The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-05
INADEQUATE RETURNS FOR THE
FARMERS CAUSE Of MOVEMENT
FROM COUNTRY To THE CITIES

cuuiLe as have the labo" unions. ahd
by rules and regulations anu d'SI''
pnnary measures compel ObedieNrS
20 policies adopted They can, now
ever. briuc about better Adjustment
ui production, aud especially OF mar
ketiuG,' II the needs and PURCHASING
ability OF possible customers, II theE
will perfect their organizations ana
call TO their aid men skilled IN inter
pretiug conditions which influence
supply and demand. BETTER adjust
ment Of farm production IS worth
striving for Both the farmers ana
the consuming public would be hene'
fitted through more stable production
and therefore more stable prices.
Plight Of the Farmer.
Picturlug the plight OF American
farmers Secretary Wallace said the
production records OF this year FUR
nish vivid illustration OF the Vita
ity OF American agriculture and Of
the courage and hopeIuInesS Of the
American farmer
Certainly no other industry could
have taken the losses agriculture has
taken end maintain production, ne
said. land we have no evidence 10
show that any other group Of work
ers would have taken the reductl'~
In wages in the spirit in which the
farmers have taken their reduction
Many thousands Of farmers have nOt
been able TO weather the storm, not
withscandinE their strenuous efforts
Thousands who purphaSed land dur
ing the period Of high prices have
been Obliged 10 give up the struggle,
let their land go back. lose all the
money they paid Tor il. and star
anew. Many thousands OF renters
who had substantial savings invested
in farm equipment and livestock
have zone through the same expert
enCe and have lost everything.
There are some hopeful aspects to
the situation Notwithstanding the
continued low purchasing power o:
farm products, Secretary Wallace
ppointed out
1T is fair TO say that In general the
! farmers Of the United States are In a
better position financially now than
they were a year or eighteen months
ago" he declared. Farm products
are selling considerably higher prices
and /, is estimated the aggregate
value OF the crops in the country this
year il about Sl.25O.0O0Uu0 more
; than last year. Considerable quaint
( ties OF these crops will be- fed and
the increased value will not be Who'll.
Is recovered BY the farmer, but the
bare fact that such a large increase
, in money will reach the farmers
I pockets this year is most gratifying
and reasSuring.
The advance in price Of cotton
has been most helpful throughout tho
cotton growing states. Considerably
higher prices Tor wool, lambs, and
sheep have resulted in pulling the
sheep industry ont Of the slough OF
Gespond and setting It on its feet
again. Right through the period OF
depression hogs have been selling al
> considerably higher prices relatively
than corn On the whole It has been
fairly satisfactory year for cattle
! feeders Credit conditions have I'm.
proved and interest rates have fallen
/ Another Hopeful Sign.
Another hopeful sign is the in.
creasing Willingness and desire OF
people engaged in industry, COM
merce and finance TO help bring
about a more favorable adjustment
for the farmer. Such people are com
+ ing to realize more and more the
menace to themselves in conditions
so untavorable TO agriculture as those
+ Of the past three years. Their att.
tude toward the farmer has changed
! from that Of a benevolent paternal-
; ism such as was SO much in evidence
during the ten years preceding the
war. They now understand more
+ clearly that their own future is in.
separately linked up with the farmer.
/ and that in doing what they can 20
/ help him get on his feet again they
are helping themselves as well"
! In relation to the price Of farm pro
ducts at the farms and prices charged
. for farm products in the cities, SeCra-
I tary Wallace said the cost Of distri'
/ button remains high. notwithstand-
, ing frequent violent deuunCiations or
, profiteers in the cities. In part, this
high cost of distribution. he declared
Is caused b. the multiplication OF
distributing agencies during the last
six years. in part by the increase In
rent. and supplies. but In larger part
. by the higher wages which employees
Z In the distributing business have
been able to maintain
Taxes on farms IN most farmisS
states have moro than doubled anr'
- proving 10 be one of the most ire
quent subjects OF complaint by farm.
ers and during the next few years
. the whole question OF taxation. Mr.
Wallace said will evidently receive
considerable attention by thoughtful
farmers.
FERRY nm FFII0WS