2. During the late 1800s. U.S. farmers experienced tough economic times. Prices for their wheat and corn were falling. and farmers' incomes were falling too. Many farmers protested to the government, asking for help. One supporter of Midwestern farmers. named Mary Ellen Lease {known as "the Kansas Pythoness\"} encouraged farmers to "raise less corn and raise more hell." The "raise more hell" part of her advice was to protest conditions to the government, but the "raise less corn" part of her advice was more practical. Why would raising less corn improve the nancial condition of farmers