterway system is
an example. It is fact of common knowledge that
the development Of the lakes-to gulf waterway would
be of tremendous benefit to the middle west. Nor
will this waterway injure the prosperity of the east
nor of the far west. There is business enough for
every one There is work enough to keep railroads,
highway transport, and waterways more than busy.
In the face of the middle western demand for water
issue and the diversion of water through the Chi
cago sanitary canal seized upon by frantic OPP
ponents likely behring's to be drawn across the
main trail. Washington has made it's promises, but
so far they have remained promises. The middle
west is still denied its waterway
great part of the prosperity of the middle west
hot to mention that Of the country as a whole
depends upon the middle western farmer. coun-
try, in the final analysis be more prosperous
than its producing class. prosperity which leaves
the farmer poor is not prosperity but initiation.
There have been vague ndicatons-an adverse for
eign trade balance for example-that this may be
the with this country. Continued warnings
from the White House and treasury department.
against overexpendture lend the indications added
weight The principal way in which such a possible
crisis can be forestalled is to remedy the farmers
troubles. 1t is answered that the farmer does not
know what he wants. He did not a year ago. He
seems to know very definitely just now He wants
to be placed equal footing with the industraiist
and the urban worker. He wants as much protec-
ton from foreign competition as they enjoy through
the tariff and the immigration act
One very definite thing the middle west farmer
needs and that is federal appropriation for bovine
tubercun testing work and for payment for animals
found infected and slaughtered The farmer has
been denied the appropriation he asked for. dele
cation from Illinois succeeded in having the $4lO3-
600 appropriation increased to 100000. The con-
grsssional conference committee trimmed that to
,66S 900, or $1.347OOO less than the middle west
needs to clean its herds
II middle westerners in general have grievance.
and they have. the middle western farmer has double
cause to feel resentful. The whole middle west, the
farmer IN particular, is looking to Washington for
|something more than words and promises