The Penn's Grove record., 1922-02-03
THE FARMERS DOLLAR
Harding's Normally Has Cut Them
In Half. Farm Congress Wants
More Profits

w NNAA@ WV
and prevent recurrence of such a con-
dition. 1t was hailed as the most
~far-reaching conference of farmers
ever held, in the opinion of j. r.
Howard, President of the American
Farm Bureau Federation, n of the
largest farmers organizations. He
said:
"The farm bureau will undertake to
organize all the farmers of the nation
and unite them into strong commodity
marketing associations, which will
improve the distribution of food to
the lasting benefit of both consumer
and producer. We want to bring the
eater and grower closer together.
"The cooperative marketing move
ment, as fostered by the American
Farm Bureau Federation, is a protest
expressed in action against excessive
margins and distributive costs. 1t is
no new thing.
at has been carried on successfully
in Europe for hundreds of years.
Within less than so years, Denmark,
through cooperative marketing, has
reduced distribution cost so the pro-
ducers receive 70 cents of the con-
sumer's dollar-more than twice as
much as we get here-and through
cooperative marketing has rebuilded
her entire national prosperity.
Farm Bloc Endorsed
During the past six months U. S.
Senators from Western and Southern
States have acted together on legisla-
ton for the farming interests. Their
action was Endorsed by the Confer
ence
Ford and Muscle Shoals Endorsed
The members of the Conference in
dorsed the project for Henry Ford to
buy and develop Muscle Shoals as
follows:
Herbert Myrick, of Springfield,
Mass, editor of the Farm and Home,
offered the amendment to the water
ways report which recognized the
Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals.
The amendment, overwhelmingly
adopted by the Conference, read:
"To accomplish results without any
further delay whatsoever, w urge the
Secretary of War and recommend that
the Congress accept the Henry Ford
proposal to take over the ~hydroelee-
trio power and airnitrate plant at
Muscle Shoals, under the guaranty to
produce about the present maximum
capacity of the plant, being 100000
tons of ammonium nitrate annually,
for 100 years, thus opening the Ten
nessee River to navigation, insuring
the cheap production of fertilizer,
metals, and commodities, and insuring
the United States nitrogen in time of
peace or war"
Mr.. Myrick later exhibited a tele-
gram from Henry Ford saying that
his offer to do these things was ready
for fulfllment.
The Farmers Dollar
hon. a Harrison, of Mississippi,
in the U. S. Senate on January 23d,
told how the prices of farm crops had
been cut in half since President Hard
ing's normally took place. He said:
| read from the report of the COM
mission on agricultural investigation,
which discloses that in 1920 the farm
er's dollar, when compared with other
dollars, the manufacturers, the coal
operators, and those of various other
industries, was worth only SO cents.
That was in 1920. In May, 1921, the
value of the farmers dollar was only
n cents, and today the value of the
farmers dollar is only 81 cents.
In the last two or three years the
farmer has seen the things he raised
depreciate in value at a more rapid
rate and to a greater extent than the
products of any other industry.
/ think it was the distinguished
Senator from North Dakota Mr.
Ladd] who said that the farmer has
lost within the last IL to IS months
$12, 900, 000, 1000. Yet, because they
would have men meet and counsel to-
gether, and try to work out some So
luton of their problems, it arouses
the President and causes him to come
to the Congress and inveigh against
it, and use the power of his great
office to destroy their influence.
Let me read how a few things rails
ed upon the farm have deprecated in
value. Take hogs. In January, 1919,
taking the figures 100 as a basis,
hogs were worth 209, and in July,
1921, they had decreased to 116,
neary one-half in value in so short a
time.
Let us take live stock, on the same
basis of 100. In January, 1919, the
figure was 1872. In May, 1921, it was
decreased to Iii, cut almost in half.
Let us take cattle, steers In Janu-
airy, 1919, on the basis of 100, they
we're worth 223. In Juy, 1921, they
had dropped to SO, nearly three times
in so short a time. Yet, because
representatives from that great coun-
try in the far West, where they raise
cattle, meet here in groups, it arouses
the ire of the President and the Secre-
tary of War and they condemn it.
Let US take cotton, on a basis of
100. In January, 1919, it was 231.
In July, 1921, it had dropped down to
81.
Let us take some other articles
which are not raised upon the farm,
and see if they have deprecated to
such an extent; cloth and clothing
first, on the basis of 100. In January,
1919, it was 234; in May, 1920, it rose
to 353; and then, in July, 1921, it
dropped to 179. But the proportion of
the decrease was nothing when you
100000 - it'll fbo Ianraaca u, tho /