The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-07-13
ADMINISTRATION WISELY WENT
TO AID OF AGRICULTURE


ADMINISTRATION WISELY WENT
TO AID OF AGRICULTURE
Through all the pother over farm
movements and agricultural blocs
there runs a false note implying a
widening rift between the party in
power and the agricultural element.
This false note is clearly traceable to
the false string on which the parti-
san opposition so persistently plays.
If any administration ever has played
fair with the farmer, championed his
cause, fought his battles fearlessly
and effectively, and kert the faith in
letter and in spirit, it is the one now
in power. Yet partisans do not hest
ate to malgn it for the good that it
has done, to distort its ministrations
to agricultural needs into semblance
of injury, to attempt to poison farm
ers with distrust and, by implying an
antagonism that does not exist, to
betray the agricultural element into
betraying the administration that has
proved itself friend in need and in
deed
From its beginning to the present
time, the present administration has,
directly and indirectly, by department
tai activities and special relief agen-
cies, by independent and cooperative
actions of the executive and Congress,
addressed its best efforts to aid the
farmer, and has rendered him yoeman
service in removing obstacles that
have too long been permitted to block
his path. On its accession to power,
the administration found the farmer
laundering in a slough of despond
into which he had been plunged by
economic conditions brought about in
part by the eXtravagant pratices Of
the preceding regime. In the shadow
of threatening financial and industrial
disaster that then lowered over the
naion, the farmer, burdened by in
debtedness and crop poor as result
of falling prices, doomed as a figure
cast for tragedy. His condition de-
manded immediate relief, and this the
present administration has given
him.
One of Mr.. Harding's first acts was
the issuance of a call for an extra
session of Congress, in order that
there might be prompt enactment of
tariff measure, which would af.
ford quick relief from falling prices.
This legislation was speedily put
through in the form of an emergency
tariff, and the subsequent rise of
prices on agricultural commodities is
convincing proof of the effectiveness
Of this remedial action.
But this relief was not enough, and
the administration realized it. Vast
numbers of farmers were threatened
with loss not only in stored crops, but
in lands, on which they had been
forced to place mortgages and liens.
To enable them to meet the obliga
tions thus created, the War Finance
Corporation advanced funds that en-
abled agricultural debtors to come
safely through the era of stress. AS
result af that aid, many basic ag
ricultural industries have been res
cued from threatened collapse, and
thousands of farm homes throughout
the country have been saved from
foreclosure. Then came the crop-de
stroying drouths of last year to ag-
gravate the plight of the farmers in
certain sections. To meet the result
ing need for relief, appropriations
running into millions have been made
and advanced as loans to enable the
stricken farmers to purchase seed and
start fresh crops.
In addition to tariff and financial
aid extended the farmer, the admins
tration has been diligent in promoting
his interests in other directions-as
in the exercise of executive influence
which proved so effective in bringing
about the reduction of railroad
freight rates on agricultural commod-
tiles.
The administration also directed its
effort to removing old snags in the
way of fair price movements and to
this end put through the packers act
which safeguards live stock interests
from unfair market manipulation. 1t
is now working out legislation that
aims at protecting grain growers
against gambling trade transactions
that have so often in the past injur-
iously affected producers.