Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-22
RELIEF MEASURES
FOR FARMERS ARE
STUDIED by HARDING
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(CnnVriQEf 1921

WASHINGTON, March 19.-Presi-
dent Harding and his cabinet have
determined after long discussion
of the agricultural situation through
out the country to study specifically
these methods of relief:
First-The use Of war powers of
the executive to embargo importa-
lions of wool, meats, cotton and 9TH
er products which are coming into
the United States in such quantities
at present as to keep prices from
rising to the pre-war normals, below
which they have gone in recent
months
Second-The more extensive use
Of the war finance corporation to fl
nance farming industries. Confer
ences are planned between Secre-
taries Hoover and Wallace, OF the
commerce and agricultural depart
ments, and Eugene Meyer, of the war
finance corporation at which policy
of finance will be formulated and
laid before President Harding for ap-
prevail.
Third-The enactment of emer-
gency tariff Legislation later to re-
place the embargoes because the
president is reluctant to use war
powers any longer than necessary
ard tariff wall is considered much
more scientific than an embargo in
controlling the influx of foreign COM
mOdltieS.
From present indications, the en-
& noe n
until the tax bill has been considered
by congress and that body is ready
to tackle tariff legislation. Con-
vincing arguments have been made
to Mr.. Harding which, for the mo-
ment, make it look as II ne Woulu
favor the enactment of the Fordney
emergency tariff law in exactly the
same form as it was passed by con-
gress last session only to receive
Wilson veto. Those who favor such
a course say that general tariff
bill must be indefinitely postponed
until after tax laws are made, ana
further data is available as to the
cost of production around the world.
1t is recognized that this is pc
Rod of reimbursement and that tariff
law passed now may have to be re-
vised within a year owing to eco
nomic factors over which this coun-
try has no control
out in the events of the last two
days is that agric has forced
its way to the front, and that the
Harding administration which pledged
itself to help the farmer is trying
to make good that pledge; Henry
for years the editor of an agricul-
tural journal of wide influence
among the farmers, is in favor of an
Aemergenoyr tariff law such as was
proposed at the last session of con-
gress and is behind a great many
other things of vital need to the
farmer. He was an influential ad-
wiser in the last campaign, and 1t
looks as if he will be the guiding
hand in the Harding agricultural
policy.
Wrapped up IN the whole situa-
The Harding administration cannot
put an embargo on foreign goods
and expect that alone to relieve the
farmer, for markets abroad must be
found. To ship from interior points
to the seaboard at the present scale
tive. While the products themselves
have come back to levels below the
1914 prices. the freight rates remain
the same. The state of Iowa, for
example, might as we'll be 800 miles
farther west so far as freight rates
today are concerned.
To lower the freight rates, the
railroads say they must bring about
wage reductions. They are trying
to bring that about now. The Har-
ding administration will resort to
emergency measures like the en-
barge or temporary tariff bills. but
the drive against high freight rates
is coming, too. The purchasing pow
er of the farmer has diminished. The
eastern manufacturers fear retalia-
tions if America begins the embargo
process and interferes with the only
opportunity foreign peoples have of
marketing their goods. The certain
ty of a great struggle between the
interests of the west and south and
opposed to the east is no longer de-
MED in official quarters. For the
moment the farmer has the upper
hand, and measures for his relief are
in the make.