Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-07-07

Born and reared on a farm, and
becoming intimately acquainted
with its difficulties and privations,
and having for many years lived
upon and operated farm, l have
more than theoretical knowledge
of the problems of farm life and
have an acute appreciation of the
needs of the agricultural interests.
AS a member Of the Committee
on Post Office and Post Roads of
the House of Representatives, and
afterward as q member Of a similar
committee of the Senate, | have
been glad to assist in the creation
and expansion of the rural free
delivery system and in the uphold
ing Of the parcel post, which have
been of such incalculable benefit to
the farmers. Both of these should
be further extended and enlarged.
l actively favored the Smith-Lever
Agricultural Extension Act which
carried to every farm in every
State trained experts, and by dem
onstration farms and other means
brought to the farmers the practi-
cal knowledge acquired by the De
partment of Agriculture in all
things relating to agriculture, hor-
ticulture and animal life. | have
also favored, and shall favor, all
legislation intended to protect the
farmer against impure seed and
fertilizers, and against combina-
tions to eXtort unfair prices for
agricultural machinery.
l favor the fullest development of
the Muscle Shoals property, now
owned by the Government, so as to
secure for farmers of this country
permanently cheap fertilizer. If
this is done | believe it will open a
new era of prosperity to agriculture.
I earnestly advocated bill recently
passed which enables the farmers to
engage in cooperative selling and
distribution. | believe this is a
most important measure. which will
bring incGlculabe benefits to the
farmers.
Farm Leans
Thoughtful consideration has con-
WINGED me that one of the farmers
present great needs is credit similar
to that possessed by the industrial
interests of this coun;ry, so | sup
ported the Farm Loan System IN
augurated by Democratic Cont
greSS. | favor the extension of this
system until It will be as easy for
farmers to finance their needs as il
is for those with like assets en-
gagged in manufacture to finance
their business. ! favored and aided
in the recent extension of the War
Finance Corporation especially de-
signed to aid farmers in the sale
and distribution of their crops. |
gladly supported the amendment to
the Federal Reserve Act recently
passed which places upon the Fede-
raj Reserve Board real farmer to
represent the farming interest and
see that agriculture received proper
and Just consideration in the Fede-
raj Reserve System.
While these measures are very
potential to the farmers interests
and should be continued and eX-
tended, yet fully recognize that
these are not sufficient to answer
the needs Of agriculture for finan-
cial credit. It takes almost a wear
to raise an agricultural crop and six
months more for its sale and distri-
button. Thus productic~ sale and
distribution in agriculture takes al
most a year and half. In our
stock raising industry it takes
longer time than this, frequently
running into several years before
Under there conditions
agriculture needs larger and longer
credit in order to he successfully
than do other industries.
The farmer in order to economi-
eallv and successfully produce. also
needs loans to purchase machinery
and implements and to make i'm
provements. which loans Of ncces-
sitv REQUIRE time to liquidate.
In addition. a large part Of our
farm products, are eXnorted to for
eign countries for sale and diStri-
button. This requires sometime be-
fore full payment therefor can be
made. These conditions affecting
agriculture will REQUIRE the crea>
ton of a system Of credits which
can meet these needs and relieve
the situation. This means larger
and longer credits than are now
provided for BY law. To make loans
to a farmer to raise a croo and
then deny him credit to eNeble him
to sell and distribute it is to turn
him over to the mercy Of specula-
tors.
I believe a system of credits
should be created which will set
aside funds sufficient 20 france the
farmer safely and satisfactorily, as
is done for other interests.
Senators of both parties, with whom
| have cordially co-onerated. repre-
sentinq agricultural states have ap-
pointed committee of seven to pre-
mare a bill to be introduced in the
Senate and urged for passage which
will give full and complete financial
relief to the agricultural interests
and nrevent a recurrence of the de
plorable conditions which have oc-
CURED in the past. I have been honor
ed by being selected as one of this
committee of seven who are busily
engaged now in preparing this bill and
we hope it will be presented to the
Senate and passed before adjourn
ment. | shall exert myself to the ut
most to accomplish promptly this
needed relief for the farmers.
Public Education.