Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-01
COMM0NER SEEKS STIMULATION IN CROP
PRODUCTION To ASSIST j. 6 GOVERNMENT
Glad of Opportunity to Visit Imperial
Valley and Declares that Future Needs
of this Section Will Have His Atten.
tion---Delivers Message to Ranchers.

ment of lines of activity and Of leg
islation which seem necessary to deal
adequately with the problems of food
production, distribution and conserva-
t!on. l would especially ask you to
read carefully what is said about or
ganization, handling of the labor sit
Iation and distribution. In reference
to price-fixing, I would suggest that
you make it clear that all we ask for
now is that the government have pow
er to deal with this matter, so that
minimum price does not mean the
lowest possible price, but price to
producers which will give them a
reasonable return. The object of this
is to stimulate production and to re-
move from the mind of the farmer
the apprehension that he will lose if
conditions should change. Whether it
will be necessary or not to fix such a
r'inimum price, of course, l cannot
say. 1t probably would not be neces
sary to fix minimum rice except
for very few staples, such as, for
instance, wheat or potatoes. 1t is not
suggested that maximum price be
fixed to producers of farm products.
This fact ought to be made clear. The
suggestion regarding maximum
price has reference to the possibility
CT Corners" and unwarranted specu~
lation. The authority would enable
the government to prevent this to
some extent.
"You will note also the suggestion
that the department be given author
ity to get facts about the food stu
alton at any particular time, to know
the amount, it's location and it's own
ership. 1t is essential for the nation
to have this information in this emer-
gency and it would be well for it to
Rave power to get it in normal times
as well. We are increasingly giving
cut information to the farmers
through the Market News Service, and
it is highly desirable, that it should
he accurate. At present we have no
power to check the returns. What
we get is given voluntarily. This is
good as far as it goes, but it does not
go far enough. 1t is also important
to have this information in order that
we may judge whether or not individ-
uals are manipulating the market. 1t
would include full and accurate re-
turns from packers, elevators, stor-
ages and so forth.
"You will also notice the sugges-
tion that the department be given
power to license and supervise agen-
cies handling foodstuffs. This would
be an additional aid to the depart
ment in promoting orderly and eco
romical distribution, and in prevent
ing manipulation.
II would suggest that you call at
tention to these things especially to
show that the government recognizes
the bearing of just distribution on
produce, and it's determination to i'm
rrove distribution.
"You could dwell with very marked
effect on the wisdom and morality of
economy and on the great part that
women can play, not only in produ-
cling something (this would apply es-
pecially to the women in rural dis
tricts), but also, especially among
the well-to-do, in conserving food
through household methods, preserv-
ing, drying and canning fruit and so
forth, and in the elimination of waste.
Boys and girls can also render great
service. You know that we now have
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