248 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



character, should be launched until authorized repre- 

 sentatives of the farmers have been consulted. A huge 

 scheme for reclaiming great areas of new agricultural 

 land involves added competition. Laws taxing land 

 improvements put a burden upon thrift and tax pro- 

 ductive power. Even the legitimate organization of 

 labor may disregard the farmer's welfare. If the com- 

 monwealth deems social amelioration to be sound pol- 

 icy, it should be adapted to the needs of the farmers. 

 The extension or restriction of foreign trade affects 

 agriculture profoundly. Consumers of food have a 

 right to cooperate in order to save in purchase price, 

 but they should understand the terms of a fair bargain 

 with food producers. Right-minded farmers welcome 

 the aid of the individuals and associations of the cities, 

 but resent condescension or philanthropy "benevo- 

 lent urbanism." If there should be a struggle between 

 a demand for cheap food and the resulting danger of 

 putting cheap men on the land, the interests of farm as 

 well as of the nation as a whole would be against too 

 cheap food. Farmers cannot afford to agree to a 

 scheme that brings into activity more producers of 

 food than are needed or that causes loss of profits to 

 those already on farms. Under a system of utmost 

 economy in food distribution, the farmer must share the 

 gain with the consumer. The country village and 

 small city must cease to exploit the farmers of the sur- 

 rounding country. Immigration laws must consider 

 the country as well as the city. These are but a few of 

 the many interests of the American farmer that are 

 habitually disregarded, usually in sheer ignorance 

 rather than of intent, but largely because the farmers 

 do not have authoritative spokesmen in close touch 

 with the men and the agencies that determine policies 



