The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-01-25
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
OF FARM PROBLEMS
Says Farmer Must be Civ.
en- Aid
OFFERS PROGRAM
FOR His RELIEF

ton to Discuss Problems Of Agrlcul-
ture. President Suggests Extension
of Cooperative Bodies and More
Capital.
Washington, Jan. 23.-Deyelopment
'of a thorough code Of law and busi-
ness proco dure, with the proper ma
chlnery of finance, to assure the farm
er as generous a supply Of working
capital on as reasonable terms as is
granted to other industries, was adj
'vocated here today by President Hard
Ing in opening the national agricul-
tural conference.
"An industry" the ,president said
more vital than any StEer in which
nearly "a. the nation wealth Is in
vested can be rclitt VI! on for good Sc
curity and certain letp,ns."
@ Declaring that in tie matter of what
may be called fixed Investment capital.
the disadvantage OF the farmers so
impressed public opinion that the fed
'eral farm loan board was established
to meet the need, the president said
the farmer still needed some provision
for supplying him with working capi-
tai
Compared with other industries"
he continued. "the wonder Is that ag-
riculture, thus deprived OF easy ac-
cess to both investment and accommo
dation capital has prospered even SO
WE'LL
Lines on what financial support for
agriculture may be organized, Mr..
Harding said, are suggested in the
plan OF the federal farm loan board
and in those rural finance societies
which have been so effective in some
European countries.
THE cooperative loaning associa-
tions OF Europe have been effective
Incentives to united action by farm
ers," he cotinued, "and have led them
directly into cooperation in both pro-
duction and marketing, which have
contributed greatly to the stabiliza-
tion and prosperity Of agriculture"
The president told the conference
that concerning the grim reality OF
the present crisis in agriculture there
can be no differences of opinion among
Informed people"
"The depressions and discourage
ments," he continued "are not pecu-.
liar to agriculture and I think it fair
to say there could have been no avoid
ance of great slump from wartime
excesses to the hardships OF readjust-
ments. We can have no helpful un-
derstanding by assuming that agricul-
ture suffers alone, but we may fairly
recognize the fundamental difficult
ties which accentnate the agricultural
discouragements, and menace the
healthful life OF this basic and abso-
lutely necessary industry"
The farmer, the president declared
from the very mode Of his life Is indi-
vidualistic and therefore because he
buys and sells as EN- individual 1t Is his
fate to buy in the nearest and sell in
the cheapest market"
Tie contrasted with this the corpora
! tion which, he said, could effect eco
nOmics and acquire fer itself power
In the markets by combinations.
The president said there was mis-
conception regarding the financial sta
tus OF agriculture.
ut can not be too strongly urged
that the fasmer must be ready to help
1imself," he added. '"This conference
awould do most lasting good IL 1t would
find ways to impress tbo great mass OF
9armerB to avail themselves OF the best
methods. BY this mean that, in the
last analysis legislation can do little
more than give the farmer the chance
ito organize and help himself"
The president then referred to co.
operative marketing.
3s'iWath financial support for agricul-
ture and with instrumentalitles for the
collection and dissemination OF useful
information he said, "a group OF CO.
operative marketing organizations
would be able to advise their menbers
.as to The probable demand or staples,
and to propose measures for proper
limitation OF acreage In particular
crops, The certainty that such scies1
scontiruad on page six.,