CHAPTER II 



THE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF 

 RURAL INTERESTS 



IN the United States two great move- 

 ments which have extraordinary social 

 importance are now progressing. One is the 

 rush of population into the cities; the other, 

 the syndicating of most wealth in a manner 

 which threatens to lower the fortunes of the 

 rural classes. These classes, being among 

 those which cannot easily combine, have to 

 sell their products competitively, whereas 

 for most things which they buy they must 

 pay syndicate prices. These two move- 

 ments are so sweeping and in their effects 

 so decisive that some thinkers regard them 

 as destined to reduce the rural population of 

 America to ignorant peasants such as we see 

 and pity in most European lands. 



Whether or not the danger is so great as 

 is alleged, we need not inquire. One thing 

 is certain, that the welfare of rural com- 

 munities is no mere affair of these commu- 



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