The Wahpeton times., 1918-03-21

ley concluded. Every loyal
American will regret that business
considerations have blocked his ef-
forts"
Hoover Farored Principle
Herbert Hoover has endorsed
the principle of the Baer Bill, to
furnish feed and seed to farmers,
where necessary, on their promis-
sorry notes with the 1918 crop as
security.
''Therc can be 10 question of
Doubt" said Mr.. Hoover, "that
we ought to have every acre, and
quarter acre in crops; and on this
whole problem Of helping the
farmers to finance their seed
felt very earnestly a month ago
that Federal action was necessary.
[ think at the moment that it re-
quires a little inquiry as to how
far local initiative is going to solve
the problem or a great deal of
it. but that is the only reservation
I have to it's necessity right now. |
81 should like, perhaps, to see
the measure of Representative
Baer adopted. to assist through
the farm loan bank, as that is all
engine of possibility of distribu-
tion much better than through the
food department of the govern
mcnt. I have strong feeling that
if a sum of money can be placed
i'm the hands of tile farm loan
banks for purpose akin to that,
that it would be beneficial lp
deed.
For Feed as Well
Representative Young who was
handling the bill in the commit
tee asked MIR. Hoover if he did
not think it would be desirable
to have a fund placed in their
hands to furnish feed for any To-
cality where yearings are being
sold heavily in order to conserve
the cattle supply.
Mr.. Hoover replied that there
should be sufficient lattit,Nle in
loans TO cover that feature.
Later on in speaking of the food
shortage Mr.. Hoover said that the
cause of it was the subnormal crop
both in wheat and corn. He de-
clared that if we had normal
crop OH an acreage as large as
that Of last year that we would
have no food problem, but that
it was desirable to see that every
available foot of ground was put
under cultivation to take care of
the European situation.
As a result of the hearing and
of support pledged him by men,
bers of the Farm Loan Board
and the Federal Reserve Board,
and the universal demand from
the agricultural sections of the
country, Representative Baer has
redrafted his bill. 1t now calls
for an appropriation of $2O,0OO,-
600 to constitute a loan fund to
be handled by the Federal Reserve
Banking system. The farmers
representative is hopeful for the
passage of this bill. He has filed
with the committee petitions with
10000 signatures from northwest
ern farmers asking that Congress
act quickly in granting this aid.
Other Measures Proposed
So urgent is the need felt fer
some relief measure that Repre-
sentative Norton of North Daokta
tried to amend the deficiency ap-
preparation bill by adding $4,-
100000 as revolving fund for
the buying and selling of seeds
through the Secretary of Agri-
culture.
This was defeated. but it'll
brought out an interesting debate
in which Representative Moore of
Pennsylvania said that the Bacr
bill which had been widely com
mentcd on by the country press
was "a bold and radical departure
from existing order.
When asked as to the loans
from the government to munition
makers he replied that the gov
ernment was amply secured bv
the manufacturers. ''I doubt"
he added. whether we have gone
so far in patcrnalism as to use
the tax money of the people to
make advances to men who have
only something in prospect to re-
deem their promises.
81 YEARS AGO
l