The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-09-14
SENATOR HARDING SPEAKS
ON FARMERS PROBLEMS

enable US to bring about a fair bal
hnee between our urban and rural.
Industries, bringing prosperity to
both and permitting neither to fatten
NJ the expense Of The other, We caI-
not hope for concord. n without
future.
Heretofore The farmer has been an
iadiyidualist. Living a somewhat So
lated life and being compelled to
work long hours, II has not been easy
for him to anthor with his Fellows.
He has not had a ready means Of de-
Tense against the strong organizations
OF both capital and labor. which in
their W interest have at times Inn
posed unfair conditions upon him. #
~ true that At times during the past
Rfty years there have been temporary
ORGANIZATIONS brought together 10
combat some unusually burdensonic
condition, but usually breaking down
when the emergency has passed.
Organization Developing
But OF late years there have sprung
up farmer organizations OF a quite
different REORGANIZATION with a
very large membership with an ag-
sressive and Intelligent leadership,
and with n way OF raising whatever
FUNDS they may find NECESSARY to
promote the. interests OF their mem
beers. The leaders Of these o%rgnniza-
adapt 10 tkslr work the methods
which business men and working men
have found successful IN furthering
their own interests. The fruit grow
ets Of the western coast have become
30 strong that hey are now able not
only to do away with many Of the
expenses heretofore paid to other.
but also 10 influence the price OF
their products. The grain growers
OF the west and northwest have be-
come strong enough to bring about
many changes they desired In the
marketing OF their crops. The far
mers OF the corn belt states are rap
idly porfccting the most powerful
organization OF farmers ever known
In this country. All OF these are
natural Developments In the evolving
change OF relationship and the mod
ern complexities Of productivity aud
leXchangc.
Our Business Not To Destroy
IL IN more h conceivable, II IN
apparent. that we are able TO deal
more wisely and more Justly with
our agriculture that we have In the
past. Unless we do deal more fair
~ there may come a, conflict be-
tween the organized farmers In the
surplus-prcluclng states aEd those
who insist IN buying thci- crops be.
low production costs. We have
witnessed tho restricted production
Of manufacturers and OF labor. but we
have not yet experienced the In
tc~ntionally restricted production OF
toodatuffs. Let ua hope we never
may. II In our business to produce
and conserve. not TO deny. deprive or
destroy.
I have no thought OF suggesting
/ shat 0ha nAssnr,vn..e .tA.lgn ...-fr
out m elaborate system OF %agrtcul-
turc n Their try 10 impose II on the
farmers OF the country. That would
be utterly repugnant to American
ideals. Government paternalism,
J whether applied to agriculture or to
any other OF our great national in
dustries. would stine ambition. i'm
pair e~fficieneys lessen production aud
make us o nation OF dependent In
competents. The farmer requires no
special favors NJ the hands OF the
government. All he needs In a fair
chance and such Just consideration
for agriculture rs wo ought to Eave
to q basic industry, and ever seek to
promote for. our common good.
Soms of the t.Iinga which ought to
be done II We trc 10 put u nsri-
culture on a sound foundation. have
been mentioned in the national plat
form OF the party TO whose pledges
I am committed.
Farm Representation
First. the need OF farm representa-
ton in larger governmental affairs Is
recognized. During the past seven
years the right Of agriculture to a
voice In government administration
has heen practically ignored. and. Mt
times. the farmer has suffered
~grievoualy as n result. The farmer
has a vital interest in our trade
relations with other countries. In tho
administration OF u financial
policies. and in many OF the larger
activities OF the government. Ills
interests 'muht be s~afeEuarded BY
men who understand his needs. he
must be actually and practically
represented.
Second, the right OF farmers TO
form cooperative associations for the
marketing OF their products must be
| granted. Tho concert OF agriculture
Is as essential to farm aa n similar con-
cert OF action In to factories. A pros
porous agriculture demands not only
efficiency in production. but efficiency
In marketing. Through cooperative
a~sociatlons the. route between the
producer and the a and
must be shortened. WaAteful effort
can and must ibe avoided. I'M
necessary expense can and must be
eliminated. II In to the advantage
OF all OF our people that every pose
slble Improvement be made in our
methods OF getting the products OF
our farms into the hands OF trc
people who consume them. The
legitimate functions OF the middle.
man may continue to be performed.
by private enterprise. under condi-
tons where the middieman Ii nee
easary and gives his skill to our Joint
welfare. The parasite In distribution
who preys on both producer and con-
sumner must no longer sap the vitality
OF this fundamental life.
scientific Duty
Third. the republican party
pledges itself to a scientific study OF
agricultural prices and farm produce
| ton costs, both at home and abroad.
with n view to reducing the fire.
queney OF abnormal fluctuations
here. Stabilization will contribute
to e~verybody's confidence. Farmers
have complained bitterly OF the fire.
quont and violent Quotations In
prices OF farm products. and especi-
ally in prices OF livestock. They do
not find fluctations-such flucta-
/ tionu--in the nroducta Of other In