Evening star., 1926-12-07

One.half the world does not know
how the other half lives--but 1t IS
determined to find out. So there are
coming to the United States delega-
tions of experts from New Zealand
Australia and Europe to investigate
our wonderful industrial prosperity.
At the same time, the American tarm
Rnreau Federation, now in session In
Chicago. with an attendance of 3,OOO
farmers. announces that, next sum-
mer. at least 500 farmers are going to
make a pilgrimage to England, Scot
land. France, Belgium, Germany,
Holland. Denmark and the Island OF
Jersey. to study, not how the farmers
there produce, but how they market
their productions comparatively. The
American farmers problem is market
ing.
This international movement OF
mutual research for success Is a COM
paratiyely new phase of civilization,
and a most interesting development,
which is likely to increase with the
evolution of means of communication
and travel. The specialists of the
Department Of Agriculture and Of
Congress, who are already In touch
with farm methods abroad, deprecate
the practical value of the coming
excursion Of the valiant 500 farmers.
The experts declare that the farmers
cannot possibly gather data In their
hurried tour which have not already
been secured by the trained 1nvesti-
J gators of the department.
On the other hand, it Is pointed out
that IL 500 farm leaders see with their
own eyes, the lessons they will bring
home will have more practical In
f1uence upon organized farmers here
than can the bald facts as presented
by the department experts.
There is much contradiction in the
farm data which reach the pubic.
From the Department of Agriculture
come data to the effect that "the net
income of agriculture for the year
1920.21 was only 1915 100000; for
192f25 was S2,656, ,OOO. 900, and for last
year, $2,757 7,000, ,000." These are Off
cial figures, but who will explain
what is met income" for farmers?
And who will explain how it is eight
times as great in 1925-26 as 1t was
| five years ago? For in 1920 land
| values, rejecting the inflated pros,
perity, under war prices. reached the
peak of speculative figures.
President Coolidge has said-was 1t
sardonic humor?-that "the farmer
has been practically relieved of any
| Federal income tax"-which state
ment is uncontradicted by the farm
er's warmest champions, for where
there is no income exceeding $1,000
there Is no tax for anybody. The
National Industrial Conference Board
of New York reports regarding farm
| ing as follows:
actual earnings Of the farmer ir
| 1924, for his labor, are computed by
the board at $3.50, on the average, As
against average earnings Of $1,25t
per wage Garner in the manufacture
ing industries in the same year
average of $1,572 by transportation
workers, and $2,141 by clerical work
ers, an average Of $1,678 by ministers
1926 by teachers, about 1850 BY
iGovernment employees and an average
of $1,415 per worker in all groups
other than farmers.
The report allows also an income
for farmers from the investment, a
2 per cent, Of $400 a year, making ;
gross income of $1.130.
From that Is deducted what food
fuel and housing come from the farm
itself, estimated at $3.50, so that th'
actual cash income Of the averag
farm owner and operator is $500 ;
year.
Out Of that $500 he pays for foot
and clothing bought, $475-so he ha'
only $25 left for extraordinary ex
penses such as sickness in the family
Those are the figures for term o
Ave years, showing average per year
4 1t is indeed true that the average
farmer pays no Federal income tax.
\ y \
The distress Of the farmers Is no
Of interest alone to the farmers them
selves. The conference board abov'
} mentioned (which is not composed O
farmers) calls attention to the fac
that 1.-The agricultural industry nor
mally buys $1,000, 200, 900 worth Of th'
goods and services of other indus
tries" and the total capital invested
in agriculture in 1924. at curren
values, amoupted to $65 200. .000, 900, a.
compared wis 50. .oo0. 0.ooo. 900 invested