The Washington herald., 1922-01-24
URGES
AID TO FARMERS
IN ORGANIZING
Must Learn Advantages
Of Cooperation, He
Tells Conference.

President Harding. in opening
the agricultural conference, said:
Secretary Wallace and members
Of the conference:
It is an occasion of the greatest
satisfaction to me that Secretary
wallace's invitation has been so
widely and cordially accepted.
confess the firm belief that in the
public life OF people so interi-
gent as the American nation most
problems may be regarded as well
on the way to solution when they
are once reduced to their simplest
terms and generally understood.
This conference was called with
the aim to bring about such a gen.
eral understanding of the critical
situation now confronting American
agriculture.
We all understand that this con-
ference Is not a legislative body.
Its recommendations will require
to be written into the statute books
by other authorities or applied in
administration after sanction by
those who must assume RESPONSE
bility. But we do confidently an
ticipate that the considerations
here had will be helpful and illum-
mating to those Immediately re-
sponsible for the formulation of
public policy in dealing with these
problems. Therefore, il has seemed
to me, can make no more ap-
propriate observation than that
your work here will be of value
precisely as you address yourselves
to the realities, the matters of fact,
the understanding of conditions as
they are, and the proposal of
feasible and practicable methods
for dealing with those conditions.
Difficulties Arc Fundamental.
Concerning the grim reality of
the present crisis in agriculture,
there can be no difference of opin-
ion among informed people. The
dcpressions and discouragement Is
are not peculiar to agriculture, and
I think it fair to say there could
have been no avoidance of great
slump from wartime eXcesses to
the hardships of readjustment. We
can have no helpful understanding
by assuming that agriculture suf-
fers alone, but we may fairly rec
ognize the fundamental difficulties
which accentuate the agricultural
discouragements and menace the
healthful life of this basic and abb
solutely necessary industry.
Peculiar circumstances placed our
allies in Europe. as Well as our
own country, in a position OF pecu-
liar and unprecedented dependence
on the American farmer. With his
labor supply limited and in condi-
tions which made producing costs
high beyond all precedent, the
farmer rose to the emergency. He
did everything that was asked of
him and more than most people
believed it was possible for him to
do. Now, in his hour of disaster,
consequent on the reaction from
the feverish conditions of war, he
comes to US asking that he be given
support and assistance which shall
'"s'i'-' our appreciation of his
service.
Whole Country Concerned.
The administration has been
keenly alive to the situation, and
has given encouragement and sup
pOIl " WDlCE
lieved calculated to ameliorate the
condition of agriculture. In the
effort to finance crop movements,
to expand foreign markets, to ex-
pand credits at home and abroad.
much has been accomplished These
have been, 1t is true. largely in the
nature of emergency measures. SO
long as the emergency continues It
must be dealt with as such. but at
the same time there is every reason
for us to consider those permanent
notifications of policy which may
make relief permanent, may secure
agriculture so far as possible
against the danger that such condi-
tions will arise again. and place IL
as an industry in the firmest and
most assured position for the future.
You men are thoroughly familiar
with the distressing details of pres-
ent conditions In the agricultural
The whole country has
an acute concern with the cor d.
Continued on Pd0e Ttpo