•the  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
1025 
Work  of  the  Committee  of  Twenty-one 
AS  stated  last  week,  the  idea  of  a  committee  to 
go  over  the  school  law  and  suggest  changes  was 
started  at  Cornell  University.  The  point  must  he 
made  clear  from  the  start  that  this  movement  has 
been  carried  on  by  people  who  favored  the  old  town¬ 
ship  school  law  and  demanded  a  larger  unit  for  tax¬ 
ation  and  school  management.  Let  us  fully  under¬ 
stand  that  the  object  running  all  through  this  work 
is  to  replace  or  change  the  common  district  school, 
known  familiarly  as  “the  little  red  schoolhouse.” 
There  are  arguments  for  and  against  this  much-dis¬ 
cussed  edifice.  We  shall  take  them  up  in  due  time, 
but  let  us  get  the  idea  fixed  in  mind  that  the  Com¬ 
mittee  of  Twenty-one  favors  a  larger  unit  of  school 
control,  and  favors  consolidation  of  schools  when¬ 
ever  that  can  possibly  be  brought  about.  It  evident¬ 
ly  favors  taking  direct  control  of  the  local  school  out 
of  the  local  district.  The  following  persons,  five 
women  and  1G  men,  were  finally  appointed  members 
of  this  Committee  of  Twenty-one : 
State  Orange 
G.  >W.  Dunn  Mrs.  F.  Gates 
G.  C.  McNinch 
Department  of  Education 
F.  B.  Gilbert  It.  P.Snyder 
G.  M.  Wiley 
Dairymen’s  League 
E.  It.  Eastman,  Secretary  Albert  Manning 
N.  F.  Webb 
Farm  Bureau  Federation 
H.  C.  McKenzie,  V.-Chm.  W.  G.  McIntosh 
C.  S.  Post  II.  G.  Reed 
State  College  of  Agriculture 
J.  E.  Butterworth  P.  J.  Kruse 
G.  A.  (Works,  Chairman 
Home  Bureau  Federation 
Mrs.  M.  F.  Armstrong  Mrs.  A.  E.  Brigden 
Mrs.  Edward  Young 
State  Teachers’  Association 
J.  D.  Jones  Myrtle  E.  McDonald 
W.  E.  Pierce 
The  first  and  fundamental  criticism  regarding  this 
committee,  as  made  to  us,  is  that  the  rank  and  file 
of  these  various  organizations  had  nothing  to  say 
about  it.  These  members  were  appointed,  as  we  un¬ 
derstand  it.  It  is  said  that  they  represented  the 
officials  of  these  various  farm  groups  rather  than 
the  popular  membership.  Our  critics  aver  that  these 
men  and  women  were  appointed  because  they  had 
supported  the  township  law  and  wanted  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  that  law  enacted.  It  is  said  that  the  op¬ 
ponents  of  that  law  we're  given  no  place  on  the  com- 
mitte ;  that  is  to  say,  the  great  majority  which  com¬ 
pelled  the  repeal  of  the  township  law  was  given  no 
direct  voice  in  the  suggesting  a  new  law.  We  think 
it  would  have  been  better  if  the  other  side  had  been 
well  represented.  That  might  have  led  to  a  minority 
report,  and  its  discussion  would  have  made  the  bill 
more  understandable. 
At  any  rate,  the  committee  started.  It  had,  of 
course,  no  official  standing.  It  was  merely  to  in¬ 
vestigate  and  report.  Some  of  our  people  seem  to 
forget  that  in  considering  the  value  of  the  report. 
When  the  work  started  the  committee  had  no  funds. 
The  various  farm  organizations  with  representatives 
on  the  committee  paid  the  attendance  expenses  of 
such  representatives,  'but  money  for  needed  work  in 
making  a  school  survey  was  lacking.  The  directors 
of  the  Commonwealth  Fund  of  New  York  finally  pro¬ 
vided  a  sum  of  money  for  the  expenses  of  such  a  sur¬ 
vey.  Our  understanding  is  that  $75,000  was  made 
available  for  this  purpose.  There  seem  to  be  no 
financial  records  to  show  just  how  this  money  was 
spent,  and  we  are  unable  to  state,  in  answer  to  ques¬ 
tions,  the  original  'source  of  this  money  to  the  Com¬ 
monwealth  Fund.  Thus  equipped,  the  committee 
started  its  investigations. 
What  About  the  Candy  Business? 
There  is  a  little  proposition  that  I  have  been  thinking 
about  rather  seriously  lately,  and  that  is  starting  in  a 
business  of  honey  products,  chiefly  along  confectionery 
lines.  I  know  absolutely  nothing  about  this  business, 
being  a  factory  worker.  I  intend  to  start  this  in  my 
spare  time.  I  am  35  years  old,  married,  am  making  $40 
per  week  in  the  factory,  but  am  anxious  to  start  in  my 
own  business.  What  do  you  think  of  this  proposition? 
J.  J.  R. 
HIS  is  the  third  question  about  the  candy  busi¬ 
ness  we  have  had  the  past  week.  One  woman 
asks  if  she  can  take  a  course  of  instruction  by  mail 
and  then  go  out  and  get  a  good  job  in  some  candy 
factory.  Experienced  candy-makers  tell  us  No  !  The 
business  is  one  that  must  be  learned  by  actual  work 
and  experience  under  skilled  operators.  There  are 
some  natural  candy-makers  who  could  receive 
some  help  from  books  or  mail  instruction,  but  actual 
work  in  a  factory  is  needed  to  insure  success.  It 
might  be  possible  to  start  a  “Candy  Kitchen”  on  a 
small  scale  in  some  medium-sized  town  and  develop 
a  fair  business.  As  for  honey  confectionery,  we  can. 
not  advise  any  man  to  leave  a  good  job  to  start  in 
the  business.  Better  hang  on  to  the  job  and  the 
salary  and  try  the  candy  making  as  a  side  line  for 
spare  time.  If  you  find  you  can  make  good  candy 
and  sell  it  at  a  profit,  you  can  gradually  increase 
your  trade  until  it  will  support  you.  There  is  great 
competition  in  the  candy  business  unless  you  can 
make  a  very  superior  article. 
Presidential  Sentiment  in  Missouri 
WE  are  receiving  a  great  many  letters  from 
country  people  in  which  they  express  their 
choice  for  a  presidential  candidate  next  year.  Our 
chief  object  has  been  to  try  to  learn  the  exact  feeling 
among  farmers  as  regards  Henry  Ford.  We  idealize 
that  there  is  considerable  power  to  the  Ford  move¬ 
ment.  It  is  one  of  the  things  which  must  be  seriously 
considered. 
One  of  our  readers  in  Missouri  sends  us  a  car¬ 
toon  which  we  have  re-engraved  and  pictured 
below.  This  was  taken  from  the  Chicago  Tribune, 
and  a  number  of  readers  say  that  it  fully  expresses 
the  feeling  among  farmers  in  the  Central  West.  Our 
correspondent  in  Missouri  adds  the  following  note 
in  sending  this  cartoon : 
I  find  no  sentiment  for  Mr.  Ford  for  President  at  this 
time.  I  have  held  your  letter  to  make  inquiry  of 
others,  among  whom  was  our  County  Agent.  All  agreed 
that  there  was  no  sentiment  as  yet.  However,  if  Mr. 
©  Chicago  Tribune. 
Why  Minnesota  Elected  Magnus  Johnson 
Ford  were  to  get  the  nomination  of  a  third  party  on  a 
well-considered  platform,  there  is  no  telling  what  might 
happen.  The  inclosed  cartoon  in  my  opinion  gives  the 
prevailing  sentiment  here  today.  If  Mr.  Harding 
wishes  to  succeed  himself  he  should  come  out  for 
something  that  would  take  the  place  of  the  loan  depart¬ 
ment.  The  farmer  is  over-loaned  now.  We,  in  my  opin¬ 
ion,  badly  need  an  adjustment  of  prices  and  wages. 
My  first  vote  for  President  was  cast  for  Lincoln.  My 
last  was  for  Harding.  My  next,  if  I  live  that  long — 
God  only  knows  who  !  a.  c.  m. 
It  is  clearly  evident  that  the  Ford  movement  is  a 
serious  one.  It  has  not  crystallized  yet,  and  may 
pass  away,  but  at  this  moment  there  is  no  question 
about  the  facts  of  its  existence,  especially  in  the 
Central  West. 
What  the  Minnesota  Election  Means 
E  think  it  of  great  importance  that  the  people 
of  the  Eastern  States  fully  understand  the 
meaning  of  the  recent  election  in  Minnesota.  Two 
widely  varying  stories  are  being  told  in  the  news¬ 
papers.  The  “conservative”  interests  are  trying  to 
belittle  the  outcome.  They  say  it  means  nothing — 
is  only  a  passing  breeze  of  local  discontent,  which 
will  soon  pass  away.  On  the  other  hand  the  radical 
press  is  inclined  to  go  too  far  in  the  other  direction, 
and  claim  that  this  is  the  beginning  of  a  social  revo¬ 
lution  which  is  to  sweep  away  most  of  our  political 
beliefs.  Both  stories  are  wrong  and  dangerous  if 
the  city  population  could  be  made  to  believe  them. 
The  election  is  more  than  a  mere  incident  of  ex¬ 
pressed  discontent,  but  it  does  not  mean  a  revolution 
or  state  of  anarchy.  The  people  who  decided  it  are 
sober,  intelligent  landowners  who  feel  that  they  have 
a  real  grievance.  It  is  tme  that  the  radicals  and 
hotheads  voted  for  Johnson,  but  they  did  not  elect 
him.  The  majority  was  given  by  men  and  women 
who  in  former  elections  have  represented  truly  “the 
backbone  of  the  country.”  They  are  entitled  to  a 
fair  hearing.  The  following  letter  from  F.  W. 
Murphy  appeared  in  the  New  York  Tribune  and  is 
a  fair  statement  of  the  case: 
The  writer  has  voted  the  Republican  ticket  for  the 
last  30  years.  This  county  (Traverse,  Minn.)  gave  a 
majority  to  Johnson  of  over  800.  This  is  a  rural  dis¬ 
trict.  I  think  I  would  be  safe  in  saying  that  95  per 
cent  of  the  farmers  of  this  county  are  and  have  been 
Republicans.  The  fact  is  that  nearly  all  of  the  farm¬ 
ers  of  the  Northern  States  have  supported  the  Repub¬ 
lican  party  consistently  through  all  its  history. 
There  is  a  serious  rural  problem  in  America — one 
that  should  have  been  settled  long  ago.  Our  people, 
especially  our  farmers,  are  not  radicals.  They  are  not 
Socialists.  They  are  our  best  citizens.  Make  no  mis¬ 
take  about  it.  In  the  Wheaton  market  today  the  aver¬ 
age  price  of  the  products  of  the  soil  would  not  be  above 
what  they  were  in  1913,  but  we  are  paying  from  100  to 
250  per  cent  more  for  every  single  article  that  the 
farmer  needs  in  this  community.  We  have  a  price- 
fixed  tyranny  in  this  country  on  the  part  of  all  other 
industries,  and  the  farmer  is  outside  the  door.  Being  a 
producer,  as  a  result  of  the  natural  working  out  of 
economic  laws  the  burden  of  high  prices  has  shifted 
over  onto  his  shoulders. 
The  situation  is  so  absurdly  wrong — so  manifestly 
unjust — that  no  one  has  any  right  to  criticize  the 
farmer  of  this  country  in  any  vote  that  he  may  give. 
If  it  was  right  to  fix  all  other  prices,  by  the  same  token 
it  is  right  to  fix  the  farmer’s  price.  Other  industries 
were  given  a  national  board  which  enabled  them  to  put 
over  what  they  wanted,  and  the  farmer  is  entitled  to 
and  we  venture  the  prediction  that  he  is  going  to  get 
one. 
To  understand  the  situation  in  these  Northwestern 
States  a  man  should  get  his  information  from  the  man 
who  produces  food  and  sells  it  for  50  per  cent  the  cost 
of  production.  Don’t  have  him  stop  in  the  large  cities 
of  Minnesota  to  get  his  information.  Let  him  go  among 
the  men  who  work  on  the  Minnesota  farms  and  to  the 
business  and  professional  men  in  the  small  towns  of 
this  State,  whose  business  is  going  to  pieces  along  with 
that  of  the  farmer. 
The  East  has  a  wrong  conception  of  agricultural  con¬ 
ditions.  There  is  no  occasion  for  any  radicalism  for 
getting  what  the  farmer  is  entitled  to.  The  farmer  is 
our  most  conservative  citizen.  The  East  ought — New 
York  City  ought — to  understand  our  conditions. 
Why  Canadian  Farmers  Were  Defeated 
There  are  several  causes  (in  my  opinion)  for  the 
downfall  of  the  farmers  in  the  recent  Ontario  election. 
1.  As  it  is  in  all  (or  nearly  all)  of  the  cities,  the 
farmer  is  looked  upon  as  a  rather  necessary  evil  which 
must  be  tolerated  insofar  as  he  produces  for  their  con¬ 
sumption.  He  must  contribute  to  their  necessity  and 
their  comfort  without  any  say  in  parliamentary  circles. 
When  he  enters  those  realms  he  is  rigidly  denounced. 
In  the  recent  elections  all  the  rural  sections  gave  ma¬ 
jorities  for  the  farmer  candidates,  while  the  cities, 
towns  and  villages  gave  majorities  for  the  other  candi¬ 
dates. 
2.  Temperance  legislation  had  been  put  upon  the 
statute  books,  and  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  farmers’  gov¬ 
ernment  to  enforce  those  laws.  It  is  a  well-known  fact 
that  many  unscrupulous  persons  were  in  the  bootlegging 
business,  and  many  persons  gloated  over  the  fact  that  so 
much  of  this  kind  of  work  could  be  got  away  with. 
Even  those  who  should  have  helped  to  enforce  the 
Ontario  temperance  act  simply  winked  at  infractions 
thereof. 
3.  The  farmers’  government  was  condemned  on  ac¬ 
count  of  increase  of  expenditures  which  must  be  paid 
from  the  public  chest.  (While  the  expenditure  did  in¬ 
crease  abnormally,  the  Drury  government  could  not 
control  the  huge  contracts  let  by  the  Hydro-Electric 
Power  Commission.  The  actual  cost  on  one  contract 
alone  ran  some  $60,000,000  higher  than  the  engineers’ 
estimates.  In  another  instance  the  cost  exceeded  the 
estimates  by  millions.  Therefore,  the  government  was 
blamed  unduly. 
4.  The  Drury  government  was  severely  scored  for 
its  good  roads  system,  which  now  reaches  every  county 
in  the  province.  The  system  was  introduced  by  the 
former  government,  to  run  from  one  end  of  the  province 
to  the  other,  and  was  expanded  to  cover  the  whole 
province.  Such  a  system  must  be  carried  out  since  the 
auto  for  farm  and  commercial  uses  has  come  to  be  used 
so  widely. 
.  The  present  Premier — Hon.  Howard  Ferguson — 
did  not  come  out  flat-footed  on  the  temperance  question 
to  tell  where  he  stood,  but  condemned  the  Drury  legis¬ 
lation.  A  vote  on  the  temperance  question  in  the 
1  rovmce  ot  Manitoba,  a  few  days  before  the  election 
here,  gave  the  people  of  that  province  the  right  to  buy 
liquors  under  control  of  the  government.  That  con¬ 
tributed  to  the  defeat  of  Premier  Drury,  since  such  a 
measure  is  looked  for  here. 
Heretofore  there  have  been  but  two  political  parties, 
the  Liberal  and  the  Liberal-Conservative.  In  1919  the 
farmers  entered  the  lists  and  held  the  majority  of  the 
seats  in  the  Assembly.  Though  the  Drury  government 
has  been  defeated,  the  farmers’  party  have  19  members 
in  the  House,  while  the  Liberals  have  only  14  Be¬ 
cause  the  Liberals  have  been  so  badly  defeated  they 
haven  t  lost  hope,  so  why  should  the  fanner’s  dwindle 
away  ? 
of  the  Farmers’  party  for  this  set-back.  In  0ur  own 
constituency,  which  has  been  represented  by  a  Liberal 
for  the  past  10  years,  the  Farmers’  candidate  won  out 
because  the  party  was  well  organized,  and  he  made  a 
house-to-house  canvass.  The  Farmer  members-eleet 
have  agreed  to  put  up  cash  to  engage  a  secretary  to  look 
after  the  interests  of  the  farmer  movement  and  perfect 
organization  for  the  next  election.  The  motto  “We 
Must  Do  It  Ourselves”  is  just  as  appropriate  on  this 
side  of  the  line  as  on  your  side  but  so  many  farmers 
are  hard  to  convince.  They,  seemingly,  would  prefer  to 
have  the  old  political  parties  gall  them  than  to  put 
their  shoulders  to  the  wheel  and  help  the  Farmers’  gov¬ 
ernment  to  enforce  the  laws  that  are  on  the  statute 
books.  JAMES  I.  MERRITT. 
Ontario. 
We  must  use  horse  sense  in  order  to  make  the  cows 
produce  dollars. 
While  the  corn  was  crimping  and  curling  in  the  heat 
we  found  the  asparagus  fresh  as  a  daisy — growing  with¬ 
out  trouble.  It  is  a  mystery  how  this  crop  seems  able 
to  extract  water  from  dry  sand. 
A  trolley  line  in  Pennsylvania  used  a  “weed  killer” 
to  destroy  weeds  and  grass  in  the  road  along  its  lines. 
Five  cows  were  poisoned  in  consequence.  Damages'’ 
The  answer  will  be,  what  right  had  the  cows  on  this 
road? 
