The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-08
The Farm and the Farmer
BY william r. sanborn

secretary, as outlined in his address,
is of importance to our entire people.
But space permits only the presenta-
ton of the high lights at this time, as
follows:
American farmers, comprising about
one-third Of the country's population,
find themselves, notwithstanding their
hard work and large production this
year, still laboring under a serious
disadvantage as compared with other
groups of workers because of the dis
tortionate relationship of prices, Sec
rotary Wallace Of the department of
agriculture told President Harding and
congress in his annual report.
There is food in superabundance, !"
Mr.. Wallace said, and this contributes
to the prosperity of business and in
dustry for time, but the inadequate
return which the farmer is receiving,
and has for three years, inevitably
must result in readjustments in the
number Of people on the farms and in
the cities, which will not be for the
continuing good of the nation
Wants Larger Loans
The secretary renewed his recon-
mendation for rural credits legislation
asserting that action should be taken
promptly to increase the maximum
which a farm loan bank may loan to
an individual from $4,000 to s25, 900.
He advocated also readjustment of
the term loans may run, saying a sys.
tenn should be established by which
the farmer could borrow for periods OF
from six months to three years.
| Another problem requiring immedi
ate attention, the secretary said, was
'the necessity of working out and ap
plying a comprehensive plan of pro
tectfng, regrowing and utilizing oul
| forests"
Cause of Poor Prices
Among the causes which contribute
to the normal relationship of farm
prices to the prices of other things
Secretary Wallace mentioned these
Overproduction of many farm crops
continued high freight rates; mainte
nance of industrial wages at near war
time levels; economic depression anC
deprecated currency in European
countries; interference with the eff
cient functioning of necessary indus
tries, and unreasonably high costs o
distribution of some farm products
''It is fair to say that in general tn,
farmers of the United States are in
better position financially now thar
they were year or eighteen months
ago." Mr.. Wallace declared Farm
products are selling at considerabl.
1 higher prices, and it is estimated tn,
aggregate value of the crops in tn,
country this year is about S1,250,000
900 more than last year"
Why Wheat Declined
When we consider that the recen
advance in wheat was followed by tn
heaviest shipments of the year, or 10
10000 bushels in single week, wit
an increase of 5000, 600 bushels afloa
at sea from world ports, it is it'll
wonder that the upward trend of price
was checked. This overload of whea
was not all handled in the Unite'
States and Canada, but was billed t
consuming markets from all expor
countries, the bulk of it being Amer
lean and Canadian grain, and much o
this being consigned to our own pr
mary markets.
But regardless of the temporary sci
back the best authorities on the whea
situation of the world are in favor o
higher prices for wheat, based on tn
worlds crops and needs before tn
next harvest will become available 70
bread
. France has now adopted law con
polling an admixture of l percent c
rice flour in all wheat flours made i
France or imported and baked b
French bakers. A shortage of whea