The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-22

ing milk production They're buy
ing COWS instead of breeding and
adding to the total stock.
Larry, the bank teller, inter-
posed. I'VE always have sales
this time of year. There aren't
any more transactions than there
usually are, or not many"
Its right at the cracking point"
said Mr.. Reeve the creamery man
ager. Its certainly not going up,
and every good dairy hand that
leaves the section now means that
much less milk and butter"
Haven't deferments checked that
any?" one of the lawyers asked.
DRAFT-DODGING TRICK
"Why do you think the COWS
are bringing the prices?" one of
| the merchants asked. Look Phil
superman aren't an ordinary breed
anywhere. In this war, like every
other, a certain bunch of folks will
do anything to keep their darling
boys at home. They'll buy dozen
milk heiferS or deed over an eighty
to their sons to get them deferred.
Then you got the other side of it,
that lot of seasoned fellows, worth
twice as much to the country on the
farm as they'll ever be to the Navy
or Marines, can't be tied down. All
ashamed. of themselves and join,
and there goes enough grub to feed
two companies"
1.-The boards are pretty good
about that, though" one of the
county officers said. "They know
when a kids needed on the place,
and when it's phoney. IN a county
this size, some draft official knows
the circumstances and the Board
can check UP. Different ir the
East, no doubt
They agreed that it was differ
emit
I did not ask about the possibility
of procuring more farm labor by
paying higher prices for labor. The
hired man is still farmer. His
highest average wage in this coun-
try. which is that paid on the Pa
cific coast, is little over So a day,
and found. In the Breadbasket it is
slightly over 50, and found: but in
the Breadbasket employment is as
much social as financial, without
being serf labor in any sense. In
successful instances i follows the
apprentice systematic young man
works number Of years, learns his
trade saves his money and buys
farm.
There is no possibility that the
farmer could outbid INDUSTRY at
the present moment. The farmer
would rather stretch his day than
give away his profits even If he
could give away enough to make
any differences.
DON'T PRESS WAGE ISSUE
The farmer is not a fool. He
sees the disparity in the wages
that he can pay and those that
are provided for slightly skilled
Jobs on shovels and lathes.
He is not making a point of 1t
at this time.
The farmer is almost the last
complete individualist in Amer
lean society, and you can bet your
pants that lie will stay that way
as long as people do not live solely
on vitamin pills and mackerel.
The Government cannot drive
or direct him by penalties or lin
centiveS." There is no reason for
these brides at this moment be-
cause patriotism and profit are
concurrent brides Don't be mis-
taken about the patriotism - a
midwest farmer Merle Hay, was
one of the first soldiers to die in
the last war, and the Midwest is
already counting its losses grinly In
this one.
THEY'RE STUBBORN
The will fight it out on this line
if it takes all summer, or many
summers AMI many harvests. Vhey
will win, somehow, because they
don't lose.
In summary, the country will
have adequate food for its people
and it will not let distribution go
so far astray that it distresses the
home folks.
The present food difficulties and
those to come are caused by IN
adequate resources for processing
and TRANSPORTATION, strained by ex-
port demands.
The American farmer, handicap
ped by the plundering of his labor
and the disparity of his occupa-
tional hours and that of some Lew
is stooge will feed everyone to the
best of his ability.
The best supply of new farm la
Dor will probably be 'teen-age kids
who have been brought UP on ma
chimes and will adapt more easily
than older men.
We would rather not have them,
either, if we can get farmers. 1t
takes years to teach farmer.
But, you'll be fed,