The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-12
What the Government is Doing for the Farmer
An Address
Association, Chicago Monday October 2h

efficient as most of his competitors.
And / have not the slightest doubt
that the ensuing years will make it
clearer that the American farmers
can hold their own in free competi-
ton with those of the rest Of the
world and not only retain in large
measure monopoly of his own
rapidly growing home market but
also supply considerable part of
the foodstuffs consumed by the
world. Relatively speaking, extern
sive farming is still economically
the sound program for the American
farmer, but it Is becoming decreas-
ingly SO; and the aim must be, while
maintaining supremacy in produc-
ton per man, to assert supremacy
in production per acre. The contin-
| ued solution Of the problem here
suggested is one which now seri
ously engages the attention Of the
federal government as well as the
governments OF tno states.
Decrease in Staples.
Through every promising ap-
proach the government is studying
and attacking the problem of in
creasing production. Through cui-
tural methods and the control of
plant diseases and plant insects the
experts of Plant Industry are lend
ing their assistance. They are sug-
gesting improved varieties of sta
pie crops, introducing new ones, en-
couraging Standardization and point
ing out methods of protection from
plant diseases and plant insects;
and the requisite quarantine mea-
sures are being enforced. They
have introduced drought resisting
plants, vastly stimulated the citrus
fruit industry, established rice in
California, cotton in Arizona, point
ed the way to the continued sue
cessful growing of cotton in boil
weevil districts, introduced the cul-
ture of figs in California, protected
the farmer against seed adultera-
ton. taken effective steps to safe
guard the great potato industry Of
the nation, and have done many
other things the mere mention of
which time will not permit.
Just what factors have brought
| about the serious situation con-
fronting the nation in its meat sup
ply no one can with certainty de-
fine; and so to ascertain them l
have appointed a commission con-
sisting Of the best authorities l
could discover. 1t will make sur
vey of the whole field and report
at the earliest possible moment
This study will embrace an investi-
cation Of production and consump-
ton, of the methods Of producing,
finishing, and marketing, and when
conclusion is reached, such mea.
sures as may be helpful will be
adopted and any further requisite
measures for increasing production
and bettering distribution will un-
questionably be supported by the
authorities.
Not Only Big Ranches.
Certain things, however, are now
clear and definite measures for in
creasing the meat supply are being
taken and can be taken with GER
tainty.
1t is clear that we have been con
sidering the meat supply Of the ma
ton too exclusively in terms OF the
big ranch and Of the large ami
mails. Obviously 1t is important
that we should continue to help the
cattleman and to develop the ranch,
and no pains will be spared to do
this. The Government is now
spending money to develop the live
stock industry in connection with
the reclamation projects, and the
Department Is asking for more. 1t
is attacking the problem Of over
stocking and overgrazing on the
range and in the national forests
which furnish pasture for over one
million six hundred thousand caff1o