The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-03-17

(2) Decreasing the output per man
In agriculture operations - cutting
down its hours or doing away with
some Of the mechanization.
(3) Development Of greater self
sufficiency on the part of the farm
ers themselves.
az (Something we would hardly
want to see) Immigration to less de-
veloped countries, except, of course,
In the case of places like Alaska,
where there is a need Of settlers.
Another danger which besets the
farmer and which regional planning
would avert is the sense of insecu-
rity on the part of the farm people,
due to the tendency toward tenant
operation of farms under short-time
tenures, which naturally leads to in
efficient farming, bad living condi-
tons, lack of continuity.
Then, of course, there Is the an
cient bugbear of one-crop farming,
partly inherited from slavery days
and particularly noticeable in cotton
agriculture. Another factor is the
wage labor situation in particular
localities (also a heritage of another
day. which results in poor living
conditions and unproductive and UNI
satisfactory work. Other disturbing
factors are the use of submarginal
lands or unsuitably located farms
and then, Of course, the problem Of
the exhaustion of resources with the
conference.-the Of conservation.
It is pointed out that the situation
which met the pioneer in America
resulted in certain definite tenden-
cies and traditions affecting the
American attitude toward agricul-
ture. These pioneer conditions, Of
course, ceased when there were no
more good, new lands which could
be opened up. But their effect lives
on and has affected land policies
ever since.
DR.. Benedict lays great stress on
the fact that land policies which
were well suited to the pioneer do
not fit in at all with our modern
economy and he emphasizes heavily
the need of altering the tenant-farm-
er situation. In the old days a man,
if conditions were unsatisfactory,
could pack his family and belongings
in a covered wagon, cross the range
and stake out a fresh claim for him
self. Now, if he has no place of his
own, he has to work on someone
else's terms and like it.
"The past two decades have
brought clearly into view," says DR..
Benedict, Sc. the insecurity and
destructiveness of the American sys-
tenn of tenancy, the rapid deteriora-
ton of soils, and the increasing diff
ficulty with which able young farm
ers can become established on the
land"
Three Improvement
He believes that wise legislation
could be put into action and three
important improvements could be
brought about:
(1) Powerful incentive for the ten
ant to conserve the soil since he
would reap the benefits.
(2) Much more careful selection Of
tenants, since removal Of poor ten
ants would be more difficult.
(3) Improved community status Of
those tenants who become estab-
lished under arrangements Of this
kind.
Such is a brief summary Of the
goals studied in typical research
now being done for the benefit Of the
farmer.
Unfortunately, however, as said
earlier, politics is bound to play a
powerful role in the effort to secure
any "wise legislation" and, with self
ish interests, will make up the chief
obstacle.
Circumstances will force action in
regard to the reconversion and adj
justment Of industry in the present
session Of congress but it would be
an optimist indeed who would pre-
dict that constructive farm legisla-
ton could be carried out in an cleo
ton year. The farm lobby is one
of the most powerful in congress
but unfortunately pressure exerted
by it frequently fails to have for its
objective the general good of the
country. Proponents of certain
measures may be really honest in
expressing the wish of their particu-
lar constituents but the farm prob
lem in America is so closely inter-
woven with every phase of our life,
social as well as economic, that to
envision it properly one must con-
slider the welfare Of the entire ma
ton, not the special interests of any
one particular locality.