Fortunes for Farmers 



his weekly wage to keep off starvation, but no one 

 is more powerful to-day than the combined 

 workers of England. Farmers are as giants to 

 common workers and if united for political ends 

 ought to overshadow them altogether. No doubt 

 they would, if actuated by a like spirit, a like 

 sagacity, and persistence. But let us make no 

 mistake — any combination of farmers, as the 

 Farmers' Union, must not waste its time and 

 money on minor objects, but must concentrate 

 on the great aim to which all else must be sub- 

 ordinate. It will be a difficult achievement, for 

 of all classes farmers are notorious for their 

 individualism, preferring to stand or fall alone. 

 The chief obstacle is the existing political leaning 

 of each farmer. There is no doubt about it, they 

 will have to put these inclinations to one side, 

 unless one or other of the great parties is prepared 

 to a6l as our champion. They cannot be said to 

 do this now, in fact they have both cynically 

 disregarded our needs — nor perhaps can we 

 blame them. Cabinets yield where the pressure 

 is greatest — where there is a resolute block of 

 votes, and when we farmers have the block of 

 votes, united, acting as one, in our own interests, 

 then we shall obtain some of our require- 

 ments. 



This, then is the position. The Farmers' 



118 



