CHAPTER IX 



WHY THERE IS NOT MORE FOOD 



As a result of the conditions described, agricul- 

 ture is suffering. The farmer is being driven to the 

 wall. He has to overcome so many obstacles, his 

 business is so controlled by others, and he is subject 

 to so many failures that he grows discouraged. 

 There is no industry in the country that is as help- 

 less as that of agriculture and no industry so much 

 in need of protection. It is not the exhaustion of 

 the soil, the competition of the better land of the 

 West, the lack of scientific agriculture, or the greater 

 and more secure gains from industry that is driving 

 the farmer from the land; it is the failure of the 

 distributing agencies, the exactions of the middle- 

 men, railroads, and bankers that are making agri- 

 culture unattractive. Under the provisions of the 

 Lever bill recently enacted by Congress, millions 

 of dollars have been appropriated for stimulating 

 meat production through the prevention of cattle 

 diseases and the conservation of meat and dairy 

 products. Millions more have been appropriated 

 for the distribution of seeds, for the elimination of 

 waste, and for education. Yet a little study would 



have satisfied Congress that the farmer does not 



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