Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-10
NEW SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE DISCUSSES
HIGH COST OF LIVING

less employees must be released from non-pro-
ductive work that they may go into productive
work and add to the sum total that may be
distributed among all.
"Let us enjoy in America as highly developed
system of diStributon-and in this | include all
the professions doctors, lawyers, teachers, as
we'll as retailers, transportation, etc-aS we now
have, but let us cut out the useless member, The
surplus one here and there and give him an
opportunity to become a producer upon the farm
or in the factory. Let us have Six-tenthS Of our
people in production -. fOur-tenthS in di> ri
button, that there may be six-tenthS of what a
man, can produce each day for eacl. of us, rather
than have four-tenthS of what a man can pro-
duce each day for each of us. To do this, con-
dtiOnS in production must be attractive, farming
must be remunerative and offer tc young man
who engages in it an opportunity equal to that
offered him should he 60 into bank railroad,
wholesale retail establishment.
LABOR MUST MEET FARMER HALFWAY
"The farmer asks that the laborerS in the
mines, the factory, and the mills who are also
real producers along with the farl3erS make an
effort comparable to his to see there is just
as little labor expense as possible in each ar
tice turned out by their hands, thereby helping
the farmers of America, who in turn, will help
the laborer This is not inconsistent with the
views and desires of IT,: loyal, intelligent la
boring men, who recognize the mutual advantage
to all in an honest, days work for an honest
days pay. Given this and the manufacturers,
jobberS and retailers taking a reasonable profit
and recognizing the harm that must ultimately
come from profiteering on the farmer, the
question of the high cot of living will large'v
solve itself to the permanent good of all con-
cerned
"On the other hand i: the whole country, all
business and all labor, Goes not recognize this
as common problem" the secretary continued,
"and do those things which give the farmer a
fair compensation for his efforts, do those
things which make farming remuner@tive, pleas
ant and as attractive as other lines of endeavor,
the conditions will not improve. On the con-
trary, more and more will the young men
leave the farms, more and more will the older
men become discouraged and less and less will
there be of farm produce to divide among The
whole people for their SuStenance and higher
and higher will 60 the price of that which is
produced
ALL MUST STRIVE FOR CHEAPER DISTRl-
"Attention must be given by public-Spirited
citizens to the methods which tend to quicken
and cheaper distribution of farm products, such
as better terminal facilities. easier transfers, in
land water transportation, back hauling and
roundabout routes eliminated We must all
interest ourselves in helping solve the prob
lens of the farmer and furnish him facilities
that will help him in his business. While such
facilities must be furnished, we find, on the
contrary, there is now t,ing made an assault
on the Farm Loan Bank, which gives the farmer
money on favorable terms, without commissions
without renewal charges finances him to carry
the fund. mental activity of our country, gives
him long time that he may plan ahead where
necessary. The assault is made by selfish n
tereStS, and their success would, in my judgment
be blow to agriculture in America and result
in ultimate harm to all in ereStS. But how many
business men in America Lave recognized this
as their problem, or interested themselves in the
farmers behalf? Very few, and yet they could
we'll afford, in fact must interest themselves in
this and other problems affecting the farmer or
they will feel the reaction.
"The farmers of America are willing and
anxious to meet the problem of reducing the
cost of living as mutual enc They eek the
cooperation, support and sympathy of the bust
ness world, and receiving it they will do their
part and more All of US working to this end
are strengthening and making permanent agri-
culture, the very foundation of our whole Struc-
ture, and therefore doing we'll for our country
as a whole. Every person. no matter in what
walk of life he may be ngaged, should have
sympathetic, helpful interest in agriculture be
helpful to the farmer, and see he gets fair,
square deal in all matters. Surely, such an at
ttude is an expression of the highest type of
patriotism in peace"