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Some Aspee Farmer BY BERNA KI) ('Reprinted from A 1 The whole rural world ls in a fer ment of unrest, and there ls an un parnlleled volume and intensity of de- , termined, if not angry, protest, and an ominous swarming of occupational con ferences, interest groupings, political movements and propaganda. Such a turmoil cannot but arrest our atten tion. Indeed, lt demands our careful study and examination. It Is not like ly that six million aloof and ruggedly Independent men have como together and banded themselves Into active unions, societies, farm bureaus, and so forth, for no sufllclent cause. Investigation of the subject conclu sively proves that, while there ls much overstatement of grievances nnd mis conception of remedies, the formers are right In complaining of wrongs long endured, and right in holding that lt ls feasible to relieve their lils with benefit to the rest of the community. This being thc c:ise of an Industry that contributes, In the raw material form alone, about one-third of the na tional annual wealth production and is the means of livelihood of about 49 per cent of the population, it ls ob vious that the subject ls one of gruve concern. Not only do the farmers make up one-hnlf of the nation, bul tho well-being of the other half de pends upon them. So long as we have nations, a wise politcial economy will aim at a large degree of national solf-sulllclency and self-containment. Rome fell when the food supply was too far removed from the belly. Like her, we shall destroy our own agriculture and extend our sources of food distantly and precari ously, If we do not see to lt that our farmers are well and fairly paid for their services. The farm gives the nation men as well as fond. Cities derive their vitality and are forever renewed from the country, but an Im poverished countryside exports Intelli gence and retains unlntelllgence. Only the lower grades of mentality and character will remain on, or seek, the farm, unless agriculture ls cnpable of being pursued with contentment and adequate compensation. Hence, to em bitter and Impoverish the funner is to dry up und contam?nate tin- vital ? sources <</ the nation. The war showed convincingly how dependent tho nation h on the ?ii! ; productivity ot the fnrms. Despite herculean efforts, agricultural produc tion kept only a few weeks or mouths ahead of consumption, and 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 j the farmer's problems. They are truly common problems, nnd there should : be no attempt to deal with them as If they were purely selfish demands ; of n clear-cut group, antagonistic to the rest of the community. Uather should we consider agriculture In the light of broad national policy, Just as we consider oil, coal, steel, dye stuffs, and so forth, ns sinews of na tional strength. Our growing popula tion and a higher standard of living demand Increasing food supplies, and more wool, cotton, hides, and the rest. With the disappearance of free or cheap fertile land, additional acreage and increased yields can come only from costly effort. This we need not expect from an Impoverished or un happy rural population. It will not do to take a narrow view of the rural discontent, or to appraise it from the standpoint of yesterday. This is peculiarly an age of flux ond change and new denis. Because a thing always bas been so no longer j means that lt ls righteous, or always .hall be so. More, perhaps, than ever before, there ls a widespread feeling that oil human relations cnn be im proved by taking thought, and that lt ls not becoming for the reasoning ani mal to leave his destiny largely to chance nnd natural Incidence. Prudent and orderly adjustment of, production and distribution in accord ance with consumption ls recognized os wise management In every business but that of farming. Yet, I venture to soy, there ls no other Industry In which lt ls so Important to the pub- j Ile-to the city-dweller-that produc- j tlon should he sure, steady, nnd In- ! creosing, nnd that distribution should be in proportion to the need. The un organized farmers naturally oct blind ly and Impulsively und, in conse quence, surfeit nnd dearth, nccompo nled by disconcerting prlce-vnrlntions, harass the consumer. Ono year pota toes rot In the fields because of excess production, nnd there is n scarcity of the things that have been displaced to make way for the expansion of the potato acreage; next year the punish ed farmers mass their fields on some I other crop, and potatoes enter the \ class of luxuries ; and so on. Agriculture ls the greatest and fan j damcntally the most Important of our American Industries. The cities ar? but thc branches of the tree of na tional life, the root* of which go deop ly Into the land. We all flourish ot decline with the farmer. So, when w? of the cities rend of the present uni versal distress of the farmers, of B efump of six billion dollars In the farm 4 value of their crops in a single year ;t?s of the s* Problems. M. HAKUOH. tlantlc Monthly.) of their inability to meet mortgages er to pay current bills, und how, seeking relief from their Ills, they are plum nlng to form pools, Inaugurate farm ers' strikes, and demand legislation abolishing grain exchanges, private cattle markets, and the like, we ought not hastily to brand them as economic heretics and highwaymen, and hurl at them the charge of being seekers of special privilege Rather, we should ask If their trouble Is not ours, and si,?, what can be done to Improve the situation, Purely from self-interest, If for no . higher motive, we should help them. All of us want to get back permanently to "normalcy but ls lt reasonable to hope for that condition unless our greatest and most husk In dustry can be put on a sound nod solid permanent foundation? The runners are not entitled to special privileges; but are they not right In demanding that they be placed on an equnl foot ing with tbe buyers of their products and with other industries? n Let us, then, consider some of the former's grievances, and see how far they are real. In doing so, we should remember that, while there have been, and still are, Instances of purposeful abuse, tbe subject should not be ap proached with ?ny general Imputation to existing distributive agencies of de liberately Intentional oppression, but rather with the conception that the marketing of farm products has uot been modernized. An ancient evil, and a persistent one, ls the undergradlng of farm prod ucts, with the result that what the farmers sell as of one quality ls re sold as of a higher. That this sort of chicanery should persist on any Im portant scale In these days of busi ness Integrity would seem almost In credible, but there ls much evidence that lt docs so persist. Even as I write, the newspapers announce the suspension of several firms from the New York Produce Exchange for ex porting to Germany as No. 2 wheat a ( whole shipload of grossly Inferior wheat mixed with onts, chaff and the Uko. Another evil ls that of inaccurate weighing of farm products, which, lt ls charged, ls sometimes a mutter of dishonest intention and sometimes of protective policy on tue part of the local buyer, who fears that he may "weigh out" more than he "weighs In." A greater grievance ls that nt pres ent the field farmer has little or no control over the time and conditions of marketing his products, with the result that he ts often underpaid for his products and usually overcharged for marketing service. The differ ence between what the farmer re ceives and what the consumer pays often exceeds all possibility of Justi fication. To cite a single Illustration. Last year, according to figures attest ed by the railways and the growers, Georgia watermelon-raisers received on the average 7.5 cents for a melon, the railroads got 12,7 cents for carry ing lt to Baltimore and the consumer paid one dollar, leaving 70.8 cents for the service of marketing and Its risks, as against 20.2 cents for growing and transporting. The hard annals of farm-life are replete with such com mentaries on the crudeness of pres ent practices. Nature prescribes that the former's ! "goods" must be finished within two ' or three months of the year, while financial and storage limitations gen erally compel him to sell them nt the same time. As n rulo, other Industries are in a continuous process of finish ing goods for the markets; they dis tribute as they produce, and they can curtail production without too grpnt Injury to themselves or the commu nity; but If the farmer restricts his output, lt ls with disastrous conse I quencos, both to himself und to the ! community. The average farmer ls busy with production for the major part of the year, and haft nothing to soil. The J hulk of his output comes on the mar j ket at once. Because of lack of stor ! age facilities and of financia) support, j the farmer cannot carry his goods through tiie year and dispose of them as they are currently needed. In the great majority of cases, farmers have to entrust storage-In warehouses and elevators-and the financial currying of their products to others. Farm products are generally mar keted at a timo when there ts a con gestion of both transportation and finance-when cars and money are scarce. The outcome, in ninny Iq stances, Is that the farmers not only sell under pressure, and therefore at ft disadvantage, hut are compelled to take further reductions In net returns, in order to meet tho charges for the service of storing, transporting, financ ing, and ultimate marketing-which charges they claim, are often exces sive, bear heavily on both consumor j and producer, and are under the con trol of those performing the servicie It Is true that they are relieved of tho risks of a changing mnrket by selling at once ; but they are quite will lng to take the unfavorable ch rm re, If th? favorable one also la, Vbeire and they can malo for thetase?ves a part of th?^e?rylc? cha???? ina*, are uni form,-** in ^S?t?a fear* 'fend -ha?, with high prices and tow! While, tn th? main, the farmer must sell, regardless of market conditions, at the time of the maturity ot crop?, he cannot suspend production In toto. He must go on producing If he ls to go on living, and if the world ls to exist. The most he can do la to curtail pro duction a little or alter Its iona, and that-because he la in the dark as to the probable demand for his goodie may be only to Jump from the trying pan Into the fire, taking the consumer with him. . '" - Even the dairy farmers, whose out put ls not seasonal, complain that they ?nd themselves at a disadvantage In the marketing of their -productions, especially raw milk, because of the high costs of distribution, which they must ultimately bear. III Now that the farmers are stirring, thinking, and uniting as never before to eradicate these Inequalities, they are subjected to stern economic lec tures, and are met with the accusation that they are demanding, and n e the recipients of, special privileges. Let us see what privileges the government has conferred on the farmers. Much has been made of Section 0 of the Clayton Anti-Trust Act, which pur ported to permit them to combine with Immunity, under certain com! Hons. Admitting that, nominally, this ex emption was In the nature of a Special privilege, -though I think lt was no In appearance rather than In fact.-we find that the courts have nullified lt ! by judicial Interpretation. Why should ' not the farmers be permitted to ac I compllsh by co-operative methods what ! other businesses are already 'deina by I co-operation In the form of incorpora ! tloti? If lt be proper for men to form, ? by fusion of existing corporate ns or i otherwise, a corporation that controls the entire production of a comm. ?iity, | or a Inrge part of lt, why ls it not I proper for a group of farmers to unite j ? for the marketing of their ?ominen ' j products, either In one or In several j selling ngencles? Why should lt be ? i right for a hundred thousand corporate shareholders to direct 25 or 80 or IO I per cent of an Industry, and wromt for j a hundred thousand co-operative I farmers to control a no larger proper j tlon of the wheat crop, or cotton, or I any other product? I The Department of Agriculture ts often spoken of as a special concession j to the farmers, but in Its commercial I results, lt ls of as much benefit to the . buyers and consumers of agricultural ; products ag to the producers, or <>von i more. I do not suppose that anyone i opposes the benefits that the fanners j derive from the educational :ttn f re I search work of the department, or the ? help that lt u'lves them In Wtittfl . JU* Improved cultural me thods a ;vd ' prac tices, In developing better ytetj$>g,vn- ? pieties through breeding and''selection. In Introducing new varieties from re- j ! mote puris of the world und adapting < : them to our climate and economic con- | dltlon. and in devising practical meas- | ures for the elimination <>r control of dangerous and destructive animal and I plnnt diseases. Insect posts, and the ! like. All these things manifestly tend I to stimulate and enlarge production, j and their general beneficial effects are , ; obvious. It ls complained that, whereas the ? law restricts Federal Reserve banks ! to three months' time for commercial . paper, the farmer ls allowed six i months on his notes. This ls not a j special privilege, but merely such a recognition of business conditions as I makes lt possible for country banks to do business with country people. The crop farmer has only one turn over a year, while the merchant and manufacturer have many. Incidental ly, I note that the Federal Reserve Board has just authorized the Fed eral Reserve banks to discount export paper for a period af six months, to conform to the nature of the busi ness. The Farm I xi an banks are pointed to as an Instance of special govern ment favor for farmers. Are they not rather the outcome of laudable efforts to equalize rural nnd urbnn condi tions? And about all the government does t?tere ls to help set up an ad ministrative organization and lend a ir tie credit at the start. Eventually the farmers will provide all the capi tal and carry all the liabilities them selves It ls true that Farm Loan bonds ire tax exempt ; but so are bonds of municipal light and traction plants and new housing ls to be ex empt from fixation, In New York] for ten years. On the 'tber hand, the farmer reads of plans l >r municipal housing proj ects that run Into the billions of hun dreds of h liions annually spent on the merchan, marine; he reads that the railways .re i big favored with Increased rates ?nd virtual guaranties of earnings hy th?, government, with the result to him of un ncreased toll on all that he sells ano all thnt he buys. He hears of many manifesta Mons of governmental concern fur par ticular Industries arid Interests. Res-' cuing the railways from Insolvency ls undoubtedly for the benefit of the country ns a whole, but what can be of more general benefit than encour agement of ample production ut the principal necessaries of life and their even flow from contented producers to ?satisfied consumers? While lt may he conceded that special governmental aid may be nec essary In the general Interest, we must all agree that it ls difficult to see why agriculture and the production and dis trlhutinn of farm products are not ac corded the same opportunities thnt are provided for other businesses ; espe cially us the enjoyment hy the fnruiei of such opportunities would appear to be even more contributory to the gen (Continued on Third Pago.) BOUNDARY RULING ENRICHES . . ?..??-???A-.:, ?. ? ?". ...... Georgi?-?Much Valuable Properly and Power Sites Go with Award. ; _-.. (Atlanta Georgian.) Much valuable property for taxi tion purposes as well as several val uable power sites have been defi nitely located in Georgia through the decision of the United States Su preme Court in the boundary line dispute between the State of Geor gia and the State of South Carolina, it hus 'been pointed out by Attorney General G. M. Napier. According to the decision all islands in the Sa vannah river and Tugaloo river are included in the Georgia lines. ' "The Supreme Court's decision means that the several large islands in the river definitely are awarded to Georgia, and it means further thal where power sites exist on the Geor gia mainland and on the islands awarded to Georgia, the entire prop erty thus available for power Bites is subject to taxation In Georgia," Attorney Goneral Napier explained. The decision handed down by ibo Supreme Court definitely settled a dispute between tho two States of more than a hundred years stand ing. Tho case was first presented to the Supreme Court in 1917 by At torney General Clifford Walker, but remained unnrgued until Jan. 3d, 19 22, when Attorney General Na pier appeared before that body with a certified copy of the original char ter granted Oglethorpe by the King of England. Attorney General Sam uel Wolfe argued the case for So ty h Carolina. Col. Napier was aided In preparing the case by Assistant At torney General Stewart \V. Smith and Judge Thomas E. Greene, of Athens, who prepared the original Abrief. "The decision is a complete vic tory for the State of Georgia," de clared Col. Napier. "Tho court up held virtually every contention this iState had made In the case." The court ruled that the boundary line should he fixed at midstream in the Savannah river where there ate no islands, but where there are Is lands, the line should be midway be tween the northern banks of the Is land and the (South Carolina shore. South Carolina claimed that the low water mark on the Georgia side of the Savannah river was the boun dary line where there were no is lands, and where there were islands that the low water mark on the north shore of tho Islands was thc lino, conceding; thal the islands belonged to Georgia. As early as 1787 the dispute con cerning the boundary line had begun and a conference (between represen tatives of the two States was held at -Beaufort, S. C., where a treaty was signed. The treaty, however.was later interpreted two ways and it brought on continued arguments ?and litigation. In recent years the de velopment of power siter, along the Savannah river and Its tributaries, the Tugaloo, Chattooga and other rivors, raised important legal ques tions, which were settled In the de cision of the Supreme Court just handed down. Attorney General Napier also has pointed out that tho decision ie Im portant In that lt settled for all tim?; the question of criminal Jurisdiction over certain parts of the Savanna]] river and tho islands in the river. Gives Georgia Rack Taxes. Back laxes on property valued al $50,000, officially determined as be longing to the State of Georgia ir tho United States Supremo Court de cisi?n in tho matter of tho boundarj line between Georgia and South Car olino, will be collected, according l< nu announcement made by Willian A. Wright, Comptrolor General. I wa? believed by Gen. Wright that th? taxes would run back as far as 19 I li The property to be taxed is knowi as the Great Shoals property, lt wm said, und is now tho possession o tho Georgia Railway and Power Co. based on an assessment of $50,00(1 but prior to Hie purchase of tin property by the power company n< taxes lind boen returned by the for mer owner, it was declared. Differences of opinion as to whic) Stato tho property was located li were sufficient to rende- officials o Georgia unable lo collect the taxe at that time, it was said. DYED HER BLOUSE, SKIRT AND A COA! Every package of "Diamond Dyes contains directions so simple any wo man cnn dye or tint her worn, shnbb dresses, skirts, waists, coats, stoch lugs, swentors, coverings, draperie: hangings, ovorything, even If she ha never dyed before. Buy "Dinmon Dyes"-no othor kind-then porfec home dyeing ls sure, because Din mond Dyes" aro guaranteed not t spot, fade, streak, or run. Tell you druggist whothor the material yo wish to dyo is wool or silk, or wh( ther lt ls Unen, cotton or mlxe gooda.-adv. In 1095 bachelors woro taxed I England to raise money for th French wars. 'The Tractor will work fewer hours more time to enjoy tor will make farm -the moat pleasai the most profitahl This tractor has ck? in bringing true Mr it is a machine whi< the most dependat economical sources a machine that sai per cent of the farr which many farme or drills as much gi as four, six or even -amachine that tc job on the farm. Call and let's talk drop us a card and we Piedmont Walhalla, S. C. 4 PH( wtii -wwii? tammHtntwrniemiwi 11 STATU BOARD PUBLIC WELFARE Now Located in Now Rome-Pro gram for Greater Efficiency. .Columbia, Feb. 3.-Tho offices of the State Board of Public Welfare are now located at 1240 Main street, this eily. This 'brings together "un- j der one roof," the various depart-1 men ts, and is no doubt a wise move from an administrative and econom ic standpoint. The members of the board cordially Invite the people of I South Carolina to come In and see them at their new quarters. Education and District Conferences. Evory citizen of tho State of South j Carolina should have some knowl- j edge of tho existing problems, penal j and charitable, and how they can best be corrected through the work ings of the State Board of Public j Welfare. Tho most practical way to educate the public is by holding con ferences, and in this work tho local committees of the counties of tho State can be of marked service. The State has been divided into twelve districts, according to loca tion, in order that neighborly co operation may be perfected, as fol lows: District No. 1-JDlllon, Dorry, Ma rion and .Marlbora. District No. 2-Abbeville, Green wood, Laurens, McCormick and New berry. District No. 3-Andorson, Green ville Oconee and Bickens. District No. 4-Cherokee, Spar tanhurg and Union. District No. 5 - Fairfield, Ker shaw, Lexington and Richland. District No. 6-Chester, Lancas ter and York. District No. ?t-^-'Borkeley, Charles ton and Georgetown. District No. 8-Clarendon, Sum ter and Loo. District No. well, Calhoun, nngeburg. District No. 10-'Allendale Beau fort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper. District No. ll-'Aiken, Edgefled and Saluda. iDlstrict No. 12-Chesterfield, Dar lington, Florence and Williamsburg. In tho year 1921 five district con-j forences were hold-enough to abso lutely prove their usefulness. This year there should bo hold a confer ence In overy district In tho State. under Gie auspices of, and at a time and placo to be doslgnatod hy, tho 9-Bamberg, Barn Dorchester and Or- I Isoiv CTOR m Henry 1 Ford Was Right Whin enable the farmer to in the day, giving hi:n life. I believe the trac ing what it ought to be nt, the most healthful, e business on earth9*" ne much-very much . Ford's prophecy; for in :h has harnessed one of ile, efficient, adaptable, of power in the world /es from thirty to fifty ner's time - a machine rs claim plows, harrows round in the same time eight horses. And more ikes care of every power it over, qr telephone or i will bring the facts to you? Motor Go. # Westminster, S? C. )NE 34 local committees. The State board ot Public Welfare will rendor every assistance to tho local committees in this work-such ns publicity, pro grams and tho procuring of reputa ble speakers. All local committees aro urged to express themselves at once as to the dates and locations preferred for the holding of these district confer ences. Child Welfare Conference. Pro'bably the most successful con ference of Its kind was tho child welfare conference held at Charles ton on Jan. 12th, 13th and 14th, under the auspices of the Social Workers' Club. Among tho many prominent speakers addressing tho conference were 'Mrs. Martha P. Fal coner, American Social Hygiene As sociation; Charles E. Gibbons, Na tional Child Labor Committee; C. C. Carstons, director of Child Welfare League of America, and Rev. Prank D. Dean, of tho United Layman's As sociation. Southern States Officials of Public Welfare. On Jan. 4th and 5th, at. Atlanta, a meeting was called for tho crea tion of an Association of Southern States Officials of Public Welfare. Representatives from llvo Southern States woro prosent. 'Administration, control and economy of Institutions and social problems woro discussed. This association will ostablish a greater service hy the hoards of pub lic welfare to their Stales. Tho next meeting will ho hold in Columbia in 1 !I22. MOTH IORI CLEAN CHILD'S DOWELS WITH CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP. Even a sick child loves tho "fruity" tasto of "California Fig Syrup." if tho llltlo tongub is contod, or If your child ls listless, feverish, full of cold, or has colic, glvo a teaspoonful to cloanso tho livor and bowels. In a fow hours you can seo for yourself how thoroughly lt works all tho consti pated poison, sour hilo and wasto out of tho bowels, and you have a woll, playful child again. Millions of mothers koop "Califor nia Fig Syrup" handy. They know a teaspoonful to-day saves a sick child to-morrow. ABk your druggist for gonulno "California Fig Syrup," which has directions for babies and children of all agos printed on bot tle. Mothor! You must say "CALI FORNIA" or you may got an Imita tion fig syrup.-adv. There aro eleven womon to every ton mon In England.