CHAPTER XII 

 RESULTS OF AGRARIANISM 



For more than half a century the farmers of the 

 country have endeavored to better their relative 

 position in the social and economic order. This 

 struggle has gained its greatest momentum during 

 periods of financial distress, but in one form or 

 another it has persisted through a rather long period 

 of time. "The Agrarian Crusade" l has had two 

 prime objects in view. The fundamental one has 

 been to establish prices and to secure higher returns 

 for farm products sold. The second motive has 

 been to equalize the advantages of agricultural 

 producers with those of other vocations and to se- 

 cure to the industry the same privileges and immu- 

 nities enjoyed by manufacturing and commerce. 

 Inequalities began to develop between agriculture 

 and industry with the rise of monopolies and the 

 political advantages that they acquired. The fight 

 began when an effort was made to regulate railroad 

 rates and prevent rebates. As the farmer has always 

 been a great borrower, financial depression has often 

 brought him in conflict with the banking interests, 



lr This is the appropriate title of a book by Solon J. Buck in 

 which farm movements since the Civil War are reviewed. 



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