The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-10

THIS is being written as the an
L nual series of resolutions is
about about to be presented to the
American Farm Bureau Federation
gathering at the rather exclusive
Hotel Sherman here in Chicago
Close to three thousand so-called
farmers and their friends" jam into
the grand ballroom to watch the
proceedings, not so much to partici-
pate in them. The official ma
chine" directed from the speakers
platform, is we'll oiled. There is
practically no discussion.
No voice is raised anywhere for
the independent political action of
the farmers in cooperation with the
city workers. That would be "Bol-
shevism," these well-to-do farmers
adopting the phrases of their worst
oppressors. The Soviet Union is
never mentioned, altho the agricul-
tural situation within the Workers
and Peasants Republic seriously
affects the farm problem turnout
the entire world.
One resolution openly urged that
agriculture cooperate with indus
try" The suggestion that agricul-
ture cooperate with labor as we'll as
industry was bitterly opposed. The
final decision was that agriculture
cooperate with all the groups, an
apparent lodging of the issue.
This condition merely indicates
the failure of this so-called farmers
organization to grapple with the
problems of the land. The gathering
cheers Frank o. Lowden, the multi
millionaire, who wants to be presi-
dent. it frowns on Senator Smith
w. Brookhart, of Iowa, as too radi-
cal" and the slightest breath to the
effect that the workers and farmers
must unite to fight both the old
parties is attacked as Moscow in
spired.
This does not mean that efforts
are not made to inject vital discus
sion of the farm crisis into the
gathering. "Peasantry or Power"
was the title of an address by Prof.
Macy Campbell, head of the depart
ment of rural education, Iowa State
Teachers College, at Cedar Falls,
Iowa. Prof. Campbell bluntly point
ed out that farm ownership is on
the decrease, that rural buying pow
er is decreasing, that rural life is
pale and weak" that the most in
telligent of the farm youth are being
driven Off the farms, with the result
that only 'the little potatoes are
left" an investigation conducted in
the rural communities of Indiana
showing that as high as q per cent
of the children in the rural schools
were found to be feeble-minded.
This is the black picture presented
by the educator that the capitalist
editorial writer, the propaganda of
the farmers enemies, has a very
difficult time Frightening up for
/ rural consumption.
The facts shatter all false argu-
ments on the farm crisis. The U.
S. census records, for instance, re-
veal that during each decade the
percentage of landless farmers has
been on the increase. In 1880 1t
was 26 per cent; in 1900 1t was 35
per cent; in 1920 it was 3S per cent;
seven states have almost reached
the 80 per cent mark, and in two,
more than so per cent Of the farm
ers are now landless. In Campbelps
own words:
1.-TWO generations ago a young
man secured farm by homestead
ing or by purchase of new land at
few dollars per acre. One genera
ton ago the young farmer secured
a farm by working as hired man,
then as a tenant for a time, then
presently he bought a farm at a
reasonable price per acre and grad
ually paid for it. He did this out
Of the fair profit in farming at that
time. Now, the margin of profit in
farming is so small and the price of
land is so high that many young
farmer must remain a landless ten
ant for life. Hence landlessness con-
stantly increases"
The farmer who is forced by ruth
less profiteering interests to mort
gage his property is also destined
for the army Of the landless. The
records show that in 1890, 2S per
cent of the farms were already en-
numbered by mortgage; by 1920, 40
per cent we're so encountered. Now
the mortgaged Indebtedness is more
than seven billions Of dollars. The
farmers equity in these mortgaged
farms is steadily decreasing; in
1910 it was 72.7 per cent; in 1920,
70.9 per cent, and in 1925 1t was
estimated to be in the neighborhood
~ an mar cant