Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-01-21
FARM I. INFERENCE
FACE T; PROBLEMS
Price Fixing Is Favored. Findings OF
Gathering VIII Be Reached With
Legal Aspect in Foreground.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 15.--Insur-
ance of crops as a method Of stabiliz-
ing prices of farm products is expect
ed to be one Of many suggestions put
forward at the National Agricultural
Conference, which opens here jan
uary %, for inclusion in a permanent
national farm policy. Discussion
within the conference would be ex-
pected to develop whether the pro-
ponments would recommend that the
insurance be carried by the farmers
comparatively, by private companies,
or through Government aid
Hail insurance has already been
tried by tobacco growers, and storm
insurance is in force in some sections
of the West, but for the first time ex-
peits expect TO see the question pre-
scented for insurance against crop
risks.
Crop insurance has been tested to
certain extent, it was declared, both
| by mutual farmers companies and by
private insurance companies, and
agricultural experts declare it has
proven successful.
Consider Production Balancing
Balancing production with con-
sumption is another important topic
which conference leaders expect will
come up. The relation of the supply
of crops and foodstuffs to markets
/ has long been studied, and sugges-
tions which are likely to come from
conference delegates, it was said,
range all tn. way from the old acre
age limitation to more careful
study of world production and con-
sumption.
Along with this would go crop
surveys in America which would en-
able producers, in the opinion Of agri-
cultural leaders, in advance crop
planting, to guage consumption de-
mand.
The importance of developing
statistical information was pointed
out by experts in discussing this sub
ject. They said that for a number
of years, figures on production have
been fairly complete, but similar data
on consumption has been shy.
Valorization, or price fixing, was
said to be on the minds of several
delegates, and while economists de-
MED all such efforts nevertheless it
has failed to settle the demands. Bills
on this subject now before Congress,
and suggestions from the outside have
come for minimum price guarantee
for certain staple commodities as
wheat, corn, cotton and the like.
Extension of the cooperative move
ment also is expected to be proposed
to the conference. Smaller cooper
alive organizations have proven sue
cessful. agricultural authorities said,
and advocates of extension of the
movement will be in the gathering
of delegates.
Labor Question Is Important
Leaders of the conference predict
that the labor question inevitably will
arise, since the presence of railway
executives and Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor, and of many representa-
tive employers as conference mem
bers will bring the two sides of the
question together The farmers, it
was said are vitality interested in the
labor question, through its effect on
transportation rates, and because of
a realization that wage scales are re-
flected in the purchasing power of
labor.
The purely agricultural nature of
the conference. Agriculture Depart
ment officials said, has been kept in
mind, and the "dirt farmer" will be
fully represented. Half of the per-
sonnnel is made up of farmers and
farm laborers, and the other half of
industries dependent on prosperous
agriculture.
Care will be taken, officials de-
clared. that the findings of the con-
ference will he thoroughly consid-
cred in the light of their legal stand
ing, and they VIZ be finally promul-
gated with this aspect in mind.