The Washington herald., 1922-01-27
Conference Today Plans
To Ask Endorsement
Of Lakes Project.
NONCOMMITTAL ON
PRICE FIXING BY us.
Resolution Urges Presi-
dent to Provide Relief
From Bad Markets.

day will be asked to indorse a
resolution calling on Congress to
take immediate steps, either by
treaty or joint legislation, to un-
dertake the st. Lawrence lake-to-
ocean waterway project.
This will be when the report OF
the water transportation commit
tee is submitted The Committee
last night approved the undertake
ing. 1t was guided in its decision
by the recommendations OF the
international joint commission, a
report from which lately was sub
mitted to Congress by President
Harding.
silent on Price-nxinE.
The conference at a night ses-
sion declined to commit itself in
favor Of price-fixing by the govern
ment as a means OF helping agri-
culture.
A resolution was adopted from
the marketing committee, calling
attention to the fact that farm
products are selling below cost,
and for less on an exchange basis
than ever before, and calling on
the President and Congress to take
steps to bring about fair ex-
change value.
]. C. wanamaker, president of
the American Cotton Association,
endeavored to have adopted an
amendment calling for "stabiliza-
tion," which in effect would have
been an Endorsement of price-fix-
ing. but failed. He was supported
by j. NJ Anderson, of st. Paul. OF
the Equity Exchange.
want Subject Investisated.
While IL declined to indorse gov
ernmental price fixing, the CONFER
ence did declare in favor OF a
careful investigation Of the sub
jcct by Congress.
The conference indorsed the
principle OF cooperative market
Ing and urged on Congress legis-
intion legalizing the formation of
co-operative societies and exempt
ing them from operation of stat
utes directed against combinations.
The proposal that stored pro-
ducts be made available as the
basis for loans was likewise in
dorsed. 1t has been suggested that
credits be extended with warehouse
receipts as guarantees
The national agricultural confer
ence Yesterday pledged its support
and urged participation OF the
United states in the Industrial re-
Mobilization of Europe as a means
of relieving depression in rural COM
nnunities in the United States.
Adoption of the resolution APPROX
ing the activities of the farm
blocF was unanimous and hailed as
a victory by the so-called insur-
gents who had complained that the
conference was a ot and dried az
fair. 1t was also considered a de-
feat for political leaders who have
been striving to curb the bloc and
make the division in the Senate
purely party matter. :
The delegates voted "to commend
and approve the action of those
members of the House and Senate.
comprising the agricultural bloc.
who. regardless of party. so early
saw the emergency and have so
consistently supported a construc-
tive program for the Improvement
of agricultural life"
Demand Protection.
The conference also adopted a
policy in relation to the tariff by
approving declaration which
stated:
In the future we must insist that
labor and capital employed on the
farm receive from the hands of the
government the same measure Of
tariff protection that is accorded la
Dor and capital in other industries"
Other matters of Importance dis
posed of were: Resolutions COM
mending President Harding for call
ing the agricultural conference, ap-
proving the decisions of the confer
ence on Limitation of armaments.
urging a uniform accounting sys-
TEN for farms. some form of a
stabilized dollar and a Congress.
sional investigating copmittee to
consider this, a system of report
ing foreign markets.
as one o. the immediate measurns
of relief, resolution was adopted
calling upon the government to put
agriculture on a par with other IN
dustries. both as to remuneration.
education and general standard of
living"
Conference More Harmonious.
The conference was more har-
monious than at any of the previous
sesSlonS, ana tnere was every di
position to get down to business as
soon as the Interested delegates ar
officials have had an opportunitN
of expressing their views and point
ing out the needed remedies. Thr
sessions of the main conference an
the committees lasted throughout
the day and late into the night, the
place Of meeting being removed to
the National Museum for the even
ing session.
Carl Vrooman. former Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture. was one
OF the principal speakers He
stated that the only way to avert
a financial crash is to provide suita-
BILE markets for the farmers sur
plus crops.
Domestic credit with which to
mold crops On a falling market Is
a pitfan not a remedy" he said.
Our agricultural snrpluses for
which there is neither an effective
Domestic demand nor foreign cash
demand amounts to only about
per cent of our total crops. and are
worth only about $1,000. .000. coo
Vet they have depressed the value
Of the other IS per cent>o our crops