CHAPTER XIII 



FOR the first time, class consciousness is rapidly de- 

 veloping among the American farmers. Whether this 

 shall be for the weal or woe of our country will depend 

 upon the mental condition of those people when this 

 consciousness becomes articulate. If that voice speaks 

 only of discontent, our free institutions will be in 

 danger. For whenever any man, or class of men, take 

 into their hands the redress of their own wrongs, it 

 ceases to be redress, and at once becomes reprisal, if 

 not revenge. That mental condition will depend 

 largely upon their financial condition. 



As I have stated elsewhere, the financial condition 

 of the American farmer has not improved during the 

 last twenty fruitful years, and especially during the 

 last six years. Their patriotism is repressing, but not 

 eliminating, the tremendous discontent among them. 

 This discontent grows constantly worse. Among our 

 other laboring masses, discontent is evidenced by their 

 incessant strikes and their loud protests against the 

 cost of living, which they claim has been increasing 

 at a vastly greater ratio than the increase in wage. 

 These things are ominous, and speak volumes concern- 

 ing present marketing and future social conditions. 

 As I have heretofore asserted, in no country in Eu- 

 rope, during the last two decades, have the farmers 

 received so little for their produce, and the consumer 



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