The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-03-23
Farmers Assured
Aid From Harding
WHITE HOUSE MAKES AN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TWO
HOURS OVER PROBLEM.

Immediate relief for the agricultur-
al situation is regarded by the new ad-
ministration as the serious problem of
the day. AS consequence it is turn
ing virtually it's whole attention to
finding a solution, leaving other I'M
portant matters to future considera-
ton.
The Cabinet worked over the prob
lem for more than two hours Friday,
but no definite program of action was
arrived at. It was announced official
ly at the White House, however, that
some way will be found in the near fu-
ture to help the farmer back to his
feet.
Two Chief Trouble Makers.
Here are the chief trouble makers
for the farmer and live stock grower
affects the entire Southwest.
FIRST-Stagnant markets, due
to inportations of cheaper prod
ucts from foreign nations. Wool,
frozen meats, grains, particularly
wheat, cotton and vegetable oils
are being dumped into this coun-
try in excessive amounts. The
administration is looking for
way to shut these off, either by
embargo or tariff.
SECOND-High freight rates
that eat up not only all the profits
but most of the capital IN the
marketing. The administration
hopes to furnish some relief from
these rates.
While the administration has not
formulated a comprehensive program
for action, two minor steps already
have been taken which indicate it's
friendly attitude toward the farmer.
They are:
FIRST - The Interstate Com
merce Commission has suspended
for two months the increased
rates on cattle from the ranges to
feeding grounds. The suspension
affects the entire Southwest.
SECOND-The War department
has stopped all sales of its stores +.
of wool and intends to withhold
them from the market FOR the
present. Secretary Week: indi-
Gated that this was done to help
the wool growers rather than to
hold back the government wool
for better price.
It is not improbable the admins
tration, through the Federal Reserve
bank system will move to loosen up
agricultural credits. This was sought
repeatedly in the last months of the
Wilson administration but refused.
Information supplied to the Presi-
dent shows that the consumers are
getting no benefit in lower prices
from the rush of foreign agricultural
products to this country. The only
important result is that the American
farmers market has been ruined.
Decreased Production Feared.
The administration favors the adop-
tion of policy at once that will pre-
serve our own source Of supply. It
is feared at the White House that
failure to help the farmer out of the
rut now may result in such decreased
production that in the future we may
have to depend on imports to meet the
country's needs.
The President, it is understood,
considers the, agricultural problem
one, so far as legislation is concern
ed, that must be disposed of by Con-
gress Immediately. This is taken to
mean that he does not agree with
Western members of the House who
think permanent tariff legislation
: should precede tax revision. He
seems to want to segregate the farm
problem and dispose of it at once in
stead of dragging it along for months
ee tariff tariff Legislation will require.
While emergency tariff legislation
was discussed at the Cabinet meeting
as one means of helping the farmer
the administration is said to be op-
posed to trying to pass another bill
such as failed at the last session.
The embargo, it is being predicted,
will be employed to shut off foreign
products that are hurting the farmer.
Senator Smoot of Utah has proposed
that Congress pass law putting an
embargo on wool in peace times. It
is suggested now that this measure
be broadened to include frozen meats
and two Or three other commodities in
which the farmers are vitally interest
i May Use War Power.
THE President has authority under
his war powers to lay an embargo.
He is known to be reluctant to exer-
else war powers in times of peace,
hI1t II iS said that ho roau do tbic ~