The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-04
FARMERS SFACINC
TRACICSITUATION
Governors From Many States
Meet in Effort to Aid Planters
of America
GOVERNOR COOPER
MAKES ADDRESS
South Carolina Chief Empha-
sizes Need of Preserving Mo-
rale Of the Country

Harrisburg, Pa, Dec. 1.--Governors
and GovernOrS-el representing more
than half the states Of the union,
voted at their annual conference here
today to begin an inquiry into wha,
was yariOusly called the acute"
alarming" and tragic" situation fac
ing farmers Of the country, with
view 20 recommending federal legisla-
ton to assist them.
rs q first step toward carrying out
their plan, which was suggested by
Governor w. l.. Harding, of Iowa, the
conference appointed committee. con
sisting Of Governors Harding, Bick-
Iett. Of North Carolina; Holcombe, or
lCcnnecticut;, Parker, of Louisiana, and
Goodrich, of Indiana to make pre-
liminary survey and report back be-
fore the conclusion of the conference.
After that it Is contemplated to send
the committee to Washington to urge
legislation before congress, which
convenes this month.
The object of the state executives,
which is said to be without parallel
In the history of the American gov
ernment. is for the organization oS
governors to suggest to congress and
actively advocate passage Of legisla-
ton necessary to refund the debts OF
farmers who are pinched by falling
markets with heavy stocks Of surplus
products on hand, so as TO give them
a year or more in which to recoup
losses and wait for a strengthening
| market 1t is proposed to do this
tl,rn nxrta ancin - i.>- H.
federal reserve system. 3.
A second proposal, als, scheduled
to receive consideration by the COM
rnittee, is another by Governor Hard
| ing that a foreign trade corporation
be formed to finance purchases Of
American farm products by foreign
fcountries unable, through present lack
| OF funds to come into the American
market ..,
Acting on Governor Harding's sug-
gestions Governor BicketS introduced
resolution providing for appoint
ment Of the committee to act under
instructions Of the conference and
take the propositions up with con
gress direct. This motion received a
second and was about to be voted
upon When it was objected that the
constitution Of the governors confer
ence forbade formal resolutions or ac-
tion Of that sort. At this, Governor
Sproul, Of Pennsylvania, pointed out
that no such formal action was nee
cssary, and. at the call Of Governor
Ranlberger, of Utah, who presided
u vote was taken on the suggestion to
appoint the committee informally. Ap-
probation of the governors was over
whelming.
One voice. that Of Governor Ed
wards, of New Jersey, was raised in
objection. The Eastern executive
who is banker, said he thought fed
crai legislation such as is contem-
plated by his colleagues, would be
economically wrong" Conditions
should be left to adjust themselves, he
declared
Apprehension regarding agricultural
and industrial conditions throughout
the country characterized most of the
expressions by speakers addressing
the governors today.
Several states, represented by their
chief executives or governor elect,
were reported in a condition verging
on the extremely critical, while
spokesmen for most of the others as
sentet to the general proposition that
there is genuine cause for alarm in
the outlook.
Conditions in Iowa, Governor Hard
ing said, menace the very existence
OF the agricultural industry He urged
ON every state official the necessity
Of emergency legislation to protect
farmers from impending ruin.
Few people. he said, realize the ex-
tent to which they are dependent upon
the farmers. Most cities, he declard,
are within forty-eight hours Of star
vation.' Tho farmers, he warned, are
facing conditions under which they
Will be unable to supply cities with
necessities Of life
Production of foodstuffs will posit-
lively cease in the Mississippi valley
within the next two years il better
conditions arc not quickly brought
about Governor J. r. 4. Robertson,
CT Oklahoma, told the conference
when he was introduced at luncheon
rendered the visitors by the Harris
burg chamber of commerce.
Governor Robertson told OF huge
amounts Of grains and foodstuifs az
we'll as cotton which he said have
crowded warehouses in the southwest
Following bumper crops which could
not be moved from their points of
origin when prices We're still high on
account of the car shortage, while
present prices received for the com.
modities are not sufficient to pay ey
penses of production and transporta
ton to the markets.
The same features were echoed hy
Governor j. III. Bartlett. Of New
Hampshire and Governor r. \. Coop
er, of South Carolina, who added that
his miseivings extended into other
fields of necessary production as well.
Governor Cooper emphasized the
need TO preserve the morale OF the
country In facing the difficult situa
ton urOWinN nnI nf dionrnnnriinn.A. L..