The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-11
RELIEF FOR FARMERS
ASKED OF CONGRESS
IN GOVERNORS PLEA
PALLADIUM BUREAU.


WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 11.-A
committee of western and middle west
ern governors, including Governor
Goodrich, of Indiana, selected at the
recent conference of governors, held
at Harrisburg, Pa, will, after survey
of conditions, come to Washington to
lay before congress the appeals of the
farmers for relief.
The drive" to be conducted in be-
half of the agricultural interests Of
the country will be intensive and ag-
gressive. The measures likely to be
proposed for the relief of the farmers
unquestionably will be challenged and
will cause debate and vigorous discus
sion. ~5~--,~s -sf
The case of the farmers as it will be
presented to congress ,Hiu- relate that
the farmers find themselves caught in
falling market witlrs bumper crops
on hand, which, they claim, they could
not move when prices were high be-
cause of lack of transportation facili-
ties; that they are experiencing
difficulty in securing adequate credit
from tanks, and that if this condition
tingency of being unable to plant
SullCltHI SlopS III tiIC So tlldI
the country may be confronted with a
near famine.
Several Proposals.
The relief asked assumes several
forms. One proposal is to revive the
War Finance corporation; another to
change the federal reserve system to
extension of credit; another to form
either public or private corporations
on large scale to give credit to Eu-
rope so that American agricultural
products can be purchased abroad.
There are innumerable measures for
other forms of aid.
1t is an odd fact that one Of the best
known farmers in the sixth congress
sional district of Indiana is one of the
sharpest critics of the movement to
provide federal relief for farmers.
This farmer places himself on record
as opposing such action on the part OF
congress because it would be "class
legislation"
Farmer Opposes
"The vicious Adamson law" he
writes, which has justly submerged
the Democratic party, is the father Of
this farmer movement which. If sue
cessful, will be followed by demands
of merchants and, in turn, by all other
classes.
Having been an active farmer for
many years and in daily business con-
tact with farmers during the past
decade ! feel privileged to recount
some of my observations.
First. there are thousands of land
owning farmers who have grown inn
mensely rich during the past six years,
bought palatial homes in cities and
towns and are now asking congress to
guarantee their luXm iCus homes and
large incomes.
Second, there are an equal numb
of active farmers who have piled up
large bank accounts and have extend
ed their land holdings and are insist
ing that the recent orgy continue
Hits Profiteers
Third. there are many tenant far
mers who accumulated a few thousand
dollars and have made small payments
on high-priced lands and who now find
their Indebtedness burdensome with a
falling market. Depreciation of farm
products naturally cuts into the debt
reducing revenue and probably results
in the lowering of land values. all of
which leaves this class of farmer in
a jamb-an educational ore, / hope.
Then there is a second group of ten
ant farmers-who rented lands at high
prices, made one or two good crops,
blew all they made for fine clothes
and automobiles and ripped and storm
ed around the country until the newt
able crash came
Let the law of supply and demand
iron cut our troubles 1t only takes
time"