The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-12-12
DISCUSSING FARMERS PLIGHT,
SEC. WALLACE TELLS PRESIDENT
THAT EW0RST SEEMS0VER
Farmers Troubles Today Are
Due to Worldwide Condi-
tions Brought on BY War
FREIGHT RATES TO BLAME

and frankly discussing the present
plight Of the American farmer, Secre.
tary Wallace tells the President in
his first annual report today thai
there seems to be good reasons for
believing that the worst is over ant
that we may reasonably hope for
gradual improvement from now on
He adds that "a clear recognition 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
conditions and the inevitable result of
the world war; the Secretary OF Agri-
culture says, adding that it is not
to be expected that by some "mirac-
ulous transformation" the period OF
adversely may be turned over night
into period of prosperity.
High freight rates, big crops pro-
duced in the face of high costs, un-
employment in other industries in
the country with attendant lessen
ing in buying Of foodstuffs, and the
lack of foreign markets for the farm
surplus are given by the Secretary as
the more immediate causes for pres
ent conditions in agriculture. He lays
particular stress upon the lack of for
eign markets and high freight rates
Terrible Indictment
ut is terribleS indictment of mod
ern civilizations" he asserts, that
with such abundance here there are
millions of people overseas suffering
fer the bare necessities and other mil
lions starving to death. And surely
we are sadly lacking in our under
standing of econ6mic laws or in our
adjustment to them when the produc-
tion OF bounteous crops grown by the
hard labor Of 100000 farmers and
farm workers and their families is
permitted to play such large part
in paralyZing our industries and bus
mess at home"
Large advances in freight rates,
while bearable in time Of high prices,
Mr.. Wallace says, If continued are
bound to involve a remaking Of the
American. agricultural map. ,,.4s.y
1.-THE simple process of marking up
the transportation cost few cents a
hundred pounds" the Secretary
writes, "has the same effect on the
surplus producing state as picking 1t
up and setting it down 100 to 300
miles farther from the market. Agrl-
culture is depressed until the rates
are lowered or until population and
industry shift to meet this new con-
: dition." ....
With the heavy consuming popula-
ton OF the country massed near the
eastern coast long distances from the
producing areas, Mr. Wallace says,
substantial advance in the transporter
tion costs have the effect OF imposing
a differential against American pro-
ducers in favor of their competitors
in foreign lands, particularly those to
the south of this country, who have
the advantage of cheap water trans
portation.
The agricultural secretary thinks
that when the country finally emerg-
es from the present condition it will
find itself at the beginning of a new
agricultural era. Pointing to the large
increase in the country's population
and the fact that most OF the easily
cultivated lands has been taken up,
he says the time is not far distant
when home needs will require prac-
tically all that American farms pro-
duce in the average years. r
"This means" he adds, "a more in
tensiye agriculture, with larger pro-
duction per acre and lessened cost,
il we are to meet foreign competition
and still maintain our standard OF
living" ..
To Meet Conditions.
The department is planning to
meet these new conditions, Mr.. Wal
lace continues, by strengthening cer-
tain phases of its work, more espe-
cially the scientific research, the ap-
pliGation of the result of research to
farm practice, more extended studies
of marketing farm crops with view
to reducing costs, Investigation OF
both production and consumption at
home and abroad for the purpose OF
better adjusting American production
to market needs, and studies looking
toward making available to the farm
er those services of modern business
which provide needed credit on easy
terms and which may help to DIS
tribute production risks more eqult-
ably. :.
The amounts asked for this work in
the coming fiscal year have been re
duced to the minimum" the Secretary
says, adding that in the future the
appropriations should be increased
Just as rapidly as needed.
In this connection, Mr. Wallace
draws attention to the advisablllty OF
Congress granting permission FOR the
combining CT the Bureaus OF Markets
and Crop Estimates and the Office OF
Farm Management into which would
be merged all the forces Of the de-
partment that are engaged in agrl-
cultural economic work.
National Concern
In his discussion of present condi
tions, Mr.. Wallace declares that the
difficulties Of the farmers are a mat
ter of national concern and one tina
should be given attention by ever!
thoughtful citizen.
1--WE must accept the cold fact HI
declares, that agricultural produc
ton in adequate measure can not b.
continued for any length of time OF
q basis which does not give the pro
ducer fair price, and proceeds t
show how inadequate prices to TIL
farmer lessons the nations buyln
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