Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-15

facilities. In fact, all expenses were
comparable With those OF the pre-
vicus year. yet they We're obliged to
take for this crop which was larger
crop than the year previous, come
Ave billions of dollars less. The crop
OF 1921 has bccn produced at not Il
great deal less than that of 1920. Al
though ut present. prices. they win
have to take three billion dollars less
than for tho crop OF the previous year.
on eiEht billions, OF dollars less than
they received for the 1919 crop. This
se,a.s that the purchasing power OF
the farmer has been reduced eight
billion dollars. What effect must this
have en- the business OF the country2
| BUSINESS Ia but an exchange or
trade of one article of commerce for
another article OF commerce. The
farmer trades his wheat or his corn
for n tractor or truck or other equip
rnent, and the fact that one man buys
the wheat and pays for It in dollars.
the farmer using the money to pay
for the tractor does not essentially
change the situation. VIII anyone
deny that had the farmers property
Ia tho way OF agricultural products
valued at eight billion dollars more
than they are valued. he would delay
making these trades7
| Farmers in many cases have been
obliged 10 forfeit land upon which
they have made substantial payments
l others have been obliged to make w
the difference between the actual cost
Of production and the price received
for the products of their labor out OF
their capital. Many renters have beer
obliged to move from the farm bank
rupt because OF tho losses occasioned
by the slump in prices.
i We recognize railroads 10 bo Of the
utmost Importance, and we guaran.
tee reasonable return on their capitri
and tax ourselves to meet IL. This may
he wise. if SO. why do we dismiss hell
| for agriculture as socialistic and Sub
sidy" and consider direct contribu
tions to the railroads TO be good bust
, ness.
| 1t must be recognized that tn,
sound political thought Of the Countr,
q. Is lodged with the farmer. Ho is con
servative, sound thinking and no
easily swayed. 1t is vitally importan
{ 10 the soundness of our American In
stitutions that conditions which woul,
: tend to continued unrest on the par
, of the farmer should be avoided. Ag
I ricuture is fundamental, and il fol
{ lows that we are anxious TO keep upol
; the farms contended, prosperous
citizenship, giving them an America,
standard of living which means cost o
: production plus enough to keep tn
s children i'm school.
How can matters be adjusted 80 tina
I we may again return to normal con
: ditions and prosperity 1t ia the sens
4 Of your committee that before an
sound and permanent prosperity ca
come TO agriculture a general revisio
and reconstruction of our whole econ
9 omic structure must be brought abou
n and TO that end would endorse tn
: following recommendations made b
the recent Unemployment Conference
I. All prices and wages should /
: adjusted that n normal reasonable re-
ito will be established between tn
/, incomes of farmers, laborers, MANI
/. facturers and the merchants.
III. Railroad freight rates on con
modities transported to and from III
farm must be substantially reduce
: without delay.
. III. The prices Of materials, far