Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
TEMPORARY RELIEF.

Sioux City Journal: SO far as may
be judged by news reports from Wash
irgton the majority of the measures
introduced and to be introduced III
congress for the relief of the farmers
are only eXpedients. They are intend
ed to provide temporary relief only
and do not reach the seat of the trOu-
BILE. They lance the boil but do nos
cure the cause OF course, temporary
relief is essential, because something
must be done at once to save the agri-
cultural industry from ruin. There
fore, congress is wise in bridging the
ciasm even temporarily. But such re-
lief must not be allowed to shadow the
need for the legislation that will re-
move the .,ilse. Creating condition
under which the farmers may borrow
money to tide them over the period OF
low prices is all right, provided such
tiding over brings them to Il market in
which the farmers may sell their
crops at cost of production plus fair
Il
profits. But if the market is not pro-
vided, the evil day is only postponed,
for the time of payment will find the
farmers facing the same low prices
they now face, and it is just as well
to make the sacrifice now as then.
But after they secure reQrieye from
bankruptcy the cause of their trouble
must be located and removed.
1t is doubtful if any remedial leg
islation on the subject would be APP
proved by President Wilson. The adj
n.inistration, especially the secretary
OF the treasury, is hostile to the
methods which the farmers are urging
for their relief. The president has an
idea that all the financial difficulties
have come upon it because the United
States did not enter the league Of ma
tons. But no intelligent, practical in
dividual can figure out how member.
ship in q combination of nations would
create a market for wheat and corn
and pork and beef, OF provide the
money in foreign nations to pay for
them if bought in this country. Some
constituencies are us seriously affect
ed by present conditions as those of re-
publican members, have announced
that they are ready to overcome the
presidential hostility by passing relief
measures over the presidents veto. IL
they stand by their announcement it
is possible temporary relief bills, at
least, may he passed early in the pres
cnt session. If they do not, no relief
which will be called by President
Harding shortly after his Inauguration.
What form either the temporary or
the permanent relief measures will
take cannot be forecast. There are Il
number of plans, each of which reaches
one or more phases of the problem.
The purpose of congress ought to be
and probably will be to combine as
many of these features in one bill as
possible. The revival of the wa:
finance boards functions will help,
though it is not unlikely the president
will decline to carry out the directions
of congress in this matter as he did in
the Jones shipping law, which was in
tended to reach the same end. A tariff
on wheat and corn would help. though
ii would not get past the president, and
it E~1nestionable if the democrats. i'll
would forcgo their traditional
heresics sufficiently to pass such a
measure over a veto. The middleman
and the speculation in farm commodi-
ties may be responsible for the farm
disasters of the present time. II they
are, legislation which tignrativeiy
hangs them as high as Ilaman must be
cracted. If it is found that dealing in
futures robs the producers, the agen-
cies of such dealings must be exter-
minated. If they arc not, the truth
ought to be determined so that the real