The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-18
BY COLIN r. WILLIAMS
Times Special Writer

Has there ever been a period in
the history Of the farmers of these
United States when the cyclic
changes Of prosperity and want did
not bring to them exactly the same
experiences that were brought to
the far larger majority of ciGzens2
There are approximately 100000
men in the United States classified
as farmers. They support depend
ents numbering about 25,000,OOO
souls. They constitute about &c per
cent Of the total population of $780,
100000 persons. They are the most
universally distributed class in the
country. Some sections predominant
in miners, other sections in indus
trial workers, but throughout the
fabric of the population, whatever
the latitude or longitude their resi-
dence may be, we find the omni-
present farmer.
Farming is a mode of living rather
than a science even today with out
universal dissemination of agricul-
tural knowledge. In times of de-
preston it almost ceases to become
a mode of living and approaches a
form of philanthropy in about the
same degree of relatively as that de-
manded from all of us upon whom
the emergency falls.
Remains an Enigma
Having rubbed elbows with Amer
lean farmers for many years, 1 have
come to marvel at the lack of syS-
tenn that has held the fraternity
together. 1 have witnessed his ups
and downs from the days of the
Swedish Rebellion in Nebraska right
down to the present moment of 1885
and the longer 1 stay to witness the
more I marvel.
Volumes have been written about
him. The Libraries are stored with
material about him. He has been
analysed, criticized, dogmatized and
publicized until he should be the
best known quantity in the universe
but venture that to the most of us,
including the writer, he is still the
great enigma.
He is the pet promotional prospect
of every budding politician. They
yearn toward him always but most
ly when they want something. He
is the stronghold of the promoter,
it makes no difference of what.
The bosom humping clans line
him up in groups and avalanche
through the rest of the American
population with demands on the
theory loudly proclaimed that this
is the farmers program. Stuff! I
know that the principal desire of
the farmer is to be left to the Sc
curity of his lands, that he be per-
mitted to live out his life as he has
chosen it and to derive enough
money out of his labor to give him
a feeling of competence and, after
all, in that he is no different from
the rest of us human beings.
The odd thing about the whole
procedure lies in the fact that even
under the most trying circum-
stances, there never has been a
greater majority than per cent of
the farmer population interested in
deriving the benefit or the relief
or the whatnot that forms the nub-
bin of the campaign.
Few Made Protests
Under the stress of the financial
reverse that overlook the farmer in
very recent years. the total num-
Der who mustered in to voice their
protests did not exceed 6 per cent
of the farming population Of this
country or a total of less than one
half per cent of the entire Ameri-
can population.
This statement needs some analy-
sis. 1t can best be understood by
taking the reader through the past
twenty-year period of American
husbandry.
Omitting every detail of nu-
mercial nature so far as possible
and avoiding statistics that can be
arranged to prove almost anything
permit me to carry out this story OF
the last twenty years in a narrative
form and if we can discover any,
thing in it that stimulates oul
pulses to sympathy for the mar
with the pillow. let us not hesitate
to bring it out.
On the contrary, if there be any