132 THE FOOD CRISIS AND AMERICANISM 



culture a permanent vocation, is not in their thoughts. 

 At first the novelty of the situation appeals to them, 

 but as the sweat trickles down the face, enthusiasm 

 soon oozes out at the finger-tips, and one soon hears 

 them discanting upon the advantages and beauties of 

 life in town shorter hours; larger pay; " the bright 

 lights that out-shine the stars " ; etc. Such influences 

 on the rural youth serve no good purpose, but instead 

 make for discontent. 



Any aid or stimulus to food production that does 

 not make for permanent agriculture is of little worth. 

 Only by the assurance of continuing profits can Amer- 

 ican Agriculture be rehabilitated. To do this, there 

 must be a radical change and readjustment of labor 

 and marketing conditions. First of all, an adequate 

 supply of laborers who are willing to remain upon the 

 farm. These will be wanting so long as present con- 

 ditions obtain. 



In this connection, I would say that thus far the fix- 

 ing of prices of farm products in a few central mar- 

 kets has failed of its ostensible purpose; viz., to secure 

 to the producer fair and remunerative returns for his 

 capital and labor, and at the same time reasonable 

 prices of food stuffs to consumers. It puts little or 

 no restraint upon the profiteers. Every price fixed 

 by the Government should be at the farmer's nearest 

 station having elevator facilities. In no other way 

 can he be protected from the profiteers. 



To illustrate: There recently came under my ob- 

 servation a farmer who was hauling his wheat to a 

 station five miles farther from the central market and 

 less accessible to his farm, in order to secure a rea- 



