The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-03-17


has b0undless appeal to the magi-
nation. That. tcu, It has forever end
ed the vast silences Of the sea further
adds to its romance. However, until
rectly or indirectly. 1t 10 quite nat
ural. therefore, that there should he
consideration Of legislative measures
which might afford relief. AS is nj
ways the case in periods Of financial
depression we'll meaning people whose
understanding OF economic forces Ia not
all that might be hoped for. come for
ward with i'll considered plans. Such
have had scant confederation. Efforts
at relief by congressional action have
been directed along three general lines.
first improved credit facilities: sec.
ond. permissive legislation which will
encourage the farmer himself to inn
prove methods of marketing farm
crops; third. assurance of free. open
and competitive markets for crops and
live stock through the exercise of rea-
sonable government supervision ever
market agencies.
That anyone should be disposed to
regard such Legislation a. Of che ma
ture of class legislation intended to CT
having the effect Of benefiting one
group at the expense Of other groups.
is surprising. 1t ia not In any sense
class legislation. Its primary purpose
is to MAINTAIN agricultural production
that the people may lie fed.
We have come to the time when
team work is needed. yes. imperative.
There must be sympathy, understand
ing and cooperation between asricul-
ture, industry and business. They are
dependent upon one another. They are
alike necessary to a we'll rounded ma
ticnal life. They ,ausi work together
for the good Of ell.
The paradox of our present large
food surplus Notwithstanding, we are
fast ceasing to become food export
ing nation. The startling rapidity Of
our Industrial growth points to the
approaching need Of a materially in
creasing production. Enlarged produce
tipn may be brought about in two
ways. There sare still large aSeas OF
land which may be brought under the
plow--not easily or cheaply but as
need may require sand prices justify.
And larger yields may be had frcm
the lands already under cultivation by
the practice of more intensive meth
DDS. In either case the consumer can
not hope to buy food as cheaply in the
future as in the past. unless there be
large reductions in the costs of pre-
ducing that food, and when I say costs
Of production I mean also costs of
marketing. for production and market
ing are inseparable. In it's own In
terest. therefore, and for it's own BEN
eft, the consuming public umst aid In
making avtlable to the farmer every
facility and business device which may
help him in reducing production costs.
In. the administration of our credit
machinery whether by government
gencies or otherwise the effect on ag-
riculture must be given more cOpsid-
Grafton than in the past.
Credit for productive and improve.
ment purposes must be made ava'la.
BILE to the farmer on terms which the
seasonal character CT agricultural pro-
| duction makes necessary.
Improvement in marketing methods
through the organization of co-opera
tive associations should he permitted
and encouraged.
Farm products should be transport
ed at the lowest possible costs con.
sistent with the maintenance and sat
| isfactory operation of the ransportin,
agency.
The collection of statistical informa
tion as to production and consumption
Of agricultural products at home an
abroad should be greatly extended
and made more generally available
The extension of cultivated lam
should not be encouraged until careful
survey has made plain the practiosiit
OF establishing a profitable farming Q
Hive stock enterprise. There should b
q decided Tightening up of our polictt
of land settlement. including thos
dealing with reclamation projects.
Painstaking study nf the costs g
production and marketing 1t far,
crops is a nee@<ary preliminary I
the reduction of such costs. This stud
should be made all along the line frc1
the farm to the consumers table
A better understanding of the forcs
which influence prices Is very much
be desired and is necessary to the In
telligent adjustment Of production I
the needs Of consumption.
Federal supervision of such instit,
tions as public stock yards and maik'
agencies. grain exchanges. and the Ill
ia not only expedient but very nece'
!. savy to the efficient and fmparti'
: fuuctioning Of such institutions. an
should result in benefit alike to II
!. agencies themselves. the farmers WI
: furnish the raw material and the col
suming public.
In the foregoing I have not dea
with all matters that should be dea
with In considering what needs to
done to improve Intelligent. efficsel
and continued Agricultural productio
but have mentioned only matters whi'
should have immediate attention AZ
necessary preliminary to the develo
J. iment Of wise agricultural policy. II
b 10 not in any sense IN appeal for le
. islation or administration for the be
}. eat Of q class or group. It 10 simply
> iappeal Tor more intelligent recogniti
!. LOT the inoontrovertihle fact that a
N tional welfare depends upon a sou
|. agriculture.