The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-03-24
FARMERS FACE
CRAVE DANGER
President and Cabinet Alarmed
at Situation of AgriCuI-
turaI interests.
LONG CONFERENCE is HELD
Meeting of Chief Executive and His
Official Family Lasts More Than
TWO Hours-Seeretary Wal
lace Leads Discussion.

Washington, March 2l.-American
agriculture is facing its grayest danger
from the flood Of foreign importatiohs
pouring in practically free of duty.
This was the unanimous opinion OF
President Harding and his cabinet fol-
lowing their longest conference since
the new administration took office.
The meeting of the President and
his official family lasted more thah
two hours most of the discussions re-
lating directly to proposed means Tor
preventing what was declared to De
the impending agricultural crisis
Unless all indications fail, the Pres
ident, in his first message TO congress-
will insist that legislation TO relieve
the situation be given precedence
over all other business.
The President stated that he was
'loath TO resOr" to war powers con
ferred upon him by the trading with
the enemy act, which would enable
him to place an embargo on agrlcul-
tural imports. This law has not been
repealed. Rather, he will look to con
gress for the early enactment of emer-
gency tariff legislation which will save
the situation by placing heavy duties
on agricultural products.
With Secretary Of Agriculture Wal
lace leading the discussions the cab
met went extensively into the situa-
ton which discoses that:
!. Millions Of tons of wool and 9th
er products are being poured into the
country practically free of duty.
2. Foreign exporters are piIing up
huge stocks Of their goods in ware
houses here, taking advantage of
favorable exchange rates,
The President declared that this
situation, dangerous in itself, assumed
tremendous" proportions when it was
found that it actually threatened the
agricultural self SuiiiCiency' Of the
country. American farmers and live
stock raisors, unable 10 combat the
influx Of foreign importauons, ere
abandoning or cutting down their in
terests. This was found to result di-
recuy in 81 great reduction Of Ameri-
can agricultural productivity
"Therc clearly must be some i'm
mediate relief Of the agricultural sit
uation, we shall lose our tlocks and
our herds" was the way IN which one
cabinet member described the danger.
Members Of the cabinet, in their
discussion with the President found
that agricultural products and live
stock from Europe and South America
could be laid down on the Atlantic
seaboard nc prices cheaper than are
charged by farmers in the Middle
West. Despite this fact the ultimate
consumer was reaping little or no
benefit I'm the form Of reduced prices.
The element Of high transportation
charges figured largely in the cabinet
discussion, It was learned. lmporta-
tions Of frozen beef and mutton com
ing all the way from Australia and
New Zealand are being sold here IN
large quantities at much less cost
than western producers can supply,
after transportation charges have
been added.
Many sections Of the country have
been practically denuded Of herds Of
sheep ana cattle because Of this con
dltion. IL was found II was the uuan-
lmous opinion Of the President and
the cabinet chat the FIRST necessity
was the placing of heavy duties o.
agricultural and live stock imports
pending the enactment by congress Of
permanent protective tariff.
President Harding expressed regret
that the emergency tariff legislation
passed at the last session. but vetoed
by President Wilson, was not ia ef-
feet at this time. II Is strongly In
dlcated the President will insist that
similar legislation viii occupy the full
attention Of the new congress, even
10 the extent Of holding up tax and
revenue revision.
MT. lldIllNE l'INNfi TO- NiIii'Nf NV
legislative program agreed upon by
the Republican members Of the sen
ate finance committee and house ways
and means committee early this week,
because fl did not provide for emcr-
rcncy tariff legislation TO protect the
farmers.
The senators and representatives
were opposed 20 no emergency thrift
bin. except am anu-dumpng measure
with an amendment 10 the cylst.ap
tariff law providing for the collection
of nd valorom custom duties on tho
basis Of American valuation rather
than on the fOrri"0 valuation
Allies Troops Near Essen
Ducsscdorf March 30 The Gccu