The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-26
WANT PRACTICAL WAY
Senator Watson Urges Hard
ing to Resort to Publicity to
Drive Prices Downward
CONSIDER MARKING SYSTEM
Indication of Wholesale, Also
Retail Price, Suggested by
Watson to President

WASHINGTON. Nov 25.-Meas-
ures to relieve the financial plight OF
the farmers and curb prof,teering
particularly in food and clothing
were discussed with President Hard
ing today by Senator Watson, re-
publican, Indiana.
The visit of the Indiana senator TO
the White House followed confer
ence in his office at which a num-
ber OF senators from western states
talked over a possible legislative
program acceptable TO the west.
Urges Forccful Program.
Picturing 10 the president how the
farmers are generally unable TO get
enough for their crops to pay for
harvesting and shipping while con-
sumers pay high prices, Senator
Watson urged the Immediate ceces-
sity OF some forceful program to
put agriculture on it's feet, and
squeeze out the long line of profit
taking between producer and con-
sumner.
Senator Watson's view is that any
program OF relief for the farmer
must 40 farther thar the question
or freight rates, interest rates and
tariff rates. While these may have
part in the farmers dilemma, the
senator declared that "the man who
produces food and clothing can get
very little for II. while the man who
needs the money to buy 1t has TO
pay an unconsCionable high price. "
Watson told the president that he
favored the program for agricul-
d.
would not strike at the root Of the
question.
Too Much Profits.
II producers we're compelled TO ac-
cept ruinous prices when they finally
did come to sell cattle and crops,
he argued, loans would only be a
palliative. and he urged that while
the financial distress Of the farmers
was being temporarily relieved by
liberal credits, an exhaustive study
be undertaken TO find some practi-
cable means II bringing producers
and consumers together and elimi-
mating large profits In between.
Senator watson also told Presi-
dent Harding that he already had
undertaken a study OF the anti
profiteering laws OF other countries
and particularly was examining
those which appeared to be meet
ing with some success. SO far as
his study had proceeded, the SEN
ator said, no did not believe price
fixing by the government or any
other agency would be successful,
but he was inclined rather to plan
which would expose profits all along
the line and depend upon an aroused
public opinion to grant reasonable
profits TO business and at the same
time drive out eXtortions.
May Mark Prices on Goods.
Marking in plain figures the
wholesale prices OF articles OF food
and clothing transported in inter-
state commerce, so that the buyer
at retail may see what profit Is
being asked by the retailer, IL one
OF the plans which Senator Watson
is examining. There are several
others.
President Harding listened to Sem
ator Watson with deep interest as
the latter pictured potato crops
abandoned: fruit crops compelled TO
rot and grain crops unmoved while
farmers faced mortgage foreclos-
ures. Some definite plans are TO
be discussed with the president
later and meanwhile Senator Wat
con said the program OF agricultural
credits and other measures for tenn
porary relief would be hastened in
congress