The Owosso times., 1921-05-06
The following articles are from the
Shiawsssee County Farm Bureau News:
EXTRACTS FROM SECRETARY
WALLACE'S ADDRESS
Given Before Grain Marketing
Committee April 6.


This Nation can not afford to per-
nit the breaking down of its own ag-
riculture, even if for time we can
buy food and other farm products
cheaper from some one else.
We can not under any circum--
stances afford to permit the present
discouraging conditions to continue
and result in greatly decreased pro-
duction because that decreased pro-
duction may mean exorbitantly high
prices within few years.
We have not considered as we must
the heavy additional burden imposed
upon the producers by the increased
freight rates and the large increase
in other marketing charges. These
increased rates are a differential i'm
posed upon our own producers and
to the benefit of our foreign competi-
tors.
The more critical the situation the
greater the need for keeping level
head. This is no time to be ruled by
preiudices. This is no time for shall
low thinking. We are in competi-
ton with the farmers OF the worio.
We have a supply of farm products
far in excess of the present demand.
Our troubles are in a large part due
to world conditions which we cannot
control but to which we must adjust
ourselves as best we may. 1t is not
time, therefore, to try quack notions,
which leave the patient worse at the
end than when he began to use them;
For the good of both producer ana
consumer hope you will be able now
to perfect this marketing plan and
put it into action. That will put you
in the way of constructive study OF
our grain marketing system. AS
time goes on your enlarged knoWi-
edge from coming at close grips with
the problem should enable you and
others who have an active part in TINS
business of marketing to work out
plans which will enable you to market
your crops more cheaply, more uni
formly through the year, and to Sc
cure for them fairer prices. You can
not hope to do this unless there Is
whole cooperation among
Yourselves. No doubt during the
period of construction there have
been many conflicting opinions. NO
doubt there have been many heated
discussions. Perhaps there may have
been violent disagreements. All that
is quite to be expected in the devel-
opment of such an enterprise. Out
of the clash of minds comes reason
and mature judgment, but when the
time for action comes all dlfferences
should be forgotten. Personal opin-
ions should be yielded freely to the
deliberate mind of the majority. Per
sonal ambition should be put aside,
and the full power of every individ-
ual should be put into the effort
which is for the good of all.
Two years ago spoke very briefly
to a similar gathering in this room,
and at that time l tried to warn them
of the conditions which now have
come upon us. I urged them to or
ganize at once and employ we'll
trained specialists who could watch
economic and industrial changes
which were sure to come, and inter
pret them for the benefit of our pro-
ducing interests.
This Nation can not hope to main
tain its agriculture on sound basis
unless our farmers give attention tc
the business end of farming. As
large producers they have been the
best in the world. AS statesmen the!
have been very, very poor. Wher
prices have been good they have beer
happy and have taken little though
of the morrow. When prices have
been unreasonably low they hav.
complained bitterly and have strucl
out blindly, vainly seeking relief II
ways that were utterly hopeless. Con
structive action in large way ha
been entirely lacking.
We have come to time in ou
national life when our agricultur
must be put on a sound economi
basis. This is imperative if produc
ton is to be maintained and our pee
pie are to be fed at reasonable cost:
1t is a matter of pressing concern t
both producer and consumer. 1t !!
therefore, time for the farmer t
abandon the negative and take tn
affirmative. 1t is time to discor
ltinue criticism and take up construt
tive effort. 1t is time to call
men who are qualified to study tn
problem in its larger aspects an
map out program which can be TO
lowed with benefit to all the peopl
and which will enable us to maintal
this as self-sustaining Nation, agr
culturally, industrially, and politica
lly, through the ages yet to come.
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