Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-13
WALLACE ISSUES APPEAL
FOR HELP TO FARMERS
New Secretary of Agriculture Calls
on Every Good Citizen to
Give Lift.
CITES CENTRAL WEST STATES
Says Widespread Agricultural Dc
preston Results From High Cost
of Production and Because Farm
Products Have Dropped
IRy Associated rressl

WASHINGTON. March l2-An APP
] peal for every good citizen to do
what he can to help the farmers
+ through the period OF depression not
( for the sake OF helping the farmer
4 alone. but FOR the sake OF helping
himself" was made today by Socrc
tary of Agriculture Wallace In his
first formal statement
Prices of farm products mus, rise
and prices OF other products come
down before the normal relation he
tween them has been restored. Mr.
Wallace asserted. Talk OF bringing
prices back to "a prc-war level. he
declared. is morally wrong and
economically impossible" adding that
everybody would he better or" il
an effort were made 70 bring about
a price level say 20 peg. cent above
tho pre-war normal"
Secretary Wallace said he doubted
whether the people in the East re
aiize just what has happened 10 the
farmers Of the producing sections"
Cites Central West.
Citing conditions in the Central
West as an example he said that
there. Notwithstanding that we have
the finest rural civilization. taken as
whole. the world has ever seen"
the farmers are now in "a most try.
ing period and are suffering severe
financial losses" Farmers through
out the nation. especially those in
the South and West. he added, "nre
experiencing exactly the same
trouble
This widespread agricultural de-
preston results from the high cost
OF production and because farm prod
ucts have dropped out OF all proper.
ton 10 the prices of other things.
Mr.. Wallace said. While the farm
err he continued, lis selling the
things he produces ut prices no high
cr, and for great surplus crops. lower
than the pro-war normal. he must buy
practically everything he needs "a,
prices from 80 TO $50 per cent above
the pro-war normal" rs long as
such Il condition continues. he added
the severe agriculture depression is
inevitable and IL vii! certainly bc
communicated Ito industry and bust
ness generally
1T is a terrible Indictment OF Our
modern civilization" MIR. Wallace as
serted, when this great country is
in the period OF what might almost
be called economic chaos because OF
our great surplus food supply. while
across our seas in hotn directions al
most half the world is suffering for
want Of food. II our statesmen had
given more thought to getting The
world back on "A sound economic
basis. and perhaps had spent less time
on idealis;ic schemes and theories.
they would have rendered a great
contribution TO tho peace and order
Illness and happiness OF the people OF
the earth"
VIII Find Quiet.
The department. the secretary said.
would do everything possible to find
an outlet for the great food surplus
Ways OF producing more cheaply. new
uses for surplus crops and better
marketing systems. he said. would
help the situation,
Evcrything- which Influences pro-
duction and prices must be consld-
cred, tho secretary saii-compcii,ion
from foreign lands where the stand
ards o: living are lower Than mere,
world conditions OF supply ana de-
mand. administration OF the cr"di;
machinery. and OF 't.ic trat,sportali"n
System. Those WHO control the
finances OF the country have tn"
power 10 influence, either directly or
Indirectly. through crcdl, extension,
large amount Of control over prices
lin short, the people OF the nation