CHAPTER IV 

 FARM PROFITS AND RURAL WELFARE 



THERE is one part of the rural problem that deserves 

 further consideration at this point. As explained in 

 the last chapter, it is not the purpose of this book to 

 discuss the details of specific problems of farmers. 

 But there is one aspect of the large general rural ques- 

 tion that is of such vital consequence and yet is so seri- 

 ously neglected in most plans for rural advancement, 

 or even deliberately ignored as of relatively slight im- 

 portance, that we must endeavor to bring it into its 

 rightful place as a big phase of the relation of the 

 farmer to the New Day. It is the " farm life " ques- 

 tion. It has to do with the really human side, the true 

 welfare aspect of agriculture. It may be called " The 

 Country Life Problem." It is of sufficient significance 

 in rural affairs to require our best thought and most 

 ardent effort. 



The tendency to neglect or ignore this problem is 

 well illustrated in the remark that one hears so fre- 

 quently as to be most exasperating and disheartening: 

 " Show the farmers how to make money and these other 

 things will take care of themselves." By " these other 

 things," often mentioned in a half-contemptuous way, 

 are meant such matters as the health, the play, the 

 reading, the morals, the religion, the politics of farm 

 people. They are supposed to be minor interests 

 the real practical, man-size task is to tell the farmers 



57 



