Evening star., 1922-01-01

SECRETARY WALLACE.
on the farms, as well as in the cities
who are forehanded, who have a sur
plus laid by. They have responded
to the general psychological effect of
falling prices and have avoided spend
ing. With reasonable assurance that
the worst is over, these people will
set their dollars at work again, both
in buying things they would like to
have and in extending their agricul-
tural and business enterprises"
y 4 = 4
Specifically, what is the department
doing to help bring business revival
and general prosperity? There are
so many ramifications it is practically
impossible to give more than a
sketchy outline. A major activity is
to produce new crops and seeds, 80
that this country may give the world
the things it needs with least ex-
penditure Of effort. Then there are
activities for finding foreign markets
federal department is looking into
the foreign markets all the time. with
q force of people overseas searching
out places to sell wheat and corn and
cotton and meats. Reports are COM
ing In from these overseas agents
daily. and other agents of the depart
ment are thus able to furnish the
companies that have these commodi-
ties for sale reliable information re-
garding the foreign demand and the
economic conditions surrounding that
market. Statistical reports on pro-
duction and probable production of
piled. This is being done largely
through getting figures on the acre
age and moisture conditions.
There is the regular work assigned
to the department by Congress. which
is not being neglected and which is
doing it's bit toward bringing back
prosperity. For example, Congress
very recently appropriated s75.o00.000.
to be matched by at least as much by
the states. to- be used for good roads
development. with view also to its
that this federal money works down
into the counties it is frequently
trebled and even auadrupled.
i y !: x
All Of the work being fathered by
the department here in Washington
is being spread out into the thou
sands of communities throughout the
country by county extension agents.
Of whom there are more than 5000,
overlooked that there is an entire CO.
operative education system set up by
the department for getting to the
farmer the authoritative and tested
information that will be Of value to
him in getting best yields and to
meet market requirements a, the least
expenditure Of labor and money.
In addition to these direct federal
helps to the farmer. there are also
colleges Of agriculture in every state
doing the same kind OF educative
work. In their smaller territories
they are doing exactly what the fed
eral department Is doing with a ma
tional policy. scope and program.
The reorganization being worked
ou& by Secretary Wallace includes as
one important feature the heading up
of all these extension activities un-
der Assistant Secretary C. W. Pugsley,
in charge OF public contact" work.
The big idea is to bring the scientists
of the department into the closest
business man whom he can help
through a supervisor or director, who
will take the scientific facts of the
Investigator and transmit them In
practical. everyday. common-sense
business and workable form to the
farmer and business man.
This carries along the plan of re-
organization which Congress has al
ready approved in part. Last year
Congress established a director of
scientific work. or Investigations, and
ercise Of police powers. Congress is
going to be asked during this session
to establish also a director of public
relations. along the line upon which
Mr.. PIgsley is now working.
* X X y
To get the background for the
specific things the Department Of
Agriculture is doing to stimulate
business and to get and hold general
prosperity, one cannot do better than
run through eleven suggestions by
Secretary Wallace as to what ought
to be done to foster our agriculture,
not for the selfish benefit Of the
farmer, but for the benefit Of all the
people. In some cases legislative ac-
ton will be required. In others admin
istration by government and state
agencies, in still others cooperation
between the farmers themselves and
between farmers and other groups.
These suggestions are:
1. In the administration of our
credit machinery. whether by govern
ment agencies or otherwise, the effect
on agriculture must be given more
consideration than in the past.
2. Credit for productive and i'm
provement purposes must be made
available to the farmer on terms
which the seasonal character Of asri-