The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-02-03
HARDING OPENS
FARM CONFERENCE
Suggests Cooperative Associa-
tions and Measures to Prevent
Violent Market Fluctuations.
NEW PLACE FOR FARMER
President Says Farmer Must Have
Capital; Asks for New LaWs-Effort
to Aid Suffering Agricultural Conn.,
munity of Nation.

Washington.-Atten by approx
mately 800 delegates representing
agriculture in all its phases and the
industries related to farming, the Ma
tional Agricultural Conference was
convened here by Secretary Wallace,
and Immediately heard from President
Harding a declaration of interest and
sympathy by the Administration IN the
present plight of the nations farmers,
together with a series of suggestions
for remedying existing conditions.
The President in an address touch
ing upon the agricultural situation In
detail but without attempting to die
tate the course of the conference dis
cussions, outlined a half dozen broad
questions to the consideration OF
which the conference might well give
its attention. These briefly included:
Development of a thorough code of
law and business procedure, with the
proper machinery of finance, through
some agency, to insure that turnover
capital shall be as generously supplied
to the farmer and on as reasonable
terms as to other industries.
Formation Of cooperative loaning,
buying and selling associations.
Practical development of the water
resources of the coutry, both for trans
portation and power, including plans
for electrifcation of the nations rail-
roads.
Methods for bringing about further
reclamation, rehabilitation and exten-
sion of the agricultural area.
Promotion of new conception of
the farmers place in the national So
cial and economic scheme.
can industry" the President said,
''more vital than any other, in which
near half the nations wealth is invest
ed. can be relied upon for good Sc
curity and certain returns"
Declaring that in the matter of
what may be called fixed investment
capital the disadvantage of the farm
er so impressed public opinion that
the Federal Farm Loan Board was
established to meet the need, the Pres
ident said the farmer still needed
some provision for supplying him
with working capital.
compared with other industries"
he continued, "the wonder is that agri-
culture, thus deprived of easy access
to both investment and accommoda
ton capital, has prospered even so
Well"
Lines on which financial support Of
agriculture may be organized, Mr..
Harding said, are suggested in the
plan of the Federal Farm Loan Board
and in those rural finance societies
which have been so effective in some
European countries.
"The cooperative lOaning associa-
tions of Europe have been effective
incentives to united action by farm
ers," he continued, "and have led them
directly into cooperation in both pro-
duction and marketing which have
contributed greatly to the stabilization
and prosperity of agriculture"
Whether these organizations are
considered as means to buying the
farmers requirements in cheaper
market, the President asserted, or 10
selling his products in more remun-
erative one "the conclusion in all
cases is the same-it is that the farm
er is as good a business man as any
other if he had the chance"