The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-27
Secretary of Agriculture Makes
Reconstruction Talk.
Road Building Should Be Taken
Up at Once.
SUGGESTS CREDIT SYSTEM
And Encouraging of Ownership,
With Education.
Would Aid the Rural Resident
All Possible.

tion plans. in the opinion Of Secretary
of Agriculture Houston, should in
clude resumption of highway con-
struction under the federal aid road
act, creation OF a system of personal
credit unions for farmers, systematic
supervision of land settlement, pro-
visions for safeguarding the rights of
tenants and encouragement of farm
ownership, continuation of govern
ment supervision of stock yards
and related Industries, and extension
and sanitation to rural districts.
These views of the\secretary expressed
in confidence to Agricultural editors
OF the country at a meeting here sew
eral days ago, were authorized for
publication today.
Confidence was expressed by. Mr..
Houston that agriculture, which he
said probably was the best prepared
interest in the nation when the war
came" would be one of the first to
Nevertheless, he said, the farmer and
the farm cannot go back to the pre-
war state.
A Vital Factor.
The public highways, Secretary
Houston told the editors will be vital
factor in the reconstruction period.
For that reason, he said highway
construction should be started as soon
as possible. Under federal aid road
act federal and state funds, appro-
priated for road building and not ex-
pended owing to the stoppage of con-
struction by the war will amount this
year to about s75.000,000. Road
building he termed a worthy project
for employment of the surplus labor
supply expected to result from de-
mobilization of the army.
Personal Credit Unions.
fo r.,;tt, pronar tv
+, may now obtain loans thru the farm
loan banks, Secretary Houston said
some means must be devised for fur
nishing financial assistance for the
farmer who cannot offer land as col
lateral. Establishment of personal
credit unions. preferably by the states,
would meet this problem, he said.
For the Soldiers.
Discussing the possibility that many
of the returning soldiers may wish to
take up farming, the secretary said it
would be desira BILE to facilitate land
settlement in more systematic fashion.
This, he said, has too long been left
ito the haphazard intervention of pri-
waite enterprises. and the nation has
suffered not little from irresponsible
private direction"
Both federal and state governments
should furnish, in his opinion, reliable
information and agricultural guidance
mote well considered settlement plan.
Particularly vital. Mr.. Houston said,
is that the process of acquiring owner
snip or farms be encouraged and hast
ened. Tenancy should be protected,
for ut is a step towards ownership"
1T seems clear that contributions
must be made, in no inconsiderable
measure, to the peoples of Austria and
to some extent of Germany" Houston
said.
Chaos Not Needed.
Even our former enemies must be
considered If for no higher purpose
than those of enlightened selfishness.
The world cannot afford to have a
prevalence of chaos and riot in any
cry people are dangerous and reason
able sustenance Is a prerequisite to
the return of normal conditions and
the securing of domestic institutions"
Referring to general conditions in
Europe. Houston said:
Undoubtedly the demand from Eu-
rope for available foodstuffs until the
next harvest season will be great
England's food production has in
creased during the war. but England
still is and will continue to be an i'm
porter of foodstuffs. Frances produce
ton increased this year, but did not
return to normal. She will undoubt-
eddy need unusually large supplies:
Belgium, Poland. HVland, Nor
way. Switzerland and other countries
whose production has been greatly
disturbed or which normally import
foodstuffs, will call upon u.s.
A new phase of the peace confer
ence situation arose today with revela-
tions that Turkey is anxious for
work. The matter probably will come
nm for neaCe table ligCuSSiOr