Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1919 — THE SANITY OF THE FARMERS [ARTICLE]

THE SANITY OF THE FARMERS

One of the reassuring forces in the present period of industrial uncertainty is the sanity of the farmers’ organizations. Among all the producers, it is apparent, according to the resolutions adopted by their conventions, that none realizes better than the farmer the Importance of hard and persistent work to put the country hack on Its basis of substantial prosperity. At Chicago farmers denounced, as well they (might, strikes and lockouts “as bringing unnecessary loss and suffering on the many while bringing benefits, if any, to the few,” and they resented "the implication that the farmers of this country can be yoked up with greed and lawlessness, whether capitalisjtic, laboristic or Bolshevistic.” At the Grand Rapids meeting of the National Grange the grandmaster declared that the demand for shorter hours on the part of certain classes of labor was indefensible. There can be no doubt of the fanner’s right to speak as a man iwho works, even if he is not regarded as a "workingmen” in the sense in which the term Is ordinar-

ily used. His working hours are irregular and variable, depending on the season and the weather. He puts In full time, wbaterver It may be, without watching the clock, for part of his work is a dally task that can not be (postponed and part of it must be done as seasonal opportunity offers. That such labor is inevitable if the food production business Is to reach its necessary output he realizes »nd accepts without objection. If, in spits of his skill as a cultivator, the weather causes him losses, he accepts them as part of his business routine, and goes ahead with his work. He makes Buch profits as he can, but between him and the enormous cost of food stands many a charge that brings him no return. On the other hand he must pay for manufactured products the high charges that result from slackened production, high wages and the general greed that probably has as much influence on prices as any other one force. Naturally the farmer has scant sympathy for six-hour days and five-day weeks. As Be sees it, these will make the things that he

buys cost more without Increasing the price of the things that he seels —and he sees pretty clearly. There will evidently be no joining of the farmers In any movement to reduce (production and increase wages, and the country Is fortunate In having a conservative force of such power aligned In favor of a sane rehabilitation of the people’s affairs- —Indianapolis News.