Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-15
ENAToR HARDING
[IlRANTEES FAIR
ZEAL FOR Farmer
.lares Definite National Agrl-
cultural Policy Is Vital to
Country'S Welfare.
Inn PUT END TO PRICE
FIXING OF FARM PRODUCTS
Address Before Minnesota State
,ir Republican Nominee Shows
Profound Understanding of
Farming and Its Problems.


minneapolis, Especially. -"rhe time
come when, as a nation, we mus
srmne upon a definite agricultural
iev we must decide whether we
Il undertake to make of the United
,s a seIf-sustaining nation-which
ans that we shall grow within our
boundaries all of the staple food
ducts needed to maintain the high
type of civilization whether
shall continue to exploit our ngri-
tural resources for the benefit OF
Industrial and commercial life, and
beoye to poaterity the task of finding
ID enough, by strong-arm methods,
necessary, to support the, coming
bdreds of millions.
believe in the self-sustaining, in.
bendent, self-relant nation, agricuI.
ally, industrialIy and politically.
are then the guarantors of our own
burity and are equal to the task"
10 declared Senator Harding in
sterly address before the Minnesota
te Fair here, in which he revealed
most profound understanding of
rculture, its problems and its rea-
to the farmer and the consumer in
cities. This speech has been de-
bed as the greatest speech on agri-
lure which has ever been made by
Presidential candidate.
Among other things he said:
"a good many years ago a Chinese
ilosopher uttered a profound truth
len he said: The well-being of
Ople is like tree; agriculture is it's
pt, manufacture and commerce are
branches and its life; if the root
injured the leaves fall, the branches
leak and the tree dies
Cause for Concern.
at may seem strange to many good
bople that at this particular time any
be should quote this saying of wise
ID Chinese Never in all our history
I've prices of farm products ruled
J pigh, measured in dollars, as during
le past four years. Farm land in the
beat surplus-producing states has ad-
Rnced to unheard Of prices, with
ferry indication that, but for the tight
Oney conditions. it would go still
cher. Apparently the farmers of the
mare enjoying Unprecedented pros
Phty. Why then, even by implica-
m suggest that something may be
fong with our agriculture, and that
trouble may be communicated to
p manufactures and commerce? Peo-
{ in the cities are disposed to think
pat If there is anything wrong il is
the cities where food is selling at
pen nigh prices, and not in the coun-
a where the food is produced. But
Pm farm and city students of national
Fohlems see in the present agricul-
rai situation certain conditions
fmeh give cause for real concern to
Very lover of his country"
lie then referred in most interest
Pg way to the development of the
Feat central west and Sketchcd briefly
Pc settlement of the great central val
eys as follows:
Through the homestead law the
government gave farm of the richest
Pho IN the world to every man who
panied one. Railroads were built, the
|ralrles were plowed up, and almost
'v.efnlght the agricultural production
y the United States increased by
y per cent. Grains were produced
,hu sold at the bare cost of utilizing
ne SOIL, and the farmers of the older
nl,t he 49,
HIS Hood Of cheap grain. The only
nihg that could be done with this
of food was to build
.nes out of it. And great cities we
~ oulid. not only in the United
tales but across the seas"
he spoke of the hard conditions
lhch came upon the farmers Of the
Fhlra' west as result Of their over
function, and then Of the gradual
nprofnment which began about 1908.
men the Increased population In the
we h"gnn to catch up with farm pro.
uction, and how this increased de-
and for food was accelerated by the
reat World War.
speaking Of the part played by the
lr'her during the war. he said:
Splendid Part Of Farmers.
me splendid part played by the
.rmers OF the nation during the war
lnohbly never will be understood or
NY appreciated by our people. More
'ah 20 per cent Of all our lighting
eh came from the farms. and after
'na'hg their sons to the camps. the
'.h"rs and mothers, with the help Of
y younger children, turned to and
Ioanc'd more food than was ever be-
IRE produced In the history of the
or'n In the same time and from the
I'M" area Of land. Their working
'sS we're measured not by the clock,
u ny the number OF daylight hours
nn.A took 10 themselves the respon'
un',Y OF feeding not only our own
eop'e' but also our allies across the
-. IN more ways than one, our farm.
= hlade the war their war. and count
!" sacrifice too great to help fight II
rough TO successful finish. The
,"rS of what they did, written by
''he one who understands IL, viii
'nh'Sh one Of the most glorious chap
= IN American history. One thing
may say-in every American con
~, from the revolution for independ
.Se 70 the world war for maintained
sn's, the farmer has been 100 pei
NY american and ready for every
ne Then pointed out some of the un