Getting along with Help 129 



to include qtiite all sorts and conditions of men. 

 Directly the fruit interests of the country are 

 imperilled by insect or fimgus, or by commercial 

 discriminations, or by governmental folly, or by 

 the even greater folly of ignorance among fruit- 

 growers themselves, then it appears how important 

 ^are these interests to the world of labor. And yet 

 j there are always men and women to be foimd who 

 rare in a hurry to kill the goose that lays the golden 



In recent years both Congress and the State 

 jgislatures have enacted many laws vitally affect- 

 ing farming in all its branches. Granting that 

 the general purpose of this mass of legislation is for 

 the betterment of all people, nevertheless some of 

 this legislation has been distinctively hostile to the 

 farmer. He is the basis and foundation in our 

 ^economic structure. It is right and proper that 

 he put up sound fruit, that he give full measure, 

 that he mark his products so that the consumer 

 may know precisely the quantity, quality, and 

 variety he is buying. The so-called *'Pure Food" 

 ''Employers' Liability,'* and "Package'* laws 

 have this desirable end in view. But these 

 laws are not infrequently drawn by men who 

 have no practical knowledge of farming, what- 

 soever branch may be affected by the law. It 

 follows that hostile legislation — perhaps unwit- 

 tingly enacted — places the farmer at a great dis- 

 advantage. For instance, it is desirable to have 

 an employers' liability act for all occupations more 



