The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-12

and frankly discussing the present
plight Of the American farmer, Secre-
tary Wallace tells the President in his
first annual report today that there
seems to be good reasons for believ-
ing that worst is over andd that we
may reasonably hope for gradual i'm
provement from now on He adds,
"a clear recognition Of the conditions
as they exist should help US to realize
this hope"
In large part the troubles of the
farmer today are due TO Worldwide
conditions and the inevitable result
of the World war, the secretary OF
agriculture says. adding that 1t is not
TO be expected that by some ''miracu-
lous transformation" the period of ad-
versity may be turned over night into
period of prosperity.
High freight rates. big crops pro-
duced in the face of higl costs, unem-
rloyment in other industries in the
country with attended lessening in
buying of foodstuffs, and the lack Of
foreign markets for the farm surplus
are given by the secretary as the more
tions in agriculture. He lays particu-
lar stress upon the lack of foreign
markets and high freight rates.
Terrible Indictment
1T is a terrible indictment of mod
ern civilization" he asserts that
with such abundance here there ar,
millions of people overseas suffering
for the bare necessities and others
49, 70 Ayzd TO
sadly lacking in our understanding
of economic laws or in our adjustment
to them when the production of bounte-
Gus crops grown by the hard labor OF
100000 farmers and farm workers
and their families is permitted to play
such a such a large part in paralyzing
our industries and business at home, -
Large advances in freight rates,
while bearable in time of high prices,
Mr.. Wallace says, if continued are
bound to involve a remaking of the
American agricultural map.
'The simple process OF marking up
the transportation cost of a few cents
hundred pounds the secretary
writes, has the same effect on the sur
plus producing state as picking it up
and setting it down 100 to 800 miles
farther from the market. Agriculture
is depressed until the rates are lower
ed or until population and industry
shift to meet this new condition"
Heavy Consuming Population
With the heavy consuming popula
ton of the country massed near the
eastern coast long distances from the
producing areas, Mr.. Wallace says
substantial advances in the transpor
tation costs have the effect of i'm
posing a differential against American
producers in favor of their competi
Tors in foreign lands, particularly
those TO the south of this country, who
have the advantage of cheap water
transportation.
The agriculture secretary thinks
that when the country finally emerges
from the present condition it will FIND
itself at the beginning of a new agri
cultural era, pointing to the large in
crease in the country's population and
the fact that most of the easily cul
tivated land has been taken up. he
said the time is not far distant when
home needs will require practically al
that American farms produce in the
average years.
This means" he adds, "a more in
tensive agriculture, with larger pro
duction per acre and lessened cost, i
we are to meet foreign competition
and still maintain our standard of liv
ing"
To Strengthen Work.
The department is planning to NEE
these new conditions. Mr.. Wallace con
inues. by strengthening certain
phases of its work, more especial.
the scientific research, the applica
tions OF the result of research to farm
practice, more extended studies o
marketing farm crops with view Il
reducing costs. investigation of botl
production and consumption at hom
and abroad for the purpose of bette
adjusting American production to MAJ
ket needs, and studies looking towar
making available to the farmer thes
devices of modern business which pre-
vide needed credit on easy terms ant
which may help to distribute produC
ton risks more equitably.
The amounts asked for this work il
the coming fiscal year have been re
duced to the minimum the secretar
says, adding that in the future the az
prcpriat.0ns should be increased JUS
as rapidly as needed.
In this conne ction, Mr.. Wallac
draws dILbullDn 10 lLt duN l0dDlliLN Y
congress granting permission for tn
combining of the Bureaus OF Market
and Crop Estimates and the office G
farm management into which woul
be merged all the forces OF the depar
ment that are engaged in agriculture
economic work.
Differences National Concern.
In his discussion Of present cond
tons. Mr. Wallace declares that tn
difficulties OF the farmers are a ma
ter Of national concern and one tina
should be given attention by ever
thoughtful citizen.
we must accept the cold fact" h
declares, that agricultural productio
in adequate measure can not be col
tinued for any length of time on
basis which does not give the pr
Queer q fair price" and proceeds
show how inadequate prices to tn
farmer lessons the nations buyin
power, throwing men out of emplo
ment and creating what he calls 81
vicious circle" that it is difficult
break through.
Congress has aided in improving tn
situation, he says, by passing at ii
special session legislation OF co
structive character that will be MOI
81, Sc