Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-09-23
ECONOMIC CRISIS
 THREATENS SOCIAL
 ORDER IS WARNING
Farmers Declare They Must be Given Preference Else
 Country Ruined
IMMIGRATION WOULD
 HELP SUPPLY LABOR
American Farm Bureau Fedora tion Advocates More Profit for Farmers and More Fi-
 nancial Aid

Chicago, Sept, 22.-The American Farm Bureau Federation in a state ment tonight summarizing it's inves- tigation into business, industrial and agricultural conditions, declared America "is facing an agricultural economic condition which, if not in telligently dealt with, will lead to consequences so grave as to affect all industry to the point of imperil- ing the social order"
 The statement says farmers must be given immediate help in trans portation, finance and labor, and re- comments the following as remedical efforts which would go a long way toward solving the agricultural diff culties.
 Preferential treatment in transpor- tation to all farm produce held for shipment and to all goods consigned to farmers which are necessary to conduct the business of farming.
 More profits for farmers, better distribution systems which would tend to eliminate middlemen, and stabilize prices.
 Ample finance, with rural banks as- suming the obligation of financing the farmer with long and priority credits.
 Protection from "wild cat" in- vestments which were said to be talk ~c Jo11 annually.
 Equalization of agricultural and industrial labor wages, which the statement declares, can be achieved only by lowering industrial wages or increasing farm wages.
 Encouragement of immigration.
 Industries Top Heavy '"sWe have tried to rehabilitate our country by every method except through the sweat of the brow," the statement says. "Many industries have been stimulated to the point that they are top heavy. Liberal credits has had the effect of initiating values. Abnormal credit extensions granted manufacturers of luxuries and non essentials have been largely expend- ed in driving up wages and the cost of living, while the producers of es- sentials have been overlooked. We need more capital rather than more credit.
 "The nations prosperity depends primarily upon bumper crops, for ag- riculture is the basis foundation of every human endeavor.
 "We are facing an age in which agriculture and industry must move forward hand in hand, leaving the interest of the farming class entirely out of the question it will be to the advantage of the nation to grant pre- ferential consideration to agricultur- al requirements even though other industries may be temporarily handi- capped"
 Concerning transportation, the statement says "it will be months and even years before our transporta- ticn systems can be restored to their normal efficiency" and that prefer ence must be granted agricultural produce immediately so as to move this years crops.
 Consumer Need Not Pay
 Concerning profits the statement adds that more profits for the farm CT would not necessarily mean high CT cost to the consumer.
 "The consumer need not pay more but the producer must receive more" it says. "In most cases we will find the remedy in elimination of excess sive middleman's profits"
 The statement in asking encourage ment of immigration, declares that this is necessary to supply labor and adds that "the mere fact that man cannot speak American does not mean he will not be good citizen"
 The, statement closed with plea that the farm and arm life be adver- tised to overcome the tendency of farmeri boys to flock to cities.
 "The home life on the farm must be given added attractions" it says. "There must be more amusement more recreation and assets to over come the lure of the city which tenn porarily intoxicates the farm boys brain."