AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT 751 



In other words, differences in the standard of comfort must be 

 accepted as permanent facts in social arrangements. 



Something more than criticism of the present order of things 

 is necessary for the American farmer. He stands confronted 

 with certain conditions which are, for the most part, unalterable. 

 What, then, is he to do ? There is but one reply. Face the con- 

 ditions as they are, and pay for success the price which they 

 require. At the present time, side by side with those who fail 

 are others who, by their industry, sound judgment, and frugality, 

 are going on to a competency. These are the qualities through 

 which tenants are rising to the ownership of the farms which 

 they occupy, while owners are in turn descending to the station 

 of tenants. In the present industrial struggle the fittest are des- 

 tined to survive, and the test of fitness for each individual lies 

 in the adjustment of expenditure to income. This has ever been 

 the method by which the American farmer has achieved success, 

 even during times of the greatest agricultural prosperity, and 

 especially during every period of low prices for the products of 

 the farm. The conclusion is not hastily drawn, therefore, that 

 those qualities which are best summed up in the word "thrift," 

 and which have served the farmers of the United States so well 

 in the past, are their main reliance during the present period of 

 agricultural depression. 



CONCLUSION 



For the purpose of continuing the consideration of the farmer's 

 economic condition, it is intended, in this concluding part, to 

 make a comparative study of prices, of wages of farm labor, of 

 taxes, of rural wealth, of standards of living in agricultural com- 

 munities, and of the farmer's situation in contrast with his fellows. 



1. Prices. In addition to the light thrown upon this subject 

 in the preceding pages, it is important to hold in mind the 

 following considerations : 



The farmer's interest does not lie exclusively in receiving re- 

 munerative prices for the commodities he may have to sell. His 

 well-being is quite as much dependent upon the prices he in 



