New-York tribune., 1920-02-29
Hoover Asserts
Peril Turks i'm
Farm Problem,
Declares Agriculture Must
Be Developed to Keep Up
With Industry if u. S. Is
to Avoid Importing Food
Improve Transportation
Advocates Federal Regula-
ton of Produce Trade
to Give Free Competition

CHICAGO, Feb. 28.-Develppment of
agriculture to keep pace with the de-
velopment Of industry Is one Of the
greatest reconstruction problems fac
ing the country, Herbert Hoover de-
clared here tonight In an address
before the Western Society Of En-
ginssrs. Industries are drawing work
ers from tho farms, he pointed out.
and II we should develop our exports
Of industries during the next five years
as rapidly as we have during the last
five years we shall by that time be
faced with the necessity of importing
foodstuffs.
The problem Is moro than an eco
nomic ono. he asserted, because from
dependence on overseas supplies for
food we will be concerned about their
safety aud hnd ourselves discussing
the domination Of the seas Our in
ternational relations will become more
difficult, he said, and unless the league
OF nations serves its ideals we viii
need to burden ourselves with more
taxation, maintain great military and
naval forces and imperil the develop
ment Of our national life. which rests
in the spirit of our farms and sur
rounds our villages"
Great as is the need for constructive
thought and action in regard to the
weakness of our industrial relations,
he said, "the need for similar thought
and similar activity is still greater
with regard to agriculture" The agri-
cultural industry, he explained, must
be made economically attractive. This
can be accomplished, he declared, by
remedying the defects in our transpor-
tation and distribution systems.
Measures to Remedy Situation
Measures which he advocated to
bring this about include the develop
ment Of the waterways from the Great
Lakes to the Atlantic, replacement of
Special control of refrigerator cars,
stockyards and elevators by "construc-
tive public service; government regu-
lation Of the "overswollen units" of
the produce business to provide free
competition; cooperative marketing;
reduction in imitation, which he be-
lieves will lessen the excessive number
of persons engaged in food dstribu-
ton; Standardization of products; ex-
haustive investigation into our na-
tional boards Of trade, with view
to extending their Legitimate functions
or preventing their abuse" and devcl-
opment of mechanical agricultural
equipment.
Mr.. Hoover expressed the belief that
the development Of the Great Lakes
waterways would remove a consider
able portion of the peakload on the
trunk line railways during the crop
movement season when the shortage
of cars causes increased prices, and
find employment for the great mercan-
tile feet which we have created if the
development was carried out. He cs-
timated that the saving in the trans
portation of grain would be five or six
cents bushel.
Regulate Produce Concerns
When concerns engaged in the manu-
facture and sale of produce reach such
dimensions that they "can influence
prices or dominate public affairs, either
with deliberation or innonce," he said
they should be placed under reg
ulation and restraint. Mr.. Hoover de-
clared he was opposed to government
ownership and expressed the belief
that the test to be applied to determine
whether regulation was necessary
should be mot the size of the insti-