Milford chronicle., 1957-04-12
FARMER SURPLUS

FARMER SURPLUS
Wheat, milk and other agricultural pro-
ducts are not the only farm surplus. There
is also, in manner of speaking, a surplus
of farmers.
The Department of Agriculture reports
that 40 per cent Of the young men who grew
up on farms are now finding jobs in town.
The main reason for this seems to be that
improved farming methods, including a
heavy nge of machinery, makes it increasing
ly possible to produce more food and fiber
with less n1anpOWer.
The farm population has been declining
during the past 45 years, and especially with
in the last decade. At the same time, farms
have been growing in size The average Iowa
farm, for example, is 20 acres bigger than
it was rs years ago.
During that period, about 100000 COM
nercial farms-that is, those on which the
main source of income is from farming
have been eliminated. Even so, the Depart
nent of Agriculture figures that third of
the nations family farms are too small to
provide full-time work for even one man
using modern farming methods to best ad-
vantage That is big reason for the cOntin-
uing departure Of farm boys.
1t is encouraging to note, however, that
these youths are not being deprived of work
by this disocation. Many of them, having
graduated from agricultural schools, are
vices and other kinds of employment re-
lated to farming. Even for those without
college training, there are farm-related jobs
in such things as the repair and servicing
of farm machinery, crop spraying and truck
ing.
This is characteristic of Americas rich
and diverse economy. Those displaced by
advancing technology in one field can almost
always find satisfying work in another. That
is one of this country's great economic
strengths.
PROMOTE-ADVERTIS
Some time ago a group of retail execu-
tives was received by the President at the
White House. The groups spokesman told
the Chief Magistrate that retailings increas-
ing sales volume and rising capital expansion
programs are a reflection of confidence in
the sound growth of this country's economy.
He added eve Sold-and will continue to
sell-the products which manufacturers have
produced and made it possible for them to
continue their operations at peak levels"
This particular group consisted of repre-
sentatives of retail fields other than foods.
The food retailers, chain and independent,
are doing exactly the same thing on behalf
of the countrys farmers, professors and
others.
This brings up point we are apt to over
look. We watch the industrial production
figures, in order to see how American enter
prise and the nation fare. But the status of
retailing is every bit as important No pro-
ducer could produce for long without suffi-
cient number of buyers Of his wares If the
goods didn't move he'd have no choice but to
shut down. Retailing takes the goods and
moves them into the channels of consump-
tion-and then the orders pour into the fac
tories.
Finally, competition is wide open in re-
taiIing-and that means that every retailer
must be on his toes every business day of the
year. He can't just wait for customers to
come in-he must continually promote, ad-
vertise, and sell.
PAYING RETIRED PRESIDENTS
Congress is considering proposal to pay
past Presidents Of the United States $4,000
a year. Although there are only two living
past Presidents, one of them in advanced age,
the proposal is a highly important one, as
we view it.
No citizen would like to see a past Presi-
dent of the United States find himself finan-
cially embarrassed and forced to curtail his
activities to such an extent that his life
would not be a pleasant one.
Fortunately, neither of the two living
past Presidents are in any financial difficulty
and we do not think either of them would
suffer if the proposal is not adopted How
ever, we think past President of the United
States is entitled to some consideration, and
when one looks at the huge sums of money
being spent, the small item of $4,000 for
past Presidents fades into insignifcance.
The United States is currently the great
est nation on earth, and the President of this
nation has the most important job in the
world. top executive would be retired on
a fairly liberal pension, and we think the
President of the United States should be
retired in such manner, and $25, 900, or a sim
liar amount, would be an appropriate reward