The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-12
FARMERS MAKE


tation problem.
Railroad rates may come down
somewhat but not to the prewar lev
els Howard believes.
sHThe hope of transportation is
based on water development" How
ard said. ALREADY extensive devel-
opments have been made on the lower
Mississippi. These can be extended
profitably to the upper Mississippi
and the Missouri rivers. New indus
trial centers will result from cheaper
water transportation. The farmer will
be given the benefit of more immedi-,
ate markets"
Howard declared the Great Lake-St.
Lawrence deep waterway project,
which will bring interior America l.
200 miles nearer ocean transportation,
is the greatest agricultural issue be-
fore the nation in many decades.
Neither the northern hordes nor So
cial corruption caused the Roman en-
pire to fall but over urbanization,"
Howard asserted. History shows that
for a century before the city'S down
fall there was never more than two
weeks supply of food available within
the walls of Rome. The agricultural
history of Egypt and other ancient
empires also shows a transition from
rural 20 an urban stage in which
middlemen exacted heavy profits.
America apparently is paralleIng this
development"
Discusses Government Ownership.
Discussing the proposals of those
who advocate socialism as the cure for
all ills, thru governmental ownership
of the essential industrial, govern
mental price fixing and other ''arti-
ficiaI agencies" Howard said:
This class of thinkers undoubtedly
will increase rapidly in the next few
months if agricultural readjustment
- II.
unable to earn enough to pay their in
terest and taxes we may expect of
them to see red. Opposed to this
group of thinkers is the group which
believes that government can no more
alter fundamental economic laws than
1.-THE ebb and flow of the tides. Men
make government but government
cannot make men"
Insistence that America collect in
full from her debt ridden neighborS in
Europe will not help domestic mar
kets, according to c. c. IsIey OF Dodge
spit on the slate. Isley, who talked of
America as World Banker and World
Merchant" said in part:
Will Reduce Prices.
''If the United States permits Eng
land to pay us this year the interest
due on her four billions War debt, the
American farmer will lose more in
reduced prices for his commodities
than we will collect.
Last July and August and Septem-
Der saw substantial recovery in values
of farm products and a tendency in
| business toward sterilization and firm
er values. Financial writers were see
ing better times ahead. Without warn
ing, and in spite of a protective tariff,
! in spite of governmental plan to loan
millions to farmers; in spite of the fact
that the spectators had most of the
wheat, crash went the price down as
cents bushel in few weeks. The
big underlying factor in the crash
was the payment of the September in
stallment of the German indemnity OF
| 200 millions in gold.
"a year ago in October, England
and France paid US $50 millions on
the loan f1oated here in 1916. The eff
fort OF England and France to make
the payment deranged exchange and
values in this country. especially farm
| values, slumped badly, wheat declin-
| ing over SO cents without a halt
| This whole problem can only be
/ solved in an International financial
| conference in which America is an
active participant. Surely, If John
| Bull conceives it to be good business
to charge off seven and one-half bill
lions allied debts due her and a greater
I
| tainly consider definite deferment OF
the sums due US.
TN short, the case IS this, the re-
coVery of agriculture depends on world
markets financed by a stable interna-
uonal currency. which must be based
| on American credits. backed by
American wealth and gold. This can
not be done without an aroused public
understanding, especially in the agri-
cultural west. All hinges on a finan-
! cial conference which America should
call. and we must indicate to our con-
gressmen and senators that we will
support policy that will dispose of
/ the ten billion debt with generosity
! Henry c. Stuart, former governor
OF Virginia, is the principal speaker
on today's program. Stuart, who is
/ one of the most successful farmers
and stock growers in Virginia, viii
I talk to the Kansas farmers about re-
| turn to normal conditions. His speech
| will be delivered in representative hal
! this evening. He will talk about Days
! of Our Reconstruction
Jane Adams of Hull House, Chi
7 cage, will share honors with Stuart
. Miss Adams, who recently returned
| from survey of conditions in Europe
will discuss Disarmament or World
| Starvation"
Sessions of the state board begar
J welcomed the board members and
| delegates to Topeka. The response
! was by President Z. E. FrizeH OF
Larned. An address of welcome was
made for Governor Allen by Charles
! S. Huffman of Columbus, lieutenant
! governor
Meetings of the state board close
! Friday night yith $50 O'Clock din
=, ner by the Chamber of Commerce for
4f1sa H.r- L.