The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-10
SECRETARY SAYS USELESS
EMPLOYEES MUST
The New Cabinet Member Talks
Straight From the Shoulder on the
Problems Affecting the Farmer, In
creased Food Production and ti,I a
Cost of Living.

:. \. Hollomor, Atlanta Cons:itu, ion.
Washington. Feb. 5.-Edwin 7.
.tHeredith. the new secretary Of a2E-
.1olturc, promises we'll He starts out
5pf;th a vim that is encouraging, he
,z?so talks, and apparently is not
afraid to talk. for the first shot Gu: ct
She box is a clean-cut appeal to the
business men to get ri>i of employees
sho add to the cost Of distributing
- hat the farmer rrodUces.
Pretty straight Logic!
7 talked to the new secretary per
soaally. What he told me he told
c:hcr newspaper men, and the glst
O il was that useless employees, no
raatter in what lire they may be en-
4~3red. must be released from non
productive work and given an oppor-
1.nity TO become producers upon the
farm or IN the factory. # this is
Done and if jobbers and retailers rec
aSHize the harm that must ultimately
<-orne from prcfiteering on the far
seer and content themselves with
reasonable profit, he said. the ques-
zion Of the high cost of living will
largely solve itself to the permanent
GOOD Of all. But unless the whole
coQntrv-ail business and all labor
does recognize this as common prob
lem and do the things necessary to
solve i, he continued, ''less and less
VII there be of farm, produce to di-
vide among the whole people and
E1i~her and higher will go the price OF
shat which is produced.
Il am surprised,' said Mr.. Mere
.3ith, that | should have received
the number of messages l have, par
s,icularly from daily papers, asking
what plans !, as secretary Of agricul-
sure. have to reduce the high cost OF
siving, indicating that the general
feeling is that this is essentially an
AGRICULTURAL problem. 1t is, of course,
related to agriculture, but no more
than to many other lines of activity,
and am tempted to believe that the
solution of the problem lies more IN
the hands of those interested in dis
sribution and non-productive enter
prises than in the hands Of the far
,ners of the country"
farmers Will Meet the Production
Crisis.
Continuing
1.-The farmers must certainly pro-
sduce. They have produced and will
yoroduce-that is their business. They
are on piece measure basis, SO
given satisfactory conditions, they
will do their part, as the farmers of
America have in every situation or
-risis that has faced the country. But
syis question of satisfactory condl-
tIons' is big one. 1t is not salts
factory condition for the farmer to
receive reduced prices for his pork,
wheat, hides, while the prices of his
machinery. lumber and shoes are
raised. 1t does not conduce to
7nIeasant frame OF mind or the part
OF the farmer or spur him to greater
production to be obliged to sell his
products for half or less than he
eater sees them sold for at retail. The
dairy farmers of the country wonder
If they are treated fairly when they
receive 35 or 20 cents for butter and
see ii retail at S5 cents The poultry
men wonder why. when they receive
from 30 10 so cents for eggs, they
retail as high as dollar pec dozen.
The hog-growers wonder if they are
-aot in q hazardous business when
rshey buy fencing ard all other sup
plies at greatly increased prices, and
then see their produce fall so per
Gent and sold by them at an actual
loss, in answer to demand on the
mart Of The rest Of the population
for reduced cost Of living.
'tIhe farmers Of America. the
new secretary went on, "are willing
so assume their part Of the respon-
sibiiities as American citizens in
meeting any problem threatening the
welfare and stability of our country,
BUT this high cost of living problem is
Il mutual one, and they ask that 1t
be approached by al the people as
acacnmu problem They ask that
those engaged in distribution elin1'-
nate the lost motion and not put so
.rreat 2 burden upon production as
. shers IS upon it today. In other words
.hey ask that there be an adequate
ounher of producers of wealth, and