Gunnison news-champion., 1920-06-25
PUT >oN-rRoDuCERs To WORK
\ Striking Appeal by III. Secretary
OF Agriculture.

ifent Of The Associated Advertising
Clubs Of the World. took over his neT
duties in the Nations cabinet he issued /
statement in reply 10 numerous
pressing requests for his views on how .
20 rs1uc- the II. c. l. The following
j. quoted from the statement as pub
lished IN the United States bulletin
i am surprised" said Secretar, .
Meredith. '-to aui such a general feel I
ing that the problem Of the high cost
Of living D. cs-.niIally an agricultural
problem. l. b., of course. related 70
agriculture. but no more 20 than 70
many other lsusE Of activity. and am
tempted 20 believe that the solution Of
the problem lies more IN IN" hands Of
thosa interested IN distribution and
nUn-produrtlve enterprises than in the
hands Of the faunsr- Of the country.
The farmer must certainly produce. I
They have produced. and will pro-
ducc-that Is their business They are
on q piece measure basis. 20 given sat
isfac,ory conditions they will do their
part, a. the farmers Of America have
Ia every situation or crisis that has
faced the country. But this question
Of sat sfaCtoT5 conditions u q big one.
Il is not a satisfactory condition for
the farmer 70 receive reduced prices
FOR his pork. wheat, hides, while the
prices Of his machinery are raised. II
does not CondUcs to q pleasant frame
Of mind on the part Of the farmer or
spur him 10 greater production 10 sell
his products for half or less than he
later sees them sold for a; retail. The
dairy farmers Of the country wonder
II they are treated fairly when they re
ceiyc IS to 20 cents for butter and see
il retail for IS cents. The poultTymen
-
30 TO 20 cents for eggs. they retail as
high a. a dollar a dozen. The hog
growers wonder II they are not in a
/ hazardous business when they buy
| fencing and all other supplies at great
/ ly increased prices, and then see their
produce fail so per cent and are sold
I by them at an actual loss, in response
/ TO u demand on the part Of the rest of
] the population for q reduced cost of
l living.
| The farmers OF America are will
] ing TO assume their part OF the re-
| spOnsibIlItics a. American citizens in
meeting any problem of welfare and
| stability Of our country, but this high
cost of living problem is a mutual one
and they ask that 1t be approached by
/ all the people As a common problem
| They ask that those engaged in distri-
not put 50 great burden upon pro-
duction, as there is upon u today. In
other words, they ask that there be an
ADEQUATE number of producers OF
wealth, and this includes property and
food of all kinds, and only such num-
hsrs Of distributors as is necessary to
perform the service required. They
ask that the banks, railroads, whole
sale establishments, factorics-all of
which are virtually necessary TO the
farmer and recognized by him as such,
be speeded up along with him, that the
work now done by three may be done
I II possible by two, and the burden on
transportation and distribution be
thereby lightcned.
Business men must look to the op-
, Grafton of their establishments, no
matter in what line they may be cnga-
ged, and see that no useless employe
9 is retained to add TO the cost of dis
tributIng what the farmer now produc-
z es. L selrss employees must be releas-
; ed from non-productive work that they
/, may go INTO productive work and add
e to the sum total that may be dist1b-
\ utcd among all.
/. "Let Us enjoy in America as highly
r developed system of distribution
and IN this | include all the profcs-
sions-doctors, lawyers, teachers, as
= well as retailers, transportation, etc
5 as We now have, but let US cut out the
z useless member, the surplus one here
!, and there-and give him an opportun-
4 ity to become a producer upon the
. farm or in the factory.
I "The farmer asks that the laborers
a in the mines, the factory, and the
t mills who are also real producers
4 along with the farmers, make an eff
5 fort comparable to his to see that
there is just as little labor expense as
possible in each article turned out BY
( their hands, thereby helping the farm
+. ers of America, who in turn will help
the laborcr. This is not inconsistent
r with the views and desires of the loyal.
4 Intelligent laboring man. who recog-
nizes the mutual advantage to all in an
, honest days work for an honest DAYS
D pay. Given this and the manufactur-
5 ers, Jobbers, and retailers taking a
S reasonable profit and recognizing the
e harm that must ultimately come from
profteering on the farmer, the ques-
ton of the high cost of living will
largely solve itself to the permanent
good of all concerned
"The farmers of America are will
ing and anxious to meet the problem
of the cost of living as mutual one
They seek the cooperation, support
and sympathy of the business world
and, receiving it, they will do their
part and more. All of US working to
this end are strengthening and max
ing permanent agriculture, the very
/; foundation OF our whole structure, and,
therefore, doing well for our country
as whole. Every person no matter
in what walk of life he may be engag-
ed, should have sympathetic, help
full interest IN agriculture, be helpful
5 to the farmer and see that he gets a
, fair square deal in all matters. Surely
such an attitude is an expression of the
|, highest type of patriotism in peace"