Newspapers / Gastonia Daily Gazette (Gastonia, … / Gastonia Daily Gazette (Gastonia, … / Jan. 21, 1922, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO Sbme Aspects of the y Farmers Problems 4 By BERNARD -.9f t . (Reprinted from 1 i The whole rnral world Is tn a fer ment of unrest, and there Is an un - paralleled volume and intensity of de 'termined. If not angry, protest, and an t ominous swarming of occupational con- ferences, Interest groupings, political r movements and propaganda. Such a tormoil cannot out arrest our atten tion. Indeed, It demands our careful 'tody and examination. It Is not like- .study and examination. It is nut iikc 4y that sis million aloof and ruggedly i y that hIi million aloof and ruggedly "independent men have come together independent men have ceme together and banded themselves Into active ' and handed themselves into aetive anions, societies, farm bureaus, and so forth, for Bo sutfieient cause. Investigation of the subject conclu sively proves tnut, while there m mum 'overstatement of grievances und mis--conception of remedies, the fanners !re right In complaining of wrongs lloag endured, and rlylit In holding that l. ....... II. Ir. ... -...It.,.-, tl.nli- Ilia u-tth benefit to the rest of the community. jTbls being the case of an Industry rthat contributes, In the raw material Iform alone, about one-tliird of the na tional annual wealth production and ;ls the means of livelihood of about 49 1 "nop Minf rt tliA rwu.nhirhin. lr Is nh- - - - ,i -- . Jviou that the subject is one of grave concern. Not. only do the farmers - muttt nn nna-linlf itt fh nntton hot -the well-being of the other half de pends upon them. ii, ov ioug as fiue uuuimn, ..polltclal economy will aim at a large y.An.tm . 1 . .n 1 nil L..ll1nlal.rt an, I elf-containment. Home fell when the iood supply was too far removed from "tae Deny, use ner, we snail aestroy ;fur own agriculture and ertena our i our own agriculture and extend our ..sources of food distantly and precarl- sources of food distantly and precari ously. If Ve do not see to It that our ' ously, If we do not see to It that our partners are well and fairly paid for j farmers ore well ami fairly paid for 'their services. The farm gives the ; their services. The farm gives the "nation men as well as food. Cities ' nation men ns well as food. Cities "derive their vitality and are forever derlve their vitality and are forever Renewed from the country, but an lm- I renewed from the country, but on Im poverished countryside exports intelli ''gence and retains unlntelllgence. .(Only the lower grades of metallty j tand character will remain on, or seek, ' 'the farm, unless agriculture Is capable j ,of being pursued with contentment and . auequate compensntion. iience, to em Utter and lmpoj-erisli the farmer is to dry up and contaminate the vital .sources of the nation. li The war. showed convincingly how dependent the nation la on the full prodnctlvltr of the farms. Despite .herculean efforts, agricultural produc tion kept only a few weeks or months ahead of consumption, and that only oy Increasing the acreage of certain Staple crops at the cpst of reducing that of others. We ought not to for get that lesson when we ponder on the farmer s problems. They are truly (Common problems, and there should be no attempt tf deal with them as f they were purely selfish demands of a clear-cut group, antagonistic to the rest of the community. Rather .should we consider agriculture ln the Jlgbt ot broad national policy, just m we consider oil, coal, ateel, dye- ,stoffa, and so forth, as sinews of na tional strength. Our growing popula tion and a higher standurd of living demand increasing food supplies, and .more wool, cotton, hides, nnd the rest Wlth the disappearance of free or heap fertile land. .additional acreage cheap fertile land, additional acreage nd increased yields can come only and increased yields can come only jroin costly efTort. This we need not from costly effort. This we need not expect from an impoverished or un- I expect from an impoverished or un appy&ral population. -xhappy rural population. J It will not do to take a narrow view j jt will not da to take a narrow view the rural discontent, or to nppralse 0f the rural discontent, or to appraise It from the stendpolnt of yesterday. ! it from the standpoint of vesterdav. Thls Is peculiarly an age of flux and j This Is peculiarly un age of flux and change and new deals. Because a change and new deals. Because a Hhlng always has been so no longer thlna always has been so no biurer -means that It Is righteous, or always "hall be so. More, rierhapsv than ever Jiefore, there Is a widespread feeling jtliat all human relations can be lm proved by taking thought, and that It s not becoming for the reasoning ani ml to leave his destiny largely to vbsnce and natural Incidence. Prudent nnd orderly adjustment ot production and distribution ln accord- ; tnnce v. iih consumption Is recognized as wise menagemeut ln every business i 4ut that of farming. Yet, I venture o say, there Is no other industry In ! nhicb. it is so Important to the pub lic to t!ie city-dweller Ihat produc tion should be sure, steady, and ln Vreasing, nnd that distribution should be In proportion to the need. The un- ' organized farmers naturally aa bilnd Jy and Impulsively und, in conse quence, surfeit and dearth, aceompu- . led by disconcerting price-variations, ' harass the consumer. One year pota toes rot in the fields because of excess production, and there Is u scarcity of jlhe things that liave been displaced Jo make way for the expansion of the Jtotato acreage; next year the punish d farmers ms their- fields on some ; jnther crop, and potatoes enter the class of luxuries; nnd so on. Agriculture Is the g.-eutest and fun-1 mentally the most Important of our American Industrie. The citiesf are! ut the branches of the tree of na tional life. thVrnot of . which go deep 1 Into the laaiU "jW "all flourish or, decline with the farnler. So, when we I l r.i- rcu ,.i ,m- prrwni BUI- , rfreraal distress of the farmers, of a j slump of six billion dollars in thevm Talut of their crops jo a single rtar.j M .... l . , .1 . . 1 i " . Jt appesr that whea the chains were Struck from Toiaad's legs the pro ceeded at once to strap on gaffs. M. BARUCH Atlantic Monthly) - ' The wii..l. rural world Is in a fer- TSnt of i:r.r. st. ntlil there Is r.n un parullele.i volume and intensity of de rernilned, if not Hnt'i y, protest, anil an onilnocs -.umning of occupational co:i ferem-es, interest groupings, political movements a:id propaganda, such n turmoil c:innot but arrest our atten tion. Iniiced. it demand our careful .unions, societies, farm bureaus, and so forth, fur no sufficient cause. Investigation of the subject condu- sively proves that, while there !s much overstatement ot grievances and niis- conception of remedies, the farmers are right in complaining of wrongs long endured, and right In holding that it Is feasible to relievo their ills with benefit to t lie rest of the community. This being the case of an industry that contributes. In the raw material form alone, about one-third of the na tional anno.'il wealth production and Is the means of livelihood of about -IS' per cent of the population. It Is ob vious that the subject Is one of grave concern. Not only do the farmers make up one-half of the nation, but the well-being of the other half de I ends upon them. So long as we have nations, a wise polltclal economy will film fit n large degree of national self-sufficiency am) self-containment. Home fell when the food supply was too far removed fnini the belly. Like her, we shall destroy ! poverislied countryside exports intelll- gence and retains unlutelligence. Only the lower grades of mentality and character will remain on, or seek, the farm, unless agriculture Is capable of being pursued with contentment and adequate compensation. Iience, to eat' bitter und Impoverish the farmer Is to dry up and contaminate the vital sources of the nation. The war showed convincingly bow dependent the nation Is on the full productivity of the farms. Despite herculean efforts, agricultural produc tion kept only a few weeks or months ahead of consumption, nnd that only by Increasing the acreage of certain staple crops at the cost of reducing that of others. We ought not to for get that lesson when we ponder on the, fariuer'a problems. They nre truly common problems, and there should be no attempt to deal with them as If they were purely selfish demands of a deur-cut group, nntagonistic. to the rest of the community. Kather should we consider agriculture In the light of broad national policy. Just as we consider oil, conl, steel, dye stuffs, and so forth, as sinews of na tional strength. Our growing popula tion and a higher standurd of living demand Increasing food supplies, and more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest. With the disappearance of free or Ineans that it Is righteous, or always hall be so. More, perhaps, than ever before, there lg a widespread feeling that all human relations can be im proved by taking thought, and that It is not becoming for the reasoning ani mal to leave his destiny largely to chance and natural incidence. Prudent and orderly adjustment of production and distribution In accord ance with consumption is recognized as wise management In every bi.sir.cr.s but that of farming. Yet, I venture to suy, there is no other Industry ln which it Is so Important to the pub lic to the city-dweller that produc tion should he sure, sternly, und in creasing, and that distribution should be In proportion to the need. The in orgnnlzeil farmers naturally act blind ly and Impulsively and, In conse quence, surfeit and dearth, accompa nied by disconcerting price-variations, harass the consumer. One year pota toes rot in the fields because of excess production, nnd there Is a scarcity of the things that have been displaced to make way for the expansion of the potato acreage; next yenr the punish ed farmers mass their fields ti some other crop, and potatoes enter the j class of luxuries; and so on. Agriculture Is the greatest nnd fun damentally the most Important of our American industries. The cities are i but the brunches of the tree ef na rloaal life, the roots of which co deep- 1 ly Into the laad. We all flourish or decline with the fanner. So, when we ! (f of ,,, pr,em ai. verfci. distress of the farmers, of a a of ,x W1J! ,,., ,n jUe fnni. Tlhlt of theIr cr,,j(1 ,a veaP Fifteen tnotnund people read The Ga zette every day. A small amount will carry a message to them for you. .It' the Cheapest and the beat. . L ! in? to take the unfavorable chance, if th? favorr.fcU one also is theirs and i they ran retain for themselves a part of tie servlco.harges that are unl- form, in good years and bad, with high r'cos anl low. Wiille, tn the main, the farmer must sell, renrdles of market condition, Ht t Me time of the maturity of crops, he i immit suspend production in toto. II. must go on producing If he la to go on Uving. and if the world is to exist, eminent to equalize opportunity so The most he can do Is to curtail pro-1 far as It la within ha power to do so, Auction a little or alter Ha form, and ! whether by the repeal of archaic that because be is in the dark as to ! statutes or the enactment of modern the probable demand for his goods i ones. If the antl-trnst laws keep the tuny o only to Jump from the frying j farmers from endeavoring scientifically pan Into the fire, taking the consumer ; to Integrate their Industry while other with Mm. ' j Industries And a way to meet modern I'ven the dairy farmers, whose out-j conditions without violating such stat pat is not seasonal, complain that they t ntes, then It would seem reasonable tind themselves, at u disadvantage In to find a way for the farmers to meet the marketing .of their productions, specially raw milk, because of the j la.w ahould operate equally In fart. Re hlvh costs of distribution, which they pairing the economic strnctore on one mut ultimately bear. ' 1 aide Is no Injustice to the other aide, , which la In good repair. IH We have traveled a long way from Now that the farmers are stirring, the old conception of government as thinking, and uniting as never before ' merelya defensive and policing agency; to eradicate these Inequalities, they j regulative, corrective, or equalla nre subjected to stern economic lec-1 '"8 legislation, which apparently is of. tures, and are met with the accusation special nature, is often of the most tl.at thev are demanding, and are the i general beneficial consequences. Even recipients of, special privileges. Let the Flrst Congress passed a tariff act us see what privileges the government : tnat was wlly tor the protection has conferred' on the farmers. Much j ' manufacturers; but a protective has been made of Section C of the ! tarlff lar has been defended as a Clayton Antl.Trust Act, which pur- i means of reiotlng the general good ported to permit them to cotnhlne with ' through a particular approach; and Immunity, under certntn conditions. Admitting that, t nominally, this ex emption was In the nature of a special privilege, though I think it was so ln appearance rather than ln fact, we find that the courts have nullified It by Judicial interpretation. Why should not the farmers he permitted to ac complish hy co-operative methods what other businesses are already doing by co-operation In the form of Incorpora tion? If It he proper for men to form. ; by finion of existing corporations or otherwise, a corporation thut controls the entire production of a commodity, or a large part of It, why Is It not 1 proper for n group of farmers to unite for the marketing of Nielr common products, either ln one or ln several, selling agencies? Why should It be right for a hundred thousand corporate shareholders to direct 25 or 30 or 40 per cent of an Industry, and wrong for a hundred thousand co-operative farmers to control a no larger propor tion of the wheat crop, or cotton, or ! any other product? l The Department of Agriculture la often npoken of as a special concession to the fanners, but In Its commercial results. It is of as much benefit to the j buyers nnd consumers of agricultural , products ns to the producers, or even more, I do not suppose that anyone . , opposes the benefits that the farmers derive from the educational' and re j search work of the department, or the help that it f:ive them in working But Improved cultural methods anil prac ; tices, ln developing hotter yielding va- rieties through breeding and selection. , in Introducing new varieties from re- mote parts of the world nnd ndnpting them to our climate arid economic con- 1 tlltlon, and In devising practical meas-, ures for the elimination or control of: dangerous and destructive animal and nlant diseases, insect pests, and the! like. All these things manifestly tend ; to stimulate and enlarge production. ; and their general beneficial effects are , obvious. It Is complained that, whereas the ; law restricts1 Federal llcerve banks! to three months' time for commercial ' paper, the fanner Is allowed six , months on his notes. This Is not a ' special privilege, bnt merely such a : recognition of business conditions as makes It possible for country banks to do business with country people. The crop 'farmer has only one turn over a year, while the merchant and 1 manufacturer have many. Incidental- ly, I note that the Federal lleserve Board has Just authorized the Fed eral Ki serve banks to discount export paper for a period of six months, to conform to the nature of the busi ness. The Farm Loan banks are pointed to as un Instance of special govern ment favor for farmers. Are they not 1 rather the outcome of laudable efforts! to equalize rural and urban condl-1 tionsV And about all the government j does there Is to help Pet up an ad-' minlstrntive organization and lend a ; little credit at the start F.ventually the farmers will provide all the rapl-: lal and carry all the liabilities them- ' selves. It is true that Farm Loan bonds' are tax exempt; but so are! bonds of municipal light and traction plants, and new housing Is to be ex-! empt from taxation, in New York, for ; ten years. j On the other hand, the farmer reads of pltuis for municipal housing proj j ects that run into the billions, of bun ! dreds of millions annually spent on the merchant marine; be reads that! the railways are being favored with) Increased rates and virtual guaranties j of earnings by the government with i the result to him of an "ncreased toll ! on nn mat ne sens aim an utai nej tegraieu nusipess. ine xarmers now buys. He hears of many mnnifesta-1 seek the benefits of such largeness, un tions of governmental concern for par i ion and integration. ttcular industries and Interests. Res ! cuing the railways from insolvency Is ' undoubtedly for the benefit f the! country as a whole, but what can be of more general benefit than encour j agement of ample production of the; principal necessaries of life and theli even flow from contented producers te ! satisfied consumers? While It may be conceded that special governmental aid may be nec essary In the general interest, we must all agree that It is difficult to see wh agriculture and the production and dis tribntiiin of farm produ-'ts are not ac corded the same opportunities that ar( provided for other businesses ; cspe clai'7 the enjoyment hy the fannei of suet opportunities -would appear t be ever, more contributory to the gen A doctor says he "knows" every wnmin ,n Philadelphia is knock kneed, 'several husbands a're hunting him. THE CASTONIAV (N. C). DAILY f crr good than In the rase of other j industries. The spirit of American j democracy Js unalterably, opposed, alike to enacted spedsl privilege and : to the special privilege of unequal en. portunlty that arises automatically from- the failure to r correct glaring ecenomio loequaUttea. I ana opposed to the Injection of gOTernment Into business, but I do believe that it Is an essential function democratic gov- I them under the same conditions. The lnc "uiuc pools are nueu wiwi nam lor tne tienent oi snipping, commerce, and labor. IV m Now, what is the farmer asking? Without trying to catalogue the re medial measures that have been sug gested In his behalf, the principal pro posals that bear directly on the Im provement of his distributing and mar- ketlng relations may be summarized as follows: rirsi. niorage wnrenousea xor coi- ton, wool, and tobacco, and elevators for grain, of sufficient capacity to meet the maximum demand on them at the peak of the marketing period. TTie farmer thinks that either private capi tal must furnish these facilities, or the state must erect and own the eleva tors and warehouses. , Second : , weighing and grading of agricultural products, and certification thereof, to be done by Impartial and disinterested public Inspectors (this Is already accomplished to some extent by the federal licensing of weighers and graders), to eliminate underpay ing, overcharging, and unfair grading, and to facilitate the utilisation of the stored products as the basis of credit. Third : a certainty of credit sufficient to enable the marketing of products In nn orderly manner. Fourth : the Department of Agricul ture should collect, tabulate, summa rize, and regularly and frequently pub lish and distribute to the farmers, full information from all the markets of the world, so that they shall be as well Informed of their selling position as buyers now are of their buying posl tlon Fifth : freedom kf Integrate the busi ness of agriculture by means of con solidated selling agencies, co-ordinating nnd co-operating In snch w ay as to put the farmer on an equal footing with the large buyers f his products, and with commercial relations ln other industries. ' When a business requires specialized talent, it has to buy It. So will the farmers ; and perhaps the best way for them to get It would be to utilize some of the present machinery of the larg est established agencies dealing in farm products. Of course, if he wishes, the farmer may go further and engage In flour-milling aud other manufactures of food products. In my opinion, however, he would be wise to stop short of that. Public Interest may be opposed to all great Integrations; but. In Justice, should they be forbidden to the farmer and permitted to others? The corporate form of association can not now be wholly adapted to his ob jects and conditions. The looser co operative form seems; more generally saitable. Therefore, fce wishes to be free, if he finds it desirable ant) feas ible, to resort to co-operation with his fellows and neighbors, without run ning afoul of the law. To urge that the farmers should have the same lib erty to consolidate and co-ordinate their peculiar economic functions, which other Industries In their fields enjoy. Is not, however, to concede that any business Integration should havf legislative sanction to exercise monop olistic power. The American people are as firmly opposed to Industrial as to political autocracy, whetlter at tempted by rural or by urban Industry. For lack of united effort the farmer as a whtde are still marketing their crops by antiquated methods, or by no methods at all, but they are surrounded by a business world that has been modernized to the last minute and Is tirelessly striving for efficiency. This efficiency is due in large measure to big business, to united business, to ln- The American farmer Is a modern of the moderns in the use of labor saving machinery, and be has made vast stride in recent years In scientific tillage and efficient farm management, but as a business In contact with other businesses aglreulture Is a "one horse shay" In competition with high power automobiles. The American fanner Is the greatest and moot Intractable of individualists. While Industrial pro duction and all phases of the huge com mercial mechanism and Its myriad ac cessories have articulated and co-ordinated themselves all the way from nat ural raw material te retail sales, the buslnea f agriculture has gope on la raurt: r one man fashion of the back Hspods of tho first part ot the nine teenth centum, when tho farmer was The only effective way te reacb tbs people of Castas ceuaty is tamgh the advertising columns ef The Gazette GAZETTE elf sufficient and did not depend npoB, or care very much, whst the great world was doing. The resntt Is that the agricultural group Is almost as much at a disadvantage I stealing with other economic groups as the Jay farm er of the funny, pages In the hands of sleek nrhan confidence men, trho sell him acreage In Central Park or the Chicago city hall. The leaders of th farmers thoroughly understand this, and they are Intelligently, striving to integrate their Industry ao that it will be on an equal footing with other busi As an example of integration, take l teS agency as the grain growers have tne steel industry, in which the model f ln contemplation? Is the United States Steel Corporation, ! It Is contended that, if their pro with its iron mines, its coal mines, its I posed organizations be perfected and lake and rail transportation, Its ocean operated, the farmers will have' In vessel Its by-product coke venV Its thelr hands an Inatrument that will be blast furnaces, it. open hearth and b,e f Bessemer furnaces, Its rolling mills, Its K,- , " " tube mills and . other manufacturing f0' tbatu 11 wlll.be n08Slb,e 10 processes that are carried to the high-i" to arblf7 and oppressive tirice est degree of finished nroduction com-! fllIoS trom 1" lesUIraate use of order- patlble with the large trade It has built up. All this is generally conced- j ed to be to the advantage of the con sumer. Nor does the 8teel corporation ! Inconsiderately dump ts products on tne market. On the contrary, it so acts that It Is frequently a stabilizing Influence, as Is often the case with oth er large organizations. It Is master of Its distribution as well as of Its pro duction. If prices are not satisfactory the products are held back or produc tion Is reduced or suspended. It is not compelled to send a year's work to the market at one tlineSind take whatever It can get under such circumstances. It has one selling policy and Its own export department. Neither are the graues aua qualities or steei aeternun- eu ai me caprice or me ouyer, uor uoes the latter, hold the scales. In this sin - gie integration 01 tne steei corporation is represented about 40 per cit of the i BOSSPssor onlv ho lone as it Is not I.- 1 4rfuriit-nta I i.l Steel production of America. The rest I Abused IMs fair ta .r thit i hv 1 "V ,intTf XT" ',., ,h. ,,,,. , - i- nbusea. it is fair to say tnat I have, drama throughout the state. The forma ts mostly, la the hands of a few large, pe4,n M g,Kns ,n responsible quarters i tint, of such groups as the Raleigh Com- , compotiles. In ordinary times the', dlsnosltlnn to liett nrie j steel corporation, by example, stnldlizes an, sirei prices, n una is pernu.vsioie (It Is even desirable, because stable and fair prices are essential to solid and continued prosperity) why would It be wrong for the farmers to utilize central agencies that woulcThave simi lar effects on agricultural products? I Something like that is what they are I aiming at. I Some farmers favored by regional I compactness and contiguity, such as the f cltrus-fruit-raisers of California, al- j ready have found a way legally to merge and sell their products Inte grally and in accordance with seasonal and local , emand, thus Improving their position and rendering the con sumer a reliable service of ensured qunllty, certain supply, and reasonable and relatively steady prices. They have not fonnd it necessary to resort to any special privilege, or to claim any exemption under the anti-trust legislation of the state or nation. With out removing local control, they have built up a very efflclertt marketing agency. The grnin, cotton, and to bacco fnrmers, and the producers of hides and wool, because of their num bers and the vastnetss of their regions, and for other reasons, have found Integration a ' more difficult task; though there are now some thousands of farmer's co-operative elevators, warehouses, creameries, and other en terprises of one sort and another, with a turn-over of a blllloa dollers a year. They are giving the farmers business experience and training, and, so far as they go, they meet the need of honest weighing and fair grading; but they do not meet the requirements of rationally adjusted marketing In any large and fundamental way. The next step, which will be a pat tern for other groups, is now being prepared by the graln-rnlsers through the estaWlsflment of sales media which shall bundle grain separately or col lectively, as the Individual farmer may elect It is this step the plan of the Committee of Seventeen which has created so much opposition and Is thought by some to be In conflict with the anti-trust laws. Though there Is now before congress a measure de signed to clear up doubt on this point, the grain-producers are not relying on any Immunity from anti-trust legisla tion. They desire, and they are en titled, to co-ordinate their efforts Just as effectively as the large business in terests of the country have done. In connection w,Ith the selling organiza tions the United States Grain Growers Incorporated Is drnftlng a scheme of financing Instrumentalities and auxili ary agencies which are indispensable to the successful utilization of modern business methods. It Is essential that the farmers should proceed gradually with these plans, and aim to avoid thp error of scrapping the existing marketing ma chinery, which has been bo laboriously built up by long experience, before they have a tried and proved 1 substi tute or supplementary mechanism. They must be careful not to become enmeshed in their own reforms and lose the perspective of their place Ic the national system. They must guard against fanatical devotion to new doc trines, end should seek articulation with tbe general economic system rather than its reckless destruction as It relates to them. To take a tolerant and. sympathetic view of the farmers' strivings for bet ter things Is not to glvea blanket endorsement to any specific plan, and still less to applaud the vagaries of some of their leaders and groups. Neither should we, oo tbe other hand, allow the froth of -bitter agitation, false economics, and mistaken radical ism to conceal the facts of the farm ers disadvantages, and the practicabil ity of eliminating them by well-considered measures. It may be that the fanners will not show the business sagtKttr and develop the wise leader ship ts carry through sound plans ; bat that possibility does not Justify the A railroad president has left his four sons $1 each.. Useless expenditures ju-e ruing the railroads. jvobstrocrloa of the upward efTorta. - j We, as city people see in sigh and speculatively manipulated prices', spoilage, waste, Bcndty,,- the results of defective distribution of farm prod acts. Should It not occur to us that we have a common Interest with the farmer in his attempts to attain a de gree of efficiency In distribution cor responding to his efficiency In produc tion? Do not the recent fluctuations In the May wheat option, apparently unrelated to normal Interaction of aupply and demand, offer a timely proof of the need of some such stabll lS land stabilizing the flow of farm products to the market, to the mutual benefit of producer and consumer. I have no apprehensions on this F0It,t- In the first place, a loose organiza tion, such hi any union of farmers must be at best, cannot be go arbi trarily and promptly controlled as a great corporation. The one is a lum bering democracy and the" other an agile autocracy. In the second place, with all possible power of organization, theKof' pelUi. e LoSK farmers cannot succeed to any great ed," a play of mountain life, by Jane extent, or for any crmStdefable length rtf nma In flv nn riftnaa Thn tr, ., , i ... u.ui,j tiv.cs. mi tim u i'iu.v y wiiiuir mouT .railed "in tJix ,law of supply nod demand works ln ' on ' Kitchen," a country romauoe, whir.li various nnd Kiirnrlslrtc nun tn tli I is very noinitar. - j undoing: of the best laid plans that attempt to foil It In the third place, theIr power will avail the farmers ; nothing if It be ubused. In our time . 1- 1... 1.- ailU LU..I1LI T IVUlTn IS III VHII1M If, 111, ! There seerng on tj,P contrary. to be a . commonly beneficial numose to realize a stability thnt will glv an orderly!" v.orKcrs as is n.ncigu. !..,.i.,f t . u",J to the consumer and ensure reasonable and dependable returns to the pro ducer. In view of the supreme Importance to the national well-being of a pros perous and contented agricultural pop ulation, we should be prepared to go a long way ln assisting the fnrmers to J get an equitable share of the wealth j they produce, through the inaugura-! tlon of reforms that will procure a! continuous arfd increasing stream of! farm product. They are far from get-! ting a fair share now. Considering1 his capital and the long hours of labor ! nut in by tbe average farmer and his. family, he is remunerated less than any other occupational class, with the possible exception of teachers, reli gious and lay. Tliough we know that the present general distress of the 'anivers Is exceptional and is linked with the inevitable economic readjust ment following the war, it must be remembered that, although represent ing one-third of the Industrial product and half the total population of the nation, the rural communities ordi narily enjoy but a fifth to n quarter of the net annual national gain. Notwith standing the taste of prosperity that the farmers had during the war, there ; is tyday a lower standard of living j among the cotton farmers of th(f South' than in any other pursuit in the country. I In conclusion, it seems to me that the farmers are chiefly striving for a gen erally beneficial integration of their business, of the same kind and charac ter that other business enjoys. If It should he .found on examination that the attainment of this end requires methods different from those which other activities have followed for the game purpose should we not sympa thetically consider the plea for the right to co-operate. If only from our own enlightened self Interest, in ob taining an abundant-and steady flow of farm products? In examining the agricultural situa tlon with a view to Its improvement, we shull be most helpful If we maln- ! tain a detached and judicial viewpoint. remembering that existing wrongs may be chiefly an accident, fif unsymmetri cal economic- growth Instead of a crea tion of malevolent design and conspira cy. We Americans are prone, as Pro fessor David Friday well says ln his admirable book, "Profits, Wages and Prices," to seek a "criminal Intent be hind every difficult and andesirable eco nomic situation." I can positively as sert from my contact with men of large affairs, including bankers, that, as a whole, they are endeavoring toj fulfill as they see them the obligations that go with their power. Preoccupied with tbe grave problems and heavy I tasks of their own Immediate anairs, they have not turned their thoughtful personal attention or tneir construc tive abilities to tne ueucieucjcii vi. ufcri iwitural business organization. Agrl If tuav he said, suffers from their preoccupation and neglect rather than from any purposerul exploitation by them. They ought now to begin to respond to - thiK farmers' difficulties, which they must realize are their. own. On tbe other linnd, my contacts with the farmers have filled me with respect for them for' their sanity, their pa tience, their balance. Within the last year, 'and particularly at a meeting called by the Kansas State . Board of Agriculture and at another called Jby the Committee of Seventeen, I have met many of the leaders of the new farm movement, and I testify In all sincerity that they are endeavoring to deal with their problems, not as pro moters of s narrow class Interest, not as exploiters of the hapless consumer, not as merciless monopolists, but as honest ment bent on the Improvement of the conimoa weal. We can and must meet such man and rf-i a cause tali wsy. Their business is oar badness -the nation's brxslneeu The only way to keep np witk Gaato- aia and Gastoa affair is to read The Gasette every ay, - See editorial page lor subscription rates. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1922. v DIVERSITY IS rZITL'iu :' PLAYS FOR DISTRIBUTION Folk-Lore Plays and Stories of Traditions in North Carolina Incorporated in Works J' Misses Louisa Refd and Min nie Sparrow, . of G a s t o n County, Are Two of the Au thors Can , be Presented . LocaJy. i By The Associated Press.) CHAPEL HILL, Jah. 20 -Heveral V ongmal plays, writ44n hy North Caro- linians are being sent to pyss io,ny by The University Kxteiiainn lii.-iainn mi plsys are to lie published in the form of - UUU.M1H ana only those which deal with North Carolina folk-loro aud traditions are included. - .; , Investigation as to. where the authors lifiil from shows that talent for writine .n.ra in .wuieiy uistnbuted uiruu'iuiu ine state. Ashevilli in rrnrn. j SI,,,,I ' the bulletin by Thomas Wolfe , n" wrot," T'" Betura of Buck Covin," . ,..,, ir.ijfeiiy, , jieautort eialms Kiizabeth Lf.y's comedy of folk-superstj-lion called "The Hag." ."The- Old Man of Kdenton, " a melodrama,, was written by l'aul Greene, of Liljington. u.i . uio in represented uy two fill thors: Louisa Held, who produced "The Fighting Corporal," a negro comedy; and Minnie Khepliard Kparrow. who wrote iU1.4 Umi !.. -1... ... MI3- Toy. Uitrlington route to the front with , .. 1 .inn i . . . , . . . . . ... I Inters have been received fromV'ri largo i nun.""'r "r f'0."' Carolina communities asking itcrmiMBioir-to produce these plays locally hy home talent. Tlie Carolina I'laymskers, who are now onl another ' jMumi-i!, ..A. a. 1 1 , ... munitv l'lavcrs is i..,ii,.t.ti....' ,.f n. ,i I velopinent t'iiut is in progress. Hut all ' communities are not i.h well supplied : rrl , . ... "... " "ecu ior o recuon in ornaiu- which the 1'nivcrsity Extension Pivisin is meeting through the work of its field agent, Miss Klizubolli Lay. FALL IN VALUE PER ACRE HAS HAD NO PARALLEL - . JT" . - 1ft Avra Vf')!e r nto n Principal Crops Fell 59 Per Cent From 1919 to 1921. Bv Tl"' Associated Press.) WA8MXGT0N, Jan. 20. r- There is ao parallel c records or tne uureau till Markets and drop lJatiiiiates to tho foil of 21.2'. or 59 per cent in the aver age value per acre of the ten crops con stituting nine tenths of all crop produc tion, which occurred in the two years from 1U19 to 392i, it was announced today by the Department of Agriculture. The decline was found by the Depart ment to have been from $35.74 in lul! to $14.52 in 1921. The general trend, of the average was downward, the 'Department's figures snow, from about $14 per acre in the year immediately following the civil war to hardly S in 1898. the lowest point in the industrial depression of that time, U was said. The average per acr advanced to Jlti.49 in 1913 and reached the "peak," $35.74. in 1919. ,.r. The fall in average, the Department said, after 1919 "was more rapid than tne ascent St the beginning of the war, even more rauid than the ascent when this country became a belligerent -the average value per acre went "up like a rocket." it came "down like a stick." PARIS PRESS UNANIMOTTS IN PRAISE OF P0INCARE N (By Tho Associated Press.) TABIS, an. 20. The Paris press is nearly unanimous in its praise of Premier Poiacare after his statement of policy in the Chamber of Detputies last ninht, which resulted in a Vote of con fidence of 472 to 107. The Figaro aays: '.Finally, one has the feeling that France has found a Government worthy of her," and the other newspapers eclio this sentiment. It is hard to discover criticism, or even reservation, in the i chorus "of praise. lustavo Tery alone jndulgqs in a little irony. M Poincare, he remarks, stigni.it ies the trcaiy of Versailles and claims to have no share of responsibility for it. but, his first observation on tnkinsr office was- "This treaty of Versailles is worthless, and meaningless and from it nothing can ever be gotten. Well, we demand its rigorous integral application, and we will go to war if necessary to as sure it. That is onr whole policy." 1 I POPULAR 10 CENT PACKAGE COMES BACK TO ITS OWN The housewife likes the convenient dime. She has always liked it, and al ways will, i or 10 cents is a price that appeals to the popular imagination. The grocer also likes the dime nnd the article that sells for a dime, since the 10-cent article means Wore business and a quicker turnover." It simplifies his bookkeeping and in the long run aaves sonsiderable time in making change; thereby minimizing mistakes, and help ing to keep the customers moving during rush hours. " Consequently the Postum Cereal Com pany, Inc., takes pleasure in annonacing . a new price on Post. Too sties, effective December 31, 1921, which will enable grocers to sell a package of Post Tas tips at their pre-war price, 10 cents, and make a good profit. During the war when prices for food . stuffs in gentral were rapidly rising, Post Toasties were the last corn flakes to go up in price. All through the try ing period of re-adjustment last ypar the7 held the market steady and now they are the first, to eorae down. No doubt the thrifty housewife will fce found immediately responsive to th;a lowered price, ' THE OLD 'BLUE-SACKED."- I have for sale the old Elementary' Spelling Book "Blue Back." McOuffy'a Headers and Bay's Arithmetics, that wo "old nn" used''- as children. They "bring back to memory dnvs of long go." .T. T. KOKSWORTHY. Tho look Man, Armiagton Hotel, GastonU. N. C. ' 23e2.
Gastonia Daily Gazette (Gastonia, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 21, 1922, edition 1
2
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