Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-31
PRESIDENT ACTS TO
RUSH FINANCIAL
AID FOR FARMERS
NATIONS GRIEF EXECUTIVE ASKS
FARLEY TO END PRICE SLUMP
NORMALLY IMPERATIVE IN ALL
LINES FOR AMERICAS PROS.
PERITY, HE SAYS.

Washington, Dee. 81. - President
Harding today asked Secretary OF Ag
reculture Wallace to call national
conference at Washington TO suggest
practical ways of Improvement for
the severe agricultural depression
which exists throughout the land"
Prompt action was taken at the De.
partment of Agriculture in response to
the request, Geographic invitations
being dispatched Immediately to a
number of organizations and individ.
uals whose attendance is desired.
Secretary Wallace tonight said that
the date of the conference had not yet
been fixed nor complete invitation
list made up.
Ii is expected. however, the confer.
ence will be held within a month. and
that in addition to farmers and their
organizations, industries associated,
directly and indirectly with agricul.
ture. will be called in.
mo one will pretend present con.
ditions could have been avoided"
President Harding said in his letter.
But none of us is willing to agree
there ought not to be some construc.
tive steps taken to remedy the severe
hardships under which so important
a portion of our productive citizenship
is struggling. | am convinced a con-
ference may be made a helpful agency
in suggesting practical ways If i'm
provement, particularly il brought in
TO coordination with the helpful in
vestigation which has been begun by
a congressional commission committed
to a related work"
The president further suggested
that the conference might divide its
work into two sections, one TOR con-
sderation of our present day difficult
ties. which though temporary, are
serious and need effective attention"
while the second could deal with
survey of the future in an effort to
determine upon general policies"
The letter added:
1T seems reasonably certain that as
the world comes out of the present
period of disorganization, this country
may find itself confronting new con-
dition which may very directly in
fuence both our agricultural and in.
dustrial life We should anticipate
such changes and endeavor to prepare
for them.
at is unthinkable that with our
vast areas, our unparalleled endow-
ment of agricultural resources, our
fertility of soil, our vast home mar
ket and the great ability and resource
fulness of our farmers. we should ac-
cept the status of a distinctly indus
trial nation. Our destiny seems to
require we should be a well rounded
nation with high development of
both industry and agriculture, sup
porting one another and prospecting to-
gether. 1t must be, and feel sure it
is, the national wish and purpose to
maintain our agriculture at the high
est possible efficiency.
ut is unquestioned that confer.
ence will bring us to clearer under
standing of the problem before us. !
would like you to bring into the con-
ference not only the ablest epresen-
tative of agricultural production which
shall represent our great country in
the broadcast possible way, but think
much good would come if you will in
clude in the conference those engaged
in industry most intimately associated
with agriculture.
1T will clarity our views il we may
have present representatives of the
more important interests which are
closely related and dependent on agri-
culture. | trust these representatives
will be invited, ! must leave the
makeup of the conference to your
more intimate knowledge of those who
may confer most helpfully, but will
De glad if you will Immediately issue
invitations so that both the country
and the government may have the
benefit of the earliest possible sug,
gestions which will come from such
meeting"
Il am in complete accord with the
presidents conception of the matters
the conference should consider" Sec.
rotary Wallace announced, "and the
character Of the representation, and
shall try to carry out his wishes in
detail"