Evening star., 1920-10-19


more than the pre,,war averagefh oats
, 02.000,000 bushels. or 2SS. .00l
better than the pre-war average; bar
ley In excess of. and rye more than
exceeding the five-year average;
record-breaking rice and tobacco
crops; hay exceeding the flve-year
average; cotton. grain sorghums and
apples better than last year. and rec
ord sugar beet and sorghum syrup
crops.
The cost Of producing the crops
which are now being marketed was
greater than ever before, and yet the
farmers are confronted with the
necessity of selling them on q falling
market. High prices ruled while they
ton. but prices began to fall when the
crops had about matured and were
ready to harvest.
Taking all crops into consideration
from present prices and tendencies,
the farmers Of the United States ara
pared with last year, agEreEatinK
cent. =
Under existing conditions. farmers
have no assurance OF receiving ade-
quate prices for their products. They
are many times obliged to sell when
prices are lowest, while the consumer
pays the prices prevailing at other
periods Of the year. A large proper
t1on Of each years staple crops must
be carried along during the year and
put on sale as there 10 an effective
consumption demand. No one ques-
tions that fact. The only point at is
sue is. shall the farmer, whose pri-
mary interests are involved, be af-
forded such credit by local banks az
will enable him to market his crops
in orderly fashion? The American
people must see to it that farmers se-
cure credit sufficient for their needs
Only thus can they continue to supply
the nations demand for food"
Denounees sFree Seed Gae.n
/ Secretary Meredith departed from
his prepared address to denounee what
he described as the free seed gag
He said the practice had practically
only one reason for its existence-cus-
tom-and that 'it never got one vote
for anybody" who had sent out the
seeds to the farmers. =
The Secretary also announced tha,
he would ask Congress for an addi.
tional appropriation Of SIC. 900, 900 owe.
the previous estimate in order to in
crease the salaries Of technical en-
ture. He Complained that one Of the
principal diffculties Of the depart
ment had been its inability to retain
'htgh-clASs technical men, who should
be worth as much to the government
as to private enterprises"
After the general session Of the
gates prepared to attend the meetingl
OF the sections aud other conferences
scheduled for this afternoon, The
savings bank section and the trust
company section both held important
meetings. The nominating committed
tive council at $3.50 pm.
One of the most important confer.
ences during the convention will be
that on bank advertising. which ID
set for pm. In the Hotel Washing
ton.
At the general session Of the con.
delivered by Secretary Houston Of the
Treasury Department. Fred I. Kent
vice president Of the Bankers Trust
Company Of New York. will speak on
international Relations" and Fred
W. Ellsworth. vice president Of the
Hibernia Bank and Trust Company
will discuss Publicity and Public Re.
lations."
Reports will be received from the
trust company section. the savings
bank section. the clearing house Sec
ton. the national bank section. the
state bank section. the American In
etitute Of Banking. tho committee on
commerce and marine and the state
secretAFies section.
This afternoon there was an anto-
mobile ride for the wives and dAuEh-
ters Of the bankers who are visitors
in Washington during the convention
and a lawn party at Chevy Chase
Club. Tonight . reunion subscription
dinner of the American Institution Of
Banking will be given at the New
willard Hotel. Other entertainment
features for tonight include . lecture
at the bureau Of standards by Di-
rector Stratton and private view OF
the National Museum.