East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-10-04
WHEN THE FARMER is CRIPPLED THE NATION
is CRIPPLED.

MOST every writer on business economic conditions
M blame the present business depression may be traced
to the fall down the buying power of agriculture IS
reasonable supposon. Many people don't know it but the
prosperity Of the country is closely bound up in the pros
perity Of the the farm In Umata county 1t sale to
say that 80 per cent of total business rests directly or
indirectly agriculture The thing will be true of other
agricultural sections in the west the SOUTH middle states and
in of the eastern states The farmer the biggest
single economic factor in the nation and when his buying power
is seriously curbed depression is inevitable.
At the present time the farmers buying crippled be-
cause he selling his products at pre- war prices yet must pay
work satisfactorily and no argument is needed to prove the
point - ~
AS to why these conditions exist opinions differ but the
view of and they have considerable logic on their SIDE
that the after attitude of the American people has had
much to do with plight AT time when his brother nations
of the world needed help and leadership Uncle Sam drew
cloak of isolation about him and told the other nations to Jump
in the creek We actually hurt their prospects of revival when
we should have helped them Should banker or merchant
do such thing his customers and debtors he would harm his
own business The businessman prosper only as his custom
prosper This country whole occupies the role OF bus-
and the countries of the world customers They
buy surplus products and sell us their surplus goods BY re-
usng ray the treaty Versailles and to enter the League
Nations injured their credit and their buying power We
bewldered them and they still beWdered They have
come to look on Uncle Sam as Jeky and Hyde They don't
know whether to trust not Even when talk avoraby
President Harding does in relation to the disarmament
ference the nations are in doubt shown by the fact that Lloyd
George the master statesman of the old world has practically
admitted he is afraid to attend the conference.
The relationship between the United States and its world
not what should be and export business su
fes accordingly The situation is made by the proposal
for tariff wall to keep out the foreign products that must be
surplus products This is time for high tariff to
restore the buying power of agriculture high tariff will
higher prices what the farmer buys but weaker
port market for his surplus wheat and other products In other
words it will give than already have of what
don't want hopeful sign is that good republicans at
Washington to be getting their eyes open this subject
and it is significant that as good politician VIII Hays says
there will be no new tariff law THIS year 1t strange thing to
say but republican leaders at Washington will play good
politics and show good sense if they will take time to study
tain sections in the democratic national platform. If they will
do that with open minds thinking not of partisan theories but
c present day facts the time will when the president
wont have to call conferences to find solution for the
poyment situation Once the buying power of agriculture
stored there wont be any unemployment any business depr
sion.