1918.] PLACt: OK TIIF, FARMER IN THE BODY POLITIC. 75 



works cannot l)c clianj^a-d, l)Ut tlicy can Ik- modified in simie 

 ways and he can make new adjnslments within certain lim- 

 its; these possibilities he heyins to nndcr^tand, and they are 

 ])arts of his i)r()])leni as a tarnier; when llie econ<*mic or out- 

 side C( editions are chani^^ed, the modifications must be such 

 as will match the natural limitati<jns, if he is expected to 

 adopt them. In the i)rescnt crisis, our jjuhlic agencies must 

 understand anil recognize what can reasonably be required ui 

 the farmer. 



It is an old adage that appearances are deceitful. I wish 

 to add that they may be misleading. Persons managing cor- 

 porate, industrial, labor and professional affairs have a certain 

 air and habit of presentation. The farmer operating his farm 

 may not have this air. He has nothing to present. Pie may 

 be following a plow in the back lot, unshaven, trcjusers in his 

 boots, working until the work is done even though the clock 

 points to five. Perhaps he would not discuss politics or civics 

 or religion, at least not until he knew you ; but, good or bad, 

 he has worked out the management of his farm, and he thinks 

 he knows why. He will listen to your advices; then he will 

 go on with his plowing. He is hard against facts, real facts 

 not paper facts; he accepts them, and acts accordingly. Yon 

 may not like him, but he himself is a fact. 



Bearing in mind these fundamental considerations, estab- 

 lished in the nature of things, some of the popular attitudes 

 toward the farmer become ridiculous. I was out of the 

 country when war with Germany was proclaimed, but I un- 

 derstand that everybody Avho had a public voice fell to ad- 

 vising the farmer. This is futile, since the farmer is the one 

 part in the population to whom advice of this nature is of no 

 value, and for the reason that it cannot be applied. I am 

 sure that much of this advice made no account of situations 

 that neither the farmer nor anv one else can chano-e. 



It is simple enough to change an outside or commercial con- 

 dition in relation to the farming occupation ; it is quite an- 

 other matter to expect the farmer to accept it unless other es- 

 sential conditions are changed to meet it. Establishing the 

 price of any product, wdiile it may be necessary in times of 

 crises, does not add fertility to the land, or modify the 



