LOW FARM INCOMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1939, Page 2

LOW FARM INCOMES

DANGER TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. There was a greater danger to American democracy from low farm incomes than from war abroad, declared Dr. O. O. Wolfe, president of the Kansas State Farm Bureau Federation. addressing a farm conference representing eight States. Dr. Wolfe said that a situation under which farmers, who made up 24 per cent of the population of the United States, received less than 10 per cent of the national income, could not continue indefinitely. Pointing out that before lhe European war brought about a substantial boost in prices of farm products the farmer was receiving only 74 per cent of a “parity” price, Dr. Wolfe said:—“The only way the farmer can increase his income with prices is to produce more. But in so doing he is depleting his capital stock —the soil. If it is necessary to continue such practice in this country the day will come when the farmers' ‘pay dirt’ will play out and agriculture—the nation’s basic industry —will be in a ruined state. Today that is a far more real threat than most of us will admit—an even greater threat to our democracy than the European war.”