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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1920.
‘M
FoOD THE VITAL PROBLEM
NOW CONFRONTING WORLD
FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO WEL.-
FARE OF HUMANITY THAN
LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
DECIDEDLY BIG QUESTION
If Present Conditions As.to Farm
Labor Remain Unremedied a Re
duced Crop Yield Is Inevitable.
The Farmer Must Have Profits.
ucts of agriculture constitute
theP rfgal substantial foundation of
our national life; the important prob
lems of the farm are therefore the
vital problems of the entire country
writes B. F. Yoakum, chairman of
the board of directors of the St.
Louis and San Francisco railroad,
in the New York Times. :
Yet each political party is chal
lenging the other to _make the
league of nations the principal istue
for next November’s election, which
carried to its final analysis means
that other subjects affecting the crit
ical situation in the economic life of
the nation must take second place.
The farmers:as a class should
know if either party will earnestly
indorse the construction of a plan
that will aid farmers and the future
development of the farming indus
try as a business conducted under
the same business principles as oth
er business enterprises of the coun
try. none of which could exist if the
farmers should selfishly say: “We
will only produce food to feed our
selves and families.”
There is no legal, moral or equita
ble reason why the farmers as a
class should not quit their work un
til just compensation for their la
hor is paid, as others do who are
more fortunate in being organized;
nor is there any reason why a farm
er should not make a profit on his
investment and labor as others do
in different lines of business.
A strike to force better treatment
is not the proper method to solve the
difficulties; but whether or not it
takes the form of an organized
strike, a condition is growingz so that
a food shortage is inevitable unless
2 plan for bettering the farmers’
condition is provided.
I City as Well as Farm Probl>m
The last statistics at hand give
the total number of cultivated
farms at 6,500,061, with approxi
mately 33,000,050 workars on these
farms, producing food for the re
maining 70,000,000 populaticn. That
is, the average farm must furnish
food for approximately fifteen peo
ple, or, to put it another way, each
farm worker has three factory and
town people to feed.
Discontent on the farm is causing
the boys and girls and many grown
ups to abandon the hard work and
poor pay of the farm to join the
to-be-fed class. This is perfectly nat
ural, as all of us are inclined to look
for less work and better pay.
Farming—the business upon which
the life of every individual, every
enterprise, every industry, big or
little, depends— can pay less for‘
labor than any other business in the
United States, and therefore must
be satisfied with the poorest and
least dependable. To illustrate:
To operate a farm tractor satis
factorily a man must know how to
operate and repair a gasoline motor
and keep the machinery in running
condition, which requires more skill
than is required of the average man
at a lathe or piece of machinery.
The machinist is paid $8 a day for
eight hours’ work, while the tractor
man is paid $4.50 a day for ten
hours’ work.
The man who drives a mule eight
hours a day in the coal mine is paid
$6 a day. The farmhand who plows
in the hot sun all day is paid $lB
a week, or $3 a day. It requires
more judgment to properly plow a
straight furrow and cultivate the
growing crops than to drive a mule
over a beaten path.
“Biggest Question in the World.”
Such a condition is fundamentally
wrong and fraught with danger. Ev
ery individual, rich or poor, in evex?
line of business or industry, is vital
'y interested in this question. The
Wage-earning class cannot continue
to pay higher prices without receiv
b higher wages, and if wages con
nue to increase and we thus con
tnue to engage in this game of pyr
fl‘.mldlnz we will allow the founda
ll’lon to weaken to the point where
€ structure will tumble.
Consequently townfolk, whether
tmployers or employes, laborers or
tapitalists, must be and are vitally
;’;\tert‘swd in the cost of food—for
ime cost of food is not onlythe most
qportant proportionate part of the
bcost of living” of each individual
ot largely determines the cost of
bv(d!‘\ other item in the individual’s
t;‘r‘é“it»'Al}d' the problem of how
e et}:éwfna;inclosts can be solved
fo Tollows that the solution of the
b it Problem is fundamentally more
Thm ¥ problém than a farm problem.
balea formvr, to continue feeding the
fce of the population, must have
th only a matter of short time,
Nt wait until pains and aches
‘Ome incurable diseases. Avg:d
ul consequences by taking
® world’, m.d, for Hl’l".
. b“ddi:':nnm acid troubles—the
"onal Remedy of Holland since 1696.
. Three sizes, al dmul::
Nl-o G-l-l. Medal on every
increased profits. But his farm will
always yield him the fundamental
basis of life. If the farmer’s profits'
do not increase, he can and lie may
reduce his production of food and
still survive. |
Townsmen, of course, will suffer |
severe.ly if (through either disgust}
and disappointment or cupidity) the
farmers should deliberately reduce
their yield. And this almost inevita
ble result of present farm condi-:
tions, if they remain unremedied, is
therefore far more a subject for the
city man than' for the farmer to‘
worry about. “To the farmer it may
mean reduced food, hunger. Already
the majority of people in cities are
trading with their stomachs, not eat
ing what they want for nourishment
but scanning the list of food articles
to find what they can afford to pay
for. And even those able to meet
the increased cost are vitally con-l
cerned, for, if the population of our
crowded cities is allowed to go hun-|
gry, wealth will supely be discom
fited.
We are thus confronting the big
gest question of the world, one
which needs to be formulated, or
ganized and handled in a big busi
ness way. And yet, though a sharp‘
crisis is here, candidates for office
are still indulging in shop-worn
platitudes with regard to it; they
are giving no real thought in con
nection with a constructive plan for
meeting one of the most fundamen
tal difficulties of our national eco-x
nomic existence,
In November, when the president
and congressmen are elected, the
war will have been over for two‘
years, during which time congress
and the chief executives of the gov-!
ernment will have spent practically
their entire time discussing the
league of nations, which discussion
they now propose to continue in
defintely to the entire neglect of
home problems of vastly more im-i
portance to home people. If either‘
Senator Harding or Gov. Cox would
now indicate that as-serious consid
eration would be given to the con
struction of an effective plan of farm
organization as they are giving to
legislation relating to our foreign
entanglements the farmers of the
nation (and especially of New York
state) would not be long in making
up their minds how to vote. If this
assurance cannot be given, the farm
ers must look elsewhere for sub
stantial relief.
The nature of this relief must be
specific, not vague and general. For
twenty-five years political speakers
and campaign propagandists have
talked of co-operative association,
which is meaningless without a com
prehensive, concrete plan that con
templates bringing the farmers’
goods, with one distributinfi expense,
direct to the consumer. The trouble
cannot be remedied by town or
county political and social organi
zations, however earnest and hone_st
they may be in their efforts. It will
take much time and effort to formu
late and apply the appropriate reme
dy.
yFor years there has been an un
necessarily wide spread between the
price received by the farmer for his
products and the price paid by the
consumer. Several years ago I pre
pared a table showing the money
paid by the consumer in New York
city during that period for several
staple articles of food and the
amount of this money received by
the farmer; it is interesting to note
that, although the total costs have
increased many times, the propor
tions still remain substantially the
same as in the following:
Received by Paid by
Farmer. Consumer.
Eggs ___s 17,238,000 $ 28,730,000
Coffee . 2,402,000 12,009,000
Rice ... 1,3b41000 6,191,000
Cabbage 1,825,000 9,125,000
Onions - 821,000 8,212,000
Milk ... 22,912,000 48,880,000
Potatoes 8,437,000 60,000,000
Meat and
poultry 219,300,000 291,000,000
Total _5274,289,000 $464,147,000
New York's Daily Menu.
To furnish the population of New
York city three meals a day requires
over 15,000,000 meals daily. Under a
system that would give the producer
75 cents out of each $1 that the
New Yorker pays for food the farm
er can make a profit and sell his
goods for less to the consumer. Es
timated on an average cost of $l.OO
per meal for a good square meal,
such as will furnish proper nourish
ment to the working men and wo
men and good health and vigorous
growth to children, an indispensable
condition to adequately conserve the
strength and power of the nation’s
future, and estimating 25 cents per
meal for cost and profit of distribu
tion would mean a gross income of
$3,750,000 per day, or a greater in
come than the daily gross income of
the United States Steel corporation.
Cut out most of those interme
diate profits and increase the farm
the ,consumer,
A man who runs all the risk of de
struction . of crops by droughts,
storms, insects and a dozen other
things that can happen to the farm
er is certainly entitled to receive not
less than 75 per cent of the fruits
of his labor, When a farmer loses
his crop or loses all of his profit he
is out of business for twelve months.
In every other business such revers
es are of short duration. If a fac~
tory burns it is covered by insur
ance; if it is broken down it is soonl
repaired. A farmer cannot insure
against the elements and destructive
insects, and he can plant his crop
but once a year, so when destroyed
he must wait a year for another
harvest. '
Farming must be made a money
making business before industrious
people will seek it as a permanent
occupation. Farmers must be able to
pay thé same for the same class of
labor as others pay who are engaged
in other lines of business. To do this
their goods must go direct from the
farm to the table through one agen
cy, as the iron ore goes from the
mines to the mills or as the crude
oil goes from oil wells to refineries.
No sound or defensible reason can
be given why a barrel of potatoes
should pay half a dozen profits be
fore they reach the kitchen table,
any more than there should be for
the same number of profits taken
out of coal used in cooking the po
tatoes. :
Farmers Not Making Money.
I am not speaking as a novice or
a theorist. I have always farmed and
I am now cultivating and interested
in the cultivation of large acreage in
the state of New York. I have sent
thousands of bushels of potatoes to
New York which sold for from 75
cents to $1.25 a bushel, for which
the consumer paid 50 cents a peck.
I know it is impossible for indi
viduals of a community of farmers
to make a profit or be of benefit
.to the public in the cost of living
under the present conditions. The
great masses of small farmers which
constitute the bulk of our farming
industry, who produce the table prod
ucts, are not making any money,
but gradually being forced to seek
other work. Everything they buy
costs them from 150 to 300 per cent
over normal prices. Bumper crops
this year are a blessing to the coun
try. A short crop will cause disaster
that will be far reaching.
I want to make it clear that I am
not in sympathy with the doctrine of
the nonpartisan league. I view it as
a very unwise attempted solution of
a very real problem; it is not yet a
disease, but a symptom. The garm
ers can and should work out a busi
ness plan to bring their goods direct
ly to the masses who must buy them
every day.
To state the situation simply:
There are approximately 33,000,000
people engaged to feed the balance
of the population, and there should
be one direct business line of com
munication between them, through
which they can deal direct with each
Fashion’s Best-- &"‘g Fashion’s Best--
Knickabocker { £ In Gage
Hats. \‘% = Hats.
%@’umn/ ,
It must have been so, for these new hat modes for fall could only be the product of happy
inspiration. And one need not wonder whether these new styles will be becoming for there
are hats for every type of face and tigure. Some are with large picturesque brims and others
with no brims at all. Duvetyns and Velvets are pronounced. And the trimmings! Ostrichs
fancies with their long, graceful sweeping lines, wings, ribbon and brilliant metal embroideries
give these hats smartness and exclusiveness, virtually giving every one a personality.
One Will Almost Want to Live Among These
New Fc_zll Fabric.
To look upon these beautiful Autumn stuffs is like opening up
a treasure chest. For one finds*here an unexpected wealth of rich,
precious-looking materials fascinating in weave and color. Above
the horizon of choice figured silks and woolens you will quickly see
visions of smart blouses, dresses, suits and wraps. Home sewing
will lose every semblance of drudgery when your fingers can fondle
weaves and fabrics of such exquisite beauty.
These Suits Look So Much Better When They
Are Worn.
You probably know that these new tailored suits with their
smart lines and rich trimming are .attractive. But when you have
one on is really the only time when the rich color, the distinctive
trimming, and the fur collars and cuffs do themselves justice. Give
yourself the privilege of seeing these new modes; try on some of them;
then you’ll better appreciate the ultra-becomingness of the new fash
ions.
MALO 0 F ,S (Prices Always Reasonable)
Ladies’\ Readyp-to-Wear ! e Fin,e- Millineryp
THE DAWSON NEWS.
other to the mutual benefit of both.
And the farmers and food consum
ers are entitled to know from' the
political party leaders the kind of a
plan they will support to accom
plish the important results. .
BOTH SORRY AND GLAD,
Makes Some Observations on Two
Wells Which Have Long Sup
plied the Thirsty. |
Some were glad and many were
sorry to see the two deep wells on
Main street torn away Saturday,
getting ready for the pavers. Hun-|
dreds of people who, for years gone,
have depended on these magnificent
wells for their only supply of cool
drinking water will sorely miss them;
but the automobile drivers say these
wells were in their way, conseqgeunt
ly they must go. |
However, we should not worry.
All who have to hunt new quarters,
dimes and nickels for a cool drink
can find it at any drug store, cafe
or grocery. After receiving a numer
ously signed petition to save the
wells the mayor and council have
agreed to leave the one at the Main
and Lee street crossing, and proba
bly convey the water to the curb for
drinking purposes. DRINKER.
RECTOR LAWRENCE WILL
PREACH THIS EVENING
Rev. J. B. Lawrence, of the Epis
copal church, will hold prayer ser
vice this evening in the Methodist
church at 7:30 o’clock. The public is
cordially invited to attend.
MR. DISMUKE IMPROVING.
His friends will be glad to know
that the latest news from the bed
side of Mr. Jim Tom Dismuke is that
he is doing nicely.
SENATOR WATSON MAY
SPEAK IN DAWSON SOON
Friends Here Have Expressed an In
tention of Inviting the Sage of
McDuffie to Make Address.
Some of the friends and admirers
in Dawson and Terrell county of
Hon. Thos. E. Watson, who recently
won an overwhelming and notable
victory in his campaign for the Unit
ed States senate, have expressed an
intention of inviting him to speak in
Dawson at an early day. Should he
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accept the invitation itiis safe to say
that he will be greeted by a tremend
ous crowd. Mr. Watson spoke in Daw
son several years ago, and drew the
largest crowd that ever attended a
political meeting here. Many came
from a dozen or more counties and
some from Alabama.
AT A SANITARIUM.
It will interest the friends of Miss
Annie Potts to know that she is at
the Plains sanitarium for treatment.
Two fine farms on Florida Short
Route, at bargain. SMITH REALTY
COMPANY.
New Fall Ginghams Snould be in Everyone’s
Sewing Budget.
These are those sturdy serviceable ginghams, of which every
housewife intends to use an almost endless quantity. Most of the
patterns are in the darker shades so desirable for fall and winter
use. Yon will find practical ginghams for house dressses, beautiful
ginghams for every purpose and they were never more desirable
than now.
: “Loveliness ” is Expressed in These
Fall Frocks. '
One simply cannot help but become enthusiastic about the dec
orative handkerchief which embellishes these new modes. The
effectively compliment the beautiful satins meteors and crepe de
chine which mark up the garments. Never have the designers origi
nated smarter modes for day time wear. \
Blue Buckle
Overalls and Coats
SPECIAL. For this month we are
featuring Blue Buckle Overalls—
the big overalls for the big man.
They are unusually well-made and
a most serviceable garment.
Overalls come in sizes 82 to 44;
coats to match; 36 to 44.
Special $2.45
HERMAN’S
PAGE ELEVEN