The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-12-09

lrDan markets. was presented
| The conference, ACCORDING n a..
sponsors. after four years Of uphiII
M9rh' mas at last reached a position
tWhere something is being accomnIisbed
IoT the farmers. The farm loan hill is
raw many states have market com
inissloners and the federal government
naS esIapilshed the office Of marketing
ana rural credits to work with the
states and the discussions have die
closed what the weaknesses of ths SIS
'etn are and shown the way out.
sensational predictions of attacks bv
tne cattlemen on the packers did not
1naterlalize, and although the latter
were not invited to participate in the
program the more influential speakers
helo out the olive branch and suggest =
ed that the agriculturists seek to learn
enlclency and cooperation from an in
austry which was the first to apply
tnem on large scale in this country.
| a government Investigation of the live
STOCK and packing industries by the
rederal trade commission was asked
That progress has actually been
mace, was, 1t was pointed out, shown
by two auxiliary meetings held yester-
day afternoon. At the FIRST OF these
market commissioners of twenty
states. named to assist the farmer and
the proper crops to raise. where to
send them, what they are worth, how
to organize for mutual benefit and the
ike: met under the presidency OF w.
g. Scholtz, market commissioner uf
Idaho.
Wells A. Sherman. of the new fed
eral Office of markets and rural or
ganization. explained how the federal
government proposes to cooperate
with them.
In another room the National Agri-
cultural Organization society met in
formally. This society was formed
year ago after previous experiences
had developed the need OF the farmer
to organize, to help the farmer to do
and to provide him with expert advice
in efficiency methods necessary to his
community development. 1t was re-
ported at the meeting that the society
has helped to form scores Of co-oper=
ative associations during the year of
it's existence
The resolutions express the belief
that farm loan bonds will be readily
saleable, but remark the necessity for
a system Of short time credits in ad-
dition for the farmer. Legislation to
this end is asked OF congress. Con-
gress also Is asked to provide an
authority to certify notes, secured by
livestock or other farm products, so
tItnt lHey may nave READY Market at
reasonable rates. This, 1t is urged,
would relieve the farmer of the high
interest charged by local moneylend-
ers.
In the matter Of getting more set
tiers on the land the resolutions rec
ognized the excellent purpose of the
Crosser bilf' but opposed that par
ticular measure as providing perpetual
bureaucratic control and tending to
develop dependent "peasantry."
To overcome the evils Of tenant
farming, said to be increasing, the
resolutions call for soil surveys which
will show the exact characteristics
ana value OF every parcel OF iandA in
the country and government aid to the
FARMER until his land is in shape to
provide him with a living.
Ready made" farms are suggested
and the plan used In Wyoming is en-
dorsed. Supervision of private coloni-
cation projects to protect the settler
from fraud and Misrepresentation Is
requested.
Congress is asked to have the fed
eral trades commission investigate the
marketing OF livestock. and to study
whether government or cooperative
ly-owned packing plants would stimu-
late livestock production. The depart
ment OF agriculture is asked to extend
its work OF establishing market grades
so as TO cover all farm products, in
| cluding meat animals; and to enforce
the observance OF these gradings at all
principal markets by the presence OF