South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-25
AGRICULTURE IS
ON SOLID BASIS
Future Promises Much in
Farm Development-HeIp
for Stricken Nations.

Peace finds American agriculture
on a substantially sound founda-
ton and developing in the right di-
rection. the secretary OF agriculture,
d. +. Houston. said in an address
10 the Association OF American Agri-
cultural colleges and experiment
stations at Baltimore, Nd. but
much remains 20 be done in this
field. he said. because this funda-
mental part OF the nations indus
trial life will not stand still.
we have our troubles" the sec
rotary said. I'VE shall be concern
ed with numerous proposals from
the enthusiasts with limited knowI-
edge and less sense of direction. We
shall be pestered by the narrow,
selfish. partisan and by the dema-
gogues-the farmers of the farm
ers-their pretended self-consti-
tuted friends. These are already in
evidence and are revealing for ends
OF their own a willingness to at
tempt by misrepresentation and
cheap appeals TO prejudice 10 injure
great constructive agencies. such as
the state agricultural colleges and
the federal department They will
not make much Roadway. The
American farmers are not easily
fooled and we may trust them TO
assess these people and their mo-
tives at their real worth"
Because OF a shorter actual par
ticipatiOn in the war and its free
dom from such devastation. as in
Europe. the secretary said that
Americas relative position, indus
trially. financially. socially. and gov
ernmently, is stronger than il was
five years ago. He quoted esti-
mates showing that the Eul Opean
belligerents, exclusive of the Balkan
states and Turkey. lost more than
100000 men killed and 10000
000 wounded. many Of them per-
manently incapacitated. The secre-
tary also stated that the war debt of
all the belligerents will range from
175 TO 200 billion dollars, Of Shich
the share OF the United States may
be 20 billions, only IL percent Of its
wealth. and $500 a person.
1t is incredible" the secretary
said, that any thinking man can
gain satisfaction from the impair
ment of the capacity Of any part
of the world to contribute to the
worlds national dividend of goods
and services. our thought should
be how I'm the period Of recovery we
may properly assist the desperately
stricken people of Europe. rather
than how we can take advantage OF
them in their present plight.
a league Of nations" the secre-
tary said. seems 10 me TO pre-
requisite TO disarmament i'm the nee
essary degree, TO the interchange Of
commodities among nations under
rational and equitable conditions. 10
the freedom OF the seas, and to de-
velopment OF the proper attitude and
practice in reference to the back
ward territories of the world"
Every possible assistance. said Mr..
Houston. viii be given 10 returning
soldiers and others who may~wish
to begin life anew in the difficult
business of farming" He spoke in
favor Of Fastening the process from
tenancy to farm ownership. the i'm
provement OF rural finance: estab-
lishment of state systems Of per-
sonaI credit unions; Immediate re-
sumption OF road construction nm
der the federal aid road act: prom
or regulation OF the StOckyards and
packing houses: reduction of dis
cases and provision OF adequate
medical facilities i'm rural COM
munities: continuation OF the en-
larged activities OF the agricultural
extension forces; the department Of
aSriculture's farm-la Dor work. and
its enlarged market news services.
federal and state cooperation 10 as
sure reliable information on the COST
OF farm production, and legislation
to enable state departments Of agri
culture 10 cooperate with the feder-
al department in regulatory activi-
ties in :he same way that the acri-
cultural colleges are now able 10
cooperate in research and experi-
mental work.