The Washington herald., 1921-05-07

William Allen White Says
Banks Lug Heavy.
Farm Loans.
PRICES MUST RISE
TO PAY UP DEBTS
Agrarian Disturbances
Might Find Leader
In Thompson.
~ WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.

CHICAGO. May 6-Chicago is
still on the bottom with a long wait
ahead. industrially. politically and
financially. Unemployment here is
q serious problem and Thompson
the mayor, will NOT open the soup
kitchens because soup kitchens
would hurt the fair name of Chi
cago." Private charities are bur-
dened and there Is much suffering.
Yet conditions are better than
they were In the winter. For as
spring has opened the idle men are
going out into the country and
smaller towns seeking work.
The strikes in the building trades
have caused serious hardship and
sporadic troubles in smaller indus
tries have produced an unsettled
feeling which leaves industrial con-
ditions more OF less disorganized.
But these are minor matters.
Carries Farmers Burden.
The basic trouble with Chicago is
the midwestern farmer. Chicago is
road. a farmer city And the farmer,
who has taken his losses and Is go
ing ahead with his new years work.
has taken his losses by borrowing
money and the farmers loan In one
way or another comes back to Chi
cago. The Chicago banks are carry
ing the great load of agricultural
Erist that made the farmer blue
IA ThnV are
carrying it safely. without grumb-
ling. but IL is after all mighty
burden and is a dangerous handi-
cap to the restoration of confidence
and the return to normalcy. For the
burden can be lightened only by
good crops and better prices than
now prevail.
Before Chicago as an industrial
center can move. Chicago as a pill
lar Of an agricultural credit must
t,e strengthened And the weight
tFosn the pillar will be reduced only
Ehen some Of the tremendous debts
OF the farmer are reduced.
Must Get Better Prices.
Now these debts may be reduced
only by giving the farmer better
prices. Tne farmer will default his
interest next autumn il present
prices prevail. even with good crops.
Eut. given bad crops at the present
low prices, Chicago will need help
to support her load. Wheat, cattle
and cotton must bring more money
on the farm before industry in Chi-
caEo can hope to get back TO the
1919 pace
II crops and prices go wrong next
year they will appear in politics,
and Chicago will be center of an
agrarian revolt. The plate always
tends to break on the same old
crack. And the country tributary
to Chicago is the home of revolt.
The Dakotas, Kansas. Iowa,
Texas. Arkansas. and Colorado
stand in American politics as SYM
hoIs of political treuble. The lead
ers in politics from those States
have been hrebrands. And the reason
for the insurgency OF these West
crn states has not been racial. nor
climatic. but economic. Fundamen-
tally II has been wheat and cotton
and corn. The thing which is halt
ing prosperity in Chicago today is
the thing which may change the
course of American history next
year. the discontented and battling
farmer.
Realize Margin Is Thin.
Men realize this in the big Chi
eaEo banks today. They know how
thin margin the Midwestern
farmer has between him and trou-
Bile. So the Chicago banker is eau
tious. He is holding on to his
cash. For. as a matter of fact he
hes the burden which the cheerful
bankers Of the smaller cities, towns
like ST. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha.
Minneapolis and Milwaukee hay.
passed up and passed on to Chi
cago. The smaller bankers are let
ting their betters and elders walk
the floor. Hence one fnds caution
in Chicago. The bankers here
know that to complicate the pres
emit delicate system with political
disturbance might produce real dis
aster.
Yet Chicago's political wisdom is
useless at home. Chicago Is har-
boring one of the most dangerous
politicians in the country.
Could Lead Revolt.
p Big Bill Thompson understands
the psychology of the middle clsss
He IL not a man but a group. In
the group is exceptional political
talent. Thompson being more or
less a case Of arrested development
does not care and does not know.
But the others know and do not
care.
4 Thompson could head such a re-
olt there in the Middle West and
raw certain elements of labor, the
piutocracy of labor for instance,
With him and join II to the agrarian
evolt and make a majority that
blight menace the style OF govern
nent in America
Thompson Is not a hrebrand and
lhe Is not of the Murat type. But
blow him power, let those about
i'm who know and do not care
Zee power surging UP from the
Middle West, from Kansas. the Da-
kotas and from the Southwest and
e would grab the power and let
Is fellow ~conspirstors take the
poll Thompson only wants the
Joys Of power-'-The tumult and the
khouting." f
ks%wheat. cotton. cattle, Thompson.
al going wrong at once may bring
serious trouble. So Chicago sits
Night and waits The worst may be
6eer. but it's s~1ong way ahead TO
= lc.syrisAt. isai.)