The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-11-10
WHAT ABOUT AGRICULTURE !?
BY Miles H. Fairbank, Sec.- Treas.
Md. Farm Bureau Federation


in the hope that what I say may
make some little contribution to the
consideration that is being given TO
the farmers problems. ] hnfbor no
Illusions that can name the pana-
cea that will solve those problems,
but for over twelve years. with little
exception, l have been trying, in var
ious capacities, to do something in
the way of leadership among the
farmers of Maryland. In tina, length
of time, any sensible man who keeps
his eyes open and escapes prejudices,
must, of necessity, arrive at certain
conclusions about the many complex
phases of Agriculture. l have, and
it is those observations and the con-
clusion reached from them that
propose to write down in these ar
ticles. 1t may help to clear up some
things we don't understand and it
may cause us to think more deeply
about things more essential. Ii so,
shall be satisfied.
l shall not be particularly compli-
mentary to farmers. AS matter of
fact, some of the things 7 snail be
forced to say may be qnite uncom-
plimentary.
OF course there is farm problem,
but we must not overlook the fact
that there is also bank problem, a
railroad problem, shipping prob
lem and all the rest. We are in
clined, sometimes, to think that
farmers are unique in their SEEM
ingly constant demand for public as
sistance in solving their problems
Through government aid, etc. a
service which is denied other types
of industries. To some extent that
is true, but only partly so.
i Sweeping aside the countless reas-
ons that characterize individual or
sectional cases, there are two funda-
mental reasons why there is farm
problem today. To grasp the sig
n;ficance of the first requires a
glance in retrospect over our entire
history. The second calls for a re-
view of the past twenty years
The important thing to remember
is that we are facing certain condi-
tions that - real and must be rec
ognized. These conditions that l
shall recite are here; we can do
else than accept them and adjust
ourselves accordingly True, indeed,
when we say we are faced with a
/ condition" and not Theory
In tie first pla e, the very founda-
tions OF our nation were laid amid a
conflict of two ideals; one, the agri-
cultural ideal based upon the Jeffer-
sonian principle of nation domi-
mated by rural people. with relative
ly simple wants and conservative
standard Of living. On the other
hand, we had the ideal of Hamil-
tonian democracy based on Industrial
development, financial control and
an ever-expanding standard of liv-
ing.
Actually these two conflicting
principles have been warrino since
the close of the American Revolu-
ton. This conflict of thought has
dominated our national politics down
through the years and at intermit-
ting periods has burst out into ma
tional issue, which finally took some
definite shape but was rarely solved.
The Andrew Jackson fight Oh bank
ing-ths slave question that brought
on Civil War the antitrust
movement of thirty years ago, are
all typical examples of these out
bursts.
One thing, heretofore, that always
provided safety valve for outraged
rural feeling, was the open lands of
the west. Any farmer who became
disguised with the System" (as
many obviously did had only to
move his family west, where he was
assured CT being able to provide
home, in relative obscurity, and raise
a family at least, if he could not i'm
prove his own situation.
This condition does not exist to-
day. There are no new lands to be
taken up. We have expanded west
ward to the Pacific. America must
now solve, rather than escape her
problems and the present economic
situation is nothing more or less than
life and death struggle of these
two systems for supremacy. If man
can be brought to realize that, it will
help explain why we cannot expect
20 come out of the present emergen-
cy as before. 1t is futile to hope
that either of these systems will
emerge victorious. Sane men hope
for decent compromise and on that
compromise we must build our