The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-12-01

planted this fall, with the present
stocks on hand of over 500 million
bushels, and if we had next year a
normal crop of 500 million bushels,
we would then have carry over for
the following year, (even if we had
moderate increase in consumption)
of over 500 million bushels or al.
most enough to take care Of domes-
tic consumption, if we didn't plant
single acre next fall
There is no argument as to where
the price of wheat would then go
and, of course, the reduction in acre
age would then take care oil itself,
since thousands of wheat farmers
would be forced out of business but
the country as whole has agreed
that the purchasing power of the
| farmer must be maintained and in
creased, if he is to buy the things
that city people want to sell and
must sell if they are to be employed.
The same principle is behind the
corn and hog problem and all the
rest.
But, suppose emphasis were placed
on putting men back to work and by
some sunerhuman method those mil
lions could be put in the market for
food and c,othing-would that solve
the problem?
| 1t does not seem so. In the per-
iod of industrial prosperity from
1921 to 1929 the farmer thought he
was going somewhere, because he
was buying automobiles, paying
higher taxes on roads and schools,
and developing higher standard of
living; but, he was actually going in
debt all the time. He was able to
keep going because the banks and
money lenders were riding the crest
of the wave and credit was easy to
get.
Much is being heard n the press
of the demands of certain farm
groups for Cost of production" and
a guaranteed price above that figure.
There are really some farmers who
want the government to guarantee
them profit, regardless of their
ability as farmers. At present, this
has no place in the farm plans of the
administration nor is the idea en-
| dorsed by the more conversative
farm organizations. 1t is rather
difficult to imagine, with the ability
and efficiency of farmers varying,
with the productive capacity of land
ranging indefinitely even in the
same counties, and all kinds OF
marketing conditions, how any def
mite figure on cost of production
would apply.
The program, proposed by the
Governors of those states that are
talking in terms of farm strikes,
provided guaranteed prices and an
allotment to each individual farmer
on a punch card system. After a
man had filled his allotment, he was
supposed to quit marketing. Any
one who knows human nature knows
that from that moment bootleg
ging" at lower figure would begin.
In the second place, it would mean
virtually licensing every farm. And,
more serious, substituting the ineffi-
,ient fellow at the expense of the
Woodworking worthy farmer.
However, many sober people are
asking Observation-Disclosures is this
taking us-what will be the out
come ?" Unbiased judgment brings
forth two conclusions:
First--the day of rugged individ-
ualism of the farmer is past we are
in for planned economy" whether
we like it or not. The present ad-
justment program may not suit peo-
pie, but it is difficult, when all the
facts are considered, to suggest a
better plan. 1t could hardly fail if
oAA ANh h0Ao WOuA0 SOop'SI AC
Secretary of Agriculture mas said
that he hoped at the end o. three
years the principle of production
control will have demonstrated its
possibilities so that the farmer will,
of his own accord, handle /. in the
future.
Second am convinced that, re-
CARELESS of program, there are at
least a million farmers that will go
out of business within the next few
years simply because they can't make
the grade. Whether the program or
economic law does ii, the result will
be the same. They are the marginal
producers who have neither the abil-
ity, capital, or credit to adjust them
selves to the changing conditions.
Our program in the past has had
decided tendency to help carry them