THE CRISIS IN AGRICULTURE 15 



fundamental causes and to uncover real sources 

 of discontent. Then it is futile to endeavor 

 to remedy a disease until the diagnosis has been 

 thorough. The hopelessness of satisfying popu- 

 lar clamor without getting at a basic need and 

 the futility of legislation for emergency pur- 

 poses only, is not generally understood without 

 studying the fundamental weakness of existing 

 laws and procedures to the end of securing per- 

 manent improvement. 



When the reaction in trade following the 

 war brought the most precipitate and crushing 

 depression ever experienced by American 

 agriculture, a widespread feeling of discontent 

 resulted. There was immediately reflected in 

 the halls of Government, as is every great 

 change at some time or another, the fact that 

 American agriculture demanded special atten- 

 tion. 



The American farmer arose to the war 

 emergency in a manner which astonished the 

 world, even those who had followed his tre- 

 mendous growth through recent years. Within 

 a space of two or three years production was 

 adjusted to the rapidly growing demand of 

 Europe for war emergency purposes and the 

 call upon the farmers to aid in winning the war 



