The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-21
DEANOUTLINESs
AGRICULTURAL
CONFERENCES
Wide Publicity Given to the
Crave Condition Confront.
ing the American
Farmer.
UNABLE TO BORROW
DIR. Mumford Declares That
Situation Is Most Serious
in History of the
Country.

F. B. Mumford, dean Of the College o.
Agriculture. who recently returned from
Washington, where he was a delegate iC
the Agricultural Conference. outlined tt
students and faculty the accomplish
menis Of the conference Yesterday a.
follows: Ii gave wide publicity TO the
economic condition on the farmer, which
is described as the mos, serious in The
history Of the country; il showed the
tremendous political power which lies
within the grasp Of organized agricul-
fure-probably no other body holds 50
strong a political power; il gave wide
publicity to the disparity existing be-
tween the price of agricultural products
and other raw products; the conference
gave the present administration and
Congress an agricultural program.
Dean Mumford came nome from the
conference much depressed regarding
the situation Of the farmer Reports Of
various committees showed that the sit
nation was not merely a bugbear but
was extremely serious. The question Of
agricultural credit is one Of the most vi.
tai problems TO be solved. Even in
Iowa. he said, "a state that is known
Tor the prosperity of lis farmers. the
morgsged Indebtedness has increased
TO an alarming extent. Farmers have
reached to point where they can no long
er meet the payment Of taxes. And in
their distress they are asking that the
county agents be Withdrawn in order to
save taxes
FARMERS CANNOT BORROW
"ln the wheat and cotton sections Of
the country the situation is even more |
serious. Farmers can not borrow enough |
money to buy seed for a new crop. The
slump in the price of land has resulted
in loss Of credit. To make matters
worse the banks Of the South are not
able to obtain enough ready money to
make the needed loans.
To relieve the situation. the South
ern delegates demanded a guarantee Of
price for five years that the government
fix the price of cotton. Again and again
the matter was brought up for consider
alton but no action was taken
The matter Of agricultural credit held
the greatest interest Of the convention
According TO Dean Mumford, it was
clearly demonstrated that the present
system does not provide the kind Of cred. ,
Il by the farmers. The present system
is one Of quick turnover; what the farm ,
er needs is long term credit. S. b. Hous-
ton. chairman of the committee on agri-
cultural credit presented plan for
granting special credit to the farmer
which had been worked out by a COM
miitee Of well known bankers.
Another matter of wide interest was
that Of cooperative marketing. This
plan Of aiding the farmer was strongly
urged by President Harding who advo-
Gated a better organization OF agricuI-
tural interests and better laws. Presi-
dent Harding recently signed the Cap
bill which legalized the CO.
operative organizations. c. Harold Pow. /
ell, the California cooperative expert,
was the chairman Of the committee on
cooperative marketing.
ATTEMPT TO COOPERATE FAILS
An attempt to connect labor and the
iarmer failed dismally. according to
Dean Mumford. Samuel Compers was
! delegate to the conference but his in
iuence was negligible. He presented
for the repeal Of the Adamson
-aw, but i, was voted down. There was :.
! standing rule that only delegates had !.
he privilege Of speaking. But Viii :.
lam Jennings Bryan was there" con-
inued Dean Mumford," and he took the ,
ioor and started speaking before the =
hartman could refuse the privilege. He
'eld the house spellbound for about 6f- -.
cen minutes. The text of his speech \
vas, Go to it, you have Congress
cared"
The committees were selected by the Of
ecretary Of Agriculture and show a
reat wisdom Of selection. The radical r
lements were scattered and many col. fr
,ge graduates and men representing COL
,ges were placed on important commit br
'es. The reports were conservative and b
'ok 10 long time national policy. The pe
lain work was done in the committees.
heir work embraced agriculture and he
rice relation, agricultural credit and in
'surance. transportation. foreign compe. ho
on and demand; costs. prices and re-
ijustments. crop and market statistics, gu
arketing Of farm products. agricultural lin
search and education. national land at
'licy, national forest policy. farming
'pulation. and coordination Of state SD
I'd federal legislation" hi.
fudent Senate Elects Its Leaders.
Andrew McAlester was elected presi- ole
mt Of the Student Senate Of the Uni. n
rsiiy for 1929 at a meeting of the 10
nate held a, the Y. NJ. C.. A. SUNDAY ,