South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-06
CAPPER OUTLINES
FARM BLOC PLAN
TO AID COUNTRY
Three Big Objectives Remain
for Organization, Senator
in-Chief SAYS.
By SIN. ARTHUR CAPPER

by IN. AtAllt * tht-EE@fk
WASHINGTON. April 5-Ameri-
can agriculture. having a capital in
vestmeut reaching the staggering
Fum OF SIS. 100000. 600 lies PROSTATE
as q result Of the postwar collapse
az lts market machinery and the
meteoric decline En- value OF farm
products
The agriculture "broc." born Of
the crying need for preservation Of
the nations industrial backbone, has
taken up the farmers fight This.
ln brief. is the why and wherefore OF
the bloc"
II is a movement for the common
good. as farming supplies $4,000.
600 900 90 the nations pOcketbook
annually and fully half Of its bank
deposits When this industry faces
disintegration 30 is time for high
spirited citizenry 20 come 20 its as
sI~anca lest the whole fabric OF the
nations industrial lifs be swept
away
A fourth OF the 5000 600 farmers
81 America are insolvent today. Az
riculture De- sick The agriculture
bloc" Isl championing remedies
which economists wisely urge TO up
llft this fundamental industry. IL IS
a question whether agriculture shall
be saved or the country lost No
remedy can be too drastic under such
circumstances
Inspired by Compelling Need
The "bloc" IS inspired by the COM
polling need 10 relieve the farmers.
No legislation championed thus far
by the "bIoc" can be termed class
legislation. for whatever laws favor
the farmer today also favor the
whole Of America. Business has lost
billions by permitting spectators TO
prey upon the farmers IL is losing
more billions today by not giving
the farmer a square deal"
This decline in agriculture has
been going on Ga every farming
state. Selling their products at
loss: raising crops despite the knowl-
edge that the proceeds VIII not more
than meet the taxes on their prop
erty. the farmers are fighting with
their backs 90 the wall The "bloc"
is taking a position at their side.
The farmers must have relief from
overburdening railroad freight rates,
from the speculation IN his pro-
ducts. from tight money markets and
from paralyzed rural credits. To
this end the agriculture bloc is
pledged.
Danger OF an agriculture monop-
oily through cooperation is not SER
iously considered. The cooperative
marketing bill. recently passed by
direction OF the "bloc." will do much
toward lessening the farmers bur
den. The agriculture credit bill,
with a maximum Of $1,000, 100000
credit for farmers. will aid him
through lesseniug tension in bank
ing circles where he does his busi-
ness. This money. through the War
Finance corporation, is 10 be used in
extending credits 10 farm loan Or
EAnZations and farm banks.
"Gives Farmer a Voice"
ne recent enactment OF legisla-
tion placing a "dirt farmer" on the
Federal Reserve Board will do much
10 better the effects OF this body up
on agriculture interests. It Will give
the farmer a voice i'm the distribution
of financial relief by Federal Re-
serve sources
Three important duties still face
the bloc" These are:
+. Enactment of direct farm credit
legislation by which credit will be
extended direct TO farmers by the
government
.. Improvement Of transportation
facilities for farmers and reduction
in freight rates on farm products.
Q. Extension of activities Of farm
land banks.
The farm "bloc" is uon-partisan
in character Its program Is prac-
teal and constructive. j. does not
propose class legislation, but its pro-
gram SIS intended for the good Of the
country as a whole. 10 asks square
deal for the farmer and "a chance for
him 90 live To VIII continue 20 do
It's best to accomplish its purpose.