Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-08-20
Outlook Bright for Lower
Prices.


Washington, Aug. 15.-Believing
firmly that the greater utilization of
the facilities of the iederal farm loan
banks over the country viii work
largely toward reducing the terrible
high cost of living, under which the
people of the United States are now
struggling along, Senator D. U.
Fletcher of Florida, the "father Of the
rural credits" system in this country,
to-day held an important conference
with former Congressman Lever, now
a member of the farm loan board. re-
garding shis matter.
Senator Fletcher is especially op-
posed to the passage of the bill Of
Representative McFadden, Of Penn
sylvania, who himself is banker, pro
viding that there shall be repeal of
the former law exempting farm loan
bonds. If this is done the law will be
seriously crippled, in the opinion of
Senator Fletcher, and the man hunt
ing investments will not be encour-
aged to put his money in these bonds.
Just to this extent will the present
system be less used than it is now.
There is no objection on the part of
Senator Fletcher TO the passage of
the Smoot bill, which provides that
after the beginning of the next year
farm loan banks shall be self sustain
ing. The system is now on such foot
ing, he said to-day, that it will not be
necessary for the treasury depart
ment hereafter to carry them along.
81 believe that if the people of this
country would take full advantage of
the federal farm loan banks" Sena-
tor Fletcher said. Gas It was intended
when they were established, our agri-
cultural people would in time make
themselves so independent that they
would no longer be influenced by such
things as are now prevailing in the
United States and making the cost of
living almost prohibitive.
"Along this line, there is no doubt
that with the work that President
Wilson is suggesting, as result OF
his studies of the present situation
and with what is being done by the
departments of justice, there is GER
tain to be a very. noticeable drop in
the prices of all commodities before
long. I do not look for this to be done
over night-far from it-for the rea-
son that we are now emerging from
a war period and the history of the
world is that periods following such
struggles as we have just been
through are sometimes worse, in
many respects, than during the days
the war is actually going on. There
fore, we are going to see prices fall,
but not Immediately. There must, of
necessity, be reconstruction, but
with special regard to the profiteer,
who is just now making life night
mare for many people in this country.
Heretofore, I fear we have dealt with
him too easily, but now that we have
taken his measure there is little
chance for him to do much damage
hereafter.
eve are on the right track and
/ shall look for good results in the
near future"
Practically every Southern senator
is now working Is or more hours
a day to knock the high cost ofliving
propagander squarely in the head.
There is daily coming forth such a
volume of information from these
members that it is inconceivable
how much present conditions can
maintain much longer. Action Of a
drastic kind, from one end to the
other is certain to come and with
every government department in the
oame lower nricas seem not far off