The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-12-08

all his chores and being prepared to
enjoy an evening of leisure in The
bosom of his family, will do well to
put on his slippers, draw up a COM !
Portable chair to the sttting-room table, .
unfold his paper and turn to the presi-
dents message. This message is now
being read around the world, in the
languages of all peoples having news
papers and telegraphic and wireless
facilities
The eyes OF the world are turned to- !
ward Washington. The ears of the
world are straining to catch the notes /
of amity and goodwill which are 60
ing out from the great conference
there assembled. And further, Presi- /
dent HaTding's message TO congress /
interests the thinkers in every nation, |
insofar as it deals with world prob
lens and our relations with other ma
tiOns. in these momentOus days.
If this isn't your evening to read the
message, lay it aside for 3 more fav
Orable hour-but read it, through and
through. It is filled with meat !
American Agriculture
AS was anticipated the president de-
! votes a liberal portion of his message
| to agricultural problems and the needs
| of those who are closest to the soil.
| He begins by stating that.
! Something more than tariff protec-
| tion is required by American agricul-
! ture. To the farm has come the earl
! ier and the heavier burdens of read
! justment. There is actual depression
!
! ricultural prosperity is absolutely es-
senual to the general prosperity of the
| country.
| Congress has sought very earnestly
to provide relief. 1t has promptly Civ
en- such temporary relief as has been
possible, but the call is insistent for
the permanent solution 1t is inevi-
table that large crops lower the prices
and short crops advance them. No
legislation can cure that fundamental
law. But there must be some eco
nomiC solution for the excessive varia-
ton in returns for agricultural pro-
duction,'
Faulty Distribution.
at is rather shocking to be told, and
to have the statement strongly SUP
ported, that 100000 bales of cotton
. raised on American plantations in i
. given year, will actually be worth
more to the producers than 1900 00o
bales would have been. Equally shock
ing is the statement that 100000 0Q0
bushels of wheat, raised by the Ameri,
can farmers, would bring them more
} money than 100000 900 bushels. Yet
/ these are not exaggerated statements
+ In a world where there are tens OF
= millions who need food and clothing
( which they cannot get such a COndi-
} ion is sure to indict the social sys
TEN which makes it possible"
/. A Few More High Lights.
t In the presidents view: In the
: main the remedy lies in distribution
and marketing Every proper en-
, couragement should be given to the
f cooperative marketing programs
There is the appeal for this eX
r pertinent Why not try it."
The base of the pyramid of civili-
. cation, which rests upon the soil, is
, shrinking through the drift of popu-
: lation from farm to city. For gen
Grafton we have been expressing more
or less concern about this tendency.
. But read the entire message; 1t should
+ be time we'll spent.
: Bureau Tax Recommendations
y American Farm Bureau is mailing out
an interesting letter which covers the
Y nationally important resolutions adopt
: ed at the Atlanta convention. These
touch upon the effectiveness of the de-
/ partment of agriculture; our system
+ of taxation: the need for permanent
tariff: the financing of farmers; truth
,, in-fabric legislation; public roads ana
TTan
+ AS to our national tax policy, the
! farmers take the stand that:
4 / The measure of ability to pay
: taxes for the support of the national
= government is net income, and the
n bulk of the taxes should be levied and
I collected on that basis.
> 9. The tax rate should be progress
sive: that is, the greater the income
4 the higher the rate"
> There are five of these resolutions
the last of which requests that "con
; gress submit a constitutional amend
u ment to the several states looking tC
II the prevention of the issuing of ta1
& free securities, to cure this defect ir
cur taxing system"
L Financial Credits
Z With relation to farm credits and co
! operative marketing the resolutions
n adopted are concise and explicit, a:
L BELTS the occasion. The single para
It graph in relation to cooperative mar
d keting, follows:
e we insist upon the early enactmen
of laws clearly defining the right o
d farmers to market their products co
n operatively.'
'. With relation to what the farm bu
n reau define as the financial hell
farmers are asking, the resolution!
Of say:
Id (Al Proper credit for farmers OF
le IL and "a months paper, instead o
1t the short term credit now available
e, OBJ The proper authorization 70
RS commodity financing, based upol
L warehouse receipts.
ar (C) Live stock financing, base,
upon proper pledge.
nti Cd Personal rural credits, secures
h. by proper insurance features, and til
he creating of machinery that will ALLOW
Id cooperative societies to get none,
If direct.
v (E That the Federal Reserve boar
direct its policies so that primary prC