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Show THEN AND NOW. In commenting on the agricultural situation the Scotts Bluff, Neb., R?-publican R?-publican had the following to say: "We often hear politicians say that 'the condition of the farmer is the worst in the history of the country.' But to those of us that came to Nebraska Neb-raska fifty years ago when corn was selling for 10c a bushel, wheat at 30c and there was no work at any kind of industry in the state, we cannot figure where they get the stuff that the farmer is in the worst condition in his history. In those days there were none of the conveniences of the present day when corn, hay and corn-j corn-j stalks even cow chips for fuel were j a luxury and many people lived a hundred miles from a railroad, it 13 a very poor comparison with the conditions con-ditions of today. If the present generation gen-eration were to tackle the hardships of those days, they would realize just what hardships mean. The people may be hard up but there is no comparison compari-son with the times of the seventies in Nebraska." In all of which there is great deal of truth. It is undoubtedly true that farm values have decreased greatly during the past few years, but yo have the values of city properties, 'and of stocks and many bonds. The reason is, of course, the general de-jflation de-jflation following the period of prosperity pros-perity which came a few years after the close of the World War. I The farmer who owns his farm is still a lot better off than the average city worker. The price . of the commodities com-modities he raises may be low, but he has a home and enough to eat, and is still much more independent than his relative in the city. The demand de-mand for manufactured products changes. The automobile has succeeded succeed-ed the carriage and the music box has given way to the radio. But in spite of the change in styles people must still eat. For that reason the farmer will always have a market for his products, poor as the market may be in times of depression. But when sunnier days come the farmer will get his share of prosperity. His biggest big-gest problem now is one of taxation, and as the taxes he pays are saddled on him at home, it is up to the farmer farm-er himself to insist on economical and scientific home government, so that taxes may be made less. What we need now is not new sources of revenue reve-nue but the will and the way to see to it that the dollar now raised by taxation goes further and is not spent for something which could wisely have been done without. |