Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-14
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
AMERICA CHALIENGED: A Preface
to Point Of View. Lewis F. Carr.
The Macmillan Company.
I. G. NJ.

AMERICA CHALIENGED: A Preface
to a Point Of View. Lewis F. Carr.
The Macmillan Company.
Both title and subtitle of this book
point upon the indeterminate character
Of the study Itself challenge is but
preliminary, preface, but an ap-
preach. In definite substance, therefore,
one expects the discussion to end about
where it begins. And so 1t does-except
for much of concrete disclosure, much of
useful illumination to be found between
these two points.
The subject itself is one that has, so
far, proved to be one of general incon-
clusions. Centuries of attack upon it
have, possibly, here and there changed
some of the factors of this constant
problem; have. perhaps, shifted It's
frontings upon the various civilizations
of which it has ever formed vital part.
But, by and large, agriculture, farming
and the farmer. has continued to stand
an involved and perplexing problem
whose solution is not yet in sight.
This study is in no sense a specific
for the ailments that have so long beset
this essential part Of the common life.
That is not its purpose. Rather, Is 1t
the design here to present in condensed
and available form the salient features
OF this case of agriculture as 1t stands,
either in menace of the best in Amer
lean life. or in support of the continued
prosperity and well-being of the coun-
try itself. Here Is comprehensive ana
orderly survey of farming interests
throughout the United States. Here is
summary of the situation, practical in
outlook, sincere in spirit, vigorous In
statement, graphic both by way OF the
quality of its speech and by way, also,
Of diagrams, charts, financial account"
ings and so on. The end Of the matter
takes its stand beside the common opin-
ion of the day-that agriculture is IN q
bad way, that the farmer is on the
road to ruin Such Is the evidence
pouring in here from every section OF
the country, from every form OF soil cul-
tivation. Well, this Is known thor
oughly. Every newspaper tells 1t day
by day. over and over. The urgenc1es OF
legislator, statesman, politician and
economist are at this moment bearing
down hard on the dilemma Of agricul-
ture in search of remedial measures OF
substance and permanency.
The single intent Of this author is
to offer in concrete and convenient
form a co-ordinated body of informa-
ton on the subject. Certain high points
OF the situation stand out here for con-
One is that the very existence OF
America depends upon maintaining
prosperous agriculture. True, reduced
to its extreme, and unlikely, issue. Mr..
Carr maintains that civilizations have
fallen because Of the failure CT agrl-
culture. Yet, one historian traces such
calamity to militarism. One very able
and arresting writer declares the fall
of Rome to have been due to the i'm
position of the new religion, the Chris
tain religion, upon pagan world, de-
voted TO Its multitudinous go6s, friend
ly gods attending the daily affairs OF
life and bringing them TO happy Issue
the fields to fruition under this deity,
the vines to their juice under another,
the flocks to increase under another.
1t was the failure Of the pagan to adapt
himself to the spiritual issues OF
acknowledgements issues of another
world-that caused Rome to fall. So
that historian affirmS. Mere mention,
these points, to remind that single
set of facts may give rise to much va
riety Of reason and conclusion.
Mr.. Carr makes telling contrasts be-
tween the lot of the industrial and that
of the farmer. Striking contrasts. un-
settling ones. Study them. The point
of interest is that he denies positively
the assertion. from one and another
source, that the farmer Is to blame in
large part for the situation. Not by
intent culpable, certainly not. Not
culpable in any connection, says this
author. Let's look at 1t minute. To-
day the body and soul of successful
business is cooperation and combtna-
ton. Great bodies of men working to-
gether-one only a wheel maybe, one
no more than a cog or bolt perhaps.
g. hs1f1 ~ -
enormous machine, every part fitted,
all working for a single output. Out Of
the centuries of agriculture the farmer
has been built into the worlds great
individualist. His own patch OF land,
worked by himself, seeded and harvested
by him. His house more or less isolated.
His habits unmodified by close contacts
and obligations. He has no practice
In the small beginning accommodations
that lie at the base OF cooperation in
its business sense. He simply doesn't
know how to cooperate. Yes, in words,
maybe. But in fact. in the! power to
unit of efficiency, the farmer Is, clearly
and logically, an unready instrument in
the accommodations that constitute
modern business. So, Is it not just pos
sible that in this respect the farmer is,
in certain measure, the cause.-The
practically unavoidable cause-of his
own unfortunate state in the present?
I don't know. Nor do you, but it will
do no harm to think about this. while
the matter Is out for q general over
looking.
Again, Mr.. Carr deplores the passing
of the family farm. A pity to be sure,
my grandmother tell. when the farm
was. in effect, factory as well as a
farm. The individual farmer, or his
wife, spun their own wool, wove the
cloth for the garments that they wore.
The wheat and corn were ground at
home. The horses were shod at home.
The wife bartered her butter and eggs
for tea and sugar at the little store
across the river. That factory phase Of
farm life passed. Its going lamented, no
doubt. but endured like other unavoid-
also pass in the tremendous economic
urge Of the present and the future De-
plorable changes. for the moment, be-
cause of the lingering sentiments in
which they are stepped. How we re-
greet the moving out of the horse, ia
miliar and beloved creature-but, al
ready consoled. we take to the automo-
bile, and in no long time 1t will be a
commonplace for us to board the air.
ship for adventuring through the skies
en- business errandS bent. So don't cry
about the passing CT the family farm
Instead. face about to help the farm as
a great going concern, a combination,
a cooperative venture of assured sue
cess-when the farmers mind Is CO.
operative, compliant. far-seeing, shrewd.
an adept in business outlook and habit. |
Don't cry.
And, once more, Mr. Carr has little Of
praise for the professional expert In
agriculture. He has small use for that
college-bred youth who steps out into
the fields to show the practical farmer |
how to pillow and SOW and reap; how to !