Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-20
FARMER CONGRESS- TOLD
|Of GOyT.'S PURPOSE TO
PROTECT the PUBLIC

Washington, Feb. 19-Back- OF every
basic commodity exist movements
! which should give the country grlv-
est concern" Victor Murdoch, chair
! man Of the Federal Trade Commits
sion, today told the annual confer
ence Of the National Board Of Farm
Organizations.
Explaining to the delegates repre-
scnting more than 80 agricultural
! bodies. the work Of the Federal
Trade Commission. Mr.. Murdoch
said it was the economic eye" Of the
government to ascertain the facts
regarding these movements in order
that the public might be protected.
The work Of the commission in the
past has been almost elementary. :ie
said adding that the commission was
about 70 embark on the study CT
"other and graver problems affect
ing the nations business. Further
than that he did not elaborate his
statements which aroused keen in
terest among the delegates in view Of
recent Investigations into meat pa tx
Ing. coal INNINGS and other indus
tries.
Almost the first act Of the confer
ence today was to revive plans ,'or
an international farmers Congress.
4 committee was appointed to take
up the matter In hand with instruc-
tons to communicate at the earliest
possible moment with similar organi-
zation in foreign countries. Other
committees were chosen to ascertain
and report ION the modus and pres
ent status Of the investigation Of the
federal trade commission" 20 report
on the outlook for importation Of
foreign fertilizers and to inquire into
the foreign exchange situation as it
affects American trade.
Charles S. Barrett, president Of the
National Farmers Union who pre-
sided as chairman Of the conference
said that while it would be ve.y
pleasant to be able to say that "All
is we'll with agriculture and that in
content nothing left to be desired"
the facts were that "the farmer is
not contented or satisfied
Answers to the recent QUESTIONABLE
sent out by the postof1ice department,
he said. came nearer to revealing the
truth about agriculture than anything
that has received equal publicity in the
city press.
The replies Of the farmers said Mr.
Barrett, reveal deep dissa tisfaction
with the treatment that has been &C
corded agriculture and resentment, ut
the wide spread OF prices received b.
. 10 90 \
sumers: a feeling Of insecurity in tho
ability OF farmers to continu, to the
same extent Of production Of food and
inability to secure sufficient labor or to
hold even the farm boys and girls on
the farms in competition with the alIur-
ing scale Of wages offered industry and
commerce of the farms. The farmers
and their wives in answering these
Guestionnaires faithfully. reelected both
a condition and state Of find which
do not speak we'll for the future either
perity Of the nation.
THE farmers. at least the organized
farmers. from now on will pool their
efforts in exploring what in the past has
been forbidden ground. They will en-
ploy trained research workers to in
vest!gate conditions affecting agricul-
ture. With trained research and pub
Lefty, farmers need no longer be i'm
potent in dealing with the questions Of
marketing. distributing and finance.
Senator Capper Kansas, and Repre-
sentative Anderson. Minnesota. advised
the farmers to act as unit in bring
ing their needs to the attention Of Con-
gress. Practically the entire member
ship visited Secretary Meredith Of the
department Of agriculture. who has
asked the counsel and cooperation Of
the national board.