The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-21
Thinks Worst
is Now Over
Secretary Wallace Discusses
Present Plight of Farmer

Washington, Dec. 14.-Freely
and frankly discussing the present
plight Of the American farmer,
Secretary Wallace tells the presi-
dent in his first annual report that
there Seems to be good reasons
for believing that the worst is over
and that we may reasonably hope
for gradual Improvement from nsw
son. He adds that ta clear recogni-
ton 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 world
wide condition and the inevitable
result of the world war, the secre-
tary OF agriculture says, adding
that it Is not to be expected that
5y, some miraculous transforma-
ton the period Of adversity may
be turned over night into period
sof prosperity
High freight rates, big crop pro-
dRce6 in the face Of high costs.
unemployment in other industries
in the country with attendant
lessening: in buying Of foodstuffs,
and the lack of foreign markets foT
tSe farm surplus are given by the
secretary as the more immediate
causes for present conditions in
sagricalfure. He lays particular
stress upon the lack of foreign mar
kets and high freight rates
st is, a terrible Indictment Of
modern Civilization he asserts,
ssthab. with such abundance here
there are millions of people over
seas suffering for the barsnecessi-
ties and other millions starving to
death And surely we are sadly
licking in.S our understanding Of
economic laws or in our adjust
raens to them when the production
ef boHnteous crops grown by the
bard labor of 13,G60.e9e farmers
and farm workers. and their fanai-
lies is permitted to play such a large
rart IN paralyzi1sg our industries
ana business at home. y
Large advances in freight rates,
While. bearable in time Of high
lr;;ces, Mr.. Wallace says, if con-
tinued are bound to involve a re-
raaking of the American asri-
cultural map.
sThe simple process of marking
up the Transportation cost q few
cents a hundred pounds the secre-
ttary writes. .has the same effect on
the surplus producing state as
picking it up and setting 1t down 100
to 500 miles farther from the mar
ket,s Agriculture is depressed un-
til the rates are lowered Or until
population and industry shift to
meet this new condition
with the heaay consuming popu-
iation OF the country massed near
the eastern coast long distances
from the producing areas, Mr.. Wal
lace says, substantial advances in
the transportation costs have the
effect of imposing a differential
against American producers in
favor Of their competitors in foreign
lands. particularly those to the
South of this country, VINO have the
advantage Of cheap water trans
pertation.
The agriculture secretary thinks
that when the country ererges
from the present condition it will
ind itself at the beginning Of a new
agrieultural era. Pointing to the
farge increase in the country's pop
ulation and the fact that most Of
the easily cultivated land has been
taken up, he said the time is not far
distant when home needs will re-
quire practically all that Ameri-
can farms produce in the average
year.
This means" he adds, "a more
intensive agriculture with larger
production per. acre and lessened
cost, il we are to meet foreisn COM
petition and still maintain our
standard OF living
Sonre women won't be happy in