Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-01
Howard Defends
United States
Grain Growers
President of Farm Bureau
Declares Producers Have
Right to Follow Crops
During Distribution.

During Distribution.
Speaking before an audience of
between 1900 and l,s00 people at
the Fillmore county picnic, Geneva,
Neb., last week, James X. Howard,
president OF the American Farm Blu
reau federation. declared that those
who bear the sweat and toll OF the
noon-day sun in productive, enter-
prises-the farmers-have right to
follow their product as far as they
like along the route of distribution.
President Howard was referring spe-
officially to the efforts of the farmers
through the marketing plan OF the
e United States Grain Growers, Inc.
President Howard's speech was
prefaced by short talk by Gov.
S. r.. McKelvie, who acted as chair
man OF the meeting. The governor
declared that the strictest principles.
Of eeohomy should mark the farm
ers' cooperative efforts rather than
the spirit jiof agitation, The gov
ernor said, also, that legislation is
helpful in the operation, OF any busi-.
ness, but that it is impossible to
make a farmers movement politi-
cal one, and that Legislation can only
pave the way for cooperative en-
deavor. f
Largest in World. .
President Howard said the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau federation is the
largest organization of farmers in the
world, and characterized by get-to-
gether,stick-together cooperative
idea. He described briefly the work.
; of the, committee of II, and the
fundamental principles Of the United
States Grain Growers Inc, which
was born OF the. efforts of that com
mittee.f More information concern
ing grain marketing was brought to
light by that committee in its delib-
erations than was ever known be-
fore" President Howard declared.
He spoke Of the efforts of coop
erative elevators during the past 10
years to carry their grain beyond the
terminals but were prevented by re-
fusal OF grain exchanges to allow
them seats or the exchange with the
excuse that exchange members
should not be allowed to -pro-rate
their profits. Only through their
own cooperative efforts can the
farmers overcome that handicap, he
declared a.t
President Howard said the finance
corporation is important in that it
will provide credit to the farmers.
He said that it takes more credit for
farmers to handle their own grain
than for Others to do it, but that they
must be prepared to meet an emer-
gensy like the present one. He de-
clared that the reason farmers have
had a harder time obtaifiing credit
than other businesses is :, because
other lines have heretofore been
more profitable. ~ ~ :.
Increase in Values.
In answering the question, "Are
we going back to the prewar level
of prices?' Mr.. Howard said that
the recent. census report of farm
values shows farm property worth
>$67 ,000,000,000, compared - +, with
H34,000o00,OO0 10 years ago, or al
most 100 per cent increase. Mr..
Howard, though, declared that in
ffated land prices are not primarily |
responsible for the present predica-
ment of the farmer and he explained |
that, according to- TIL quantitatlve |
theory of money, whenever the vol
ume of money doubles, prices must |
double. and that we now have ,ap- |
proximately $7,000000,000 in circula-
ton, compared with $3,750,0W, 900 in
prewar times, and in addition. there
has been. a great expansion Of credit.
City. property, merchandise. tac-
tories, etc, he declared, have all in
creased in value, therefore,. unless
more, credit is curtailed than has
been done so far, the readjustment
of prices must be on a higher level;
not as high as war prices, but higher
than the prewar level. ' IT, |
Mr.. Howard, condemned the gov
ernment operation OF railroads dur
ing the var. saying, the government
still owes the railroads $800,00OO00
and that the roads now need 100000
more cars for norn..'- business.
Therefore. he says, he. does not look
for a decline in freight'rates for sew
eral years. g.. 1. |
Water transportation is the most
hopeful thing to be considered, he
said, referring to- the provisions OF
the ~Eseh-C Cumming bill requiring
railroads ato bill freight either by
water or rail at, the shippers direc-
tons: He says this is. reviving' water
traffic, especially Via the Mississippi
river, where great fleets of barges
are now operating between, st. Louis
~and New Orleans. He said the St.
Lawrence Great Lakes. waterway,
allowing ocean-going vessels to dock !
at Great Lake. portsr would bring |
Nebraska 1000 miles, closer to the
foreign srnafkets., This would mean
a saving of from s. to 10 cents per
bushel on grain raised in: the, middle
western states. He said that the ST..
Lawrence-Great, Lakes waterway
can be constructed for the price of
10 battle ships, but in fact will cost
nothing,;.as the electric current gem
Grated, in 40 years will pay. for all
construction. Mr.. Howard, called
attention to the fact that the Argen-
tine farmer is On. an average 800 |
miles from ocean transportation.
n =. ~ ~ IN 1