The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-03-22
AGRICULTURE IN
GRAVE DANGER
1t Is Plain That President Harding
Is Going to Demand Emergency
Tariff Legislation

Washington, March 1S.-Americar
agriculture is facing its gravest dan
ger from the food Of foreign impor.
tations pouring in practically free OF
duty.
This was the unanimous opinion to.
/ day of President Harding and his cab,
! met, following their longest confer,
ence since the new administration
! took office.
The meeting of the president ana
his official family lasted more than
two hours, most Of the discussion re-
lating directly to proposed means for
preventing what was declared to be
the impending agricultural crisis.
Unless all indications fail, the pres
/ ident, in his first message to congress,
will insist that legislation to relieve
the situation be given precedence ov-
er all other business.
Loath to Resort to War Powers
The president stated today that he
was "loath to resort" to war powers
conferred upon him by the trading
with the enemy act, which would en-
able him to place an embargo on ag-
! ricltural imports. This law has not
been repealed. Rather, he will look
to congress for the early enactment
of emergency tariff legislation which
will save the sitatiuon by placing
heavy duties on agricultural prod
ucts.
With Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace leading the discussions, the
cabinet went exhaustively into the
situation, which discloses that:
/. Millions of tons of wool and
other products are being poured into
the country practically free of duty.
2. Foreign exporters are piling up
huge stocks Of their goods in ware
houses here, taking advantage of fav-
orable exchange rates.
The president declared that this sit
/ uation, dangerous in itself, assumed
tremendous" proportions when it
was found that it actually threatened
the "agricltural self-sufficiency" of
the country. American farmers, and
live stock raisers, unable to combat
the influx of foreign importations,
are abandoning or cutting down their
interests. This was found to result
directly in a great reduction Of Am
erican agricultural productivity.
Immediate Relief Needed
"There clearly insult be some i'm
mediate relief of the agricultural sit
ration, or we shall lose our focks and
our herds" was the way in which one
cabinet member described the danger.
Many of the cabinet, in their dis
cussion with the president, found that
agricultural products and live stock
from Europe and South America
could be laid down on the Atlantic
seaboard at prices cheaper than are
charged by farmers in the middle
west. Despite this fact, the ultimate
consumer was reaping little or no
benefit in the form of reduced prices.
The element of high transportation
charges figured largely in the cabinet
discussion, it was learned, importa-
tions of frozen beef and mutton COM
ing all the way from Australia and
New Zealand being sold here in large
Quantities at much less cost than
western producers can supply, after
TRANSPORTATION charges have been add
ed.
Denuded of Cattle
Many sections of the country have
been practically denuded of herds OF
sheep and cattle because Of this con-
dition. it was found. 1t was the un-
animous opinion of the president and
the cabinet that the first necessity
was the placing of heavy duties on
agricultural and live stock imports
pending the enactment by congress OF
permanent protective tariff.
President Harding expresses regret
that the emergency tariff legislation
passed at the last session, but vetoed
) by President Wilson, was not in effect
at this time. 1t is strongly indicated
the president will insist that similar
legislation will occupy the full atten-
ton of the new congress, even to the
extent of holding up tax and reVe-
nue. revision.
Mr.. Harding refused to approve
the legislative program agreed upon
by the republican members OF the
senate finance committee and house