The New York herald., 1922-01-23

New York Herald Bureau.
Washi"'ton. ID. c.. JAN. -.
President Harding will deliver the
principal address tomorrow morning
at the FIRST session Of the national
agricultural conference. 10 which
nearly 800 men and women repre-
senting farming and allied interests in
every section OF the United States
have been invited.
IIc is expected TO outline the un-
advantageous situation in which the
nations 100000 farm owners and
operators now find themselves. and
then ask the delegates TO begin a
weeks discussion OF plans TO relieve
the situation from the standpoint not
only OF the farm owner and worker
but also from that Of the consumer.
The conference will be the first OF
IT'S kind ever held in the United States.
IN one sense. it Is REGARDED as the
most important gathering held in
Washington since the inauguration
OF the present Administration. In
effect its purposes are twofold:
First, the conference will deter
mine what must be done to insure
that majority of the nations farm
crs shall operate at = profit instead
Of at loss as at present.
Second. the conference will try TO
frame national program to insure
taat the nations food supply In the
future shall keep pace with the popu-
lation's growth.
!, is the second phase of the confer
ence in which there is most direct inter.
est for the residents OF New York and
other cities. A plentiful supply OF food
means low prices.
III the final analysis, however,, city
FOLK. so called. have IA direct interest in
the first purpose OF the conference,
which Is 70 see that farmers can make
profits. The farmers and the $4,000, 900
residents of rural sections dependent for
tneir prosperity upon the prosperity OF
the farm owners. constitute about so per
cent. of the nations entire purohasing
r''wer. according TO the reasoning of the
President and OF Secretary Wallace.
Consequently. city residents cannot ex-
pect prosperity until a measure of sue
cess in business Is found on the credit
Just now few farmers are able to sell
their products for enough TO pay their
operating COSTS il is shown IN reports to
me agriculture Department. The re-
ports show that farm products In gen
eral have descended TO such low Levels
IN the last year that the farmers are re-
csiving only IL per cent more for their
products than in the pre-war period.
interpreted BY department officials
ne i.
money ir 1871 Unless relief is afforded
farmers In 1922 will not be encouraged
10 plant large crops. That means
shortage OF food and high prices for
every person In the United States.
To prevent a catastrophe Of this na-
ture the decision was reached at the
White House 70 call conferences of
farmers. bankers. railroad heads and
those nanufacturers making supplies
which farmers buy. To insure discus
sion OF all phases OF tho question, the
invitation lists were extended TO include
editors OF farm journals, professors In
farm colleges. public officials OF the
states who have TO do with agriculture
and the problems of farmers, and All
others who II was thought would have
suggestions of value
More than twenty women will 81 as
delegates in the conference. One OF
them will be Mrs. w. a. Mather of
Adams, n. Y. who operates several
Yarns and Is state Grange official
Another Is Mrs. III. r. Chafee of Ar
fnenia. \. D., who operates 5000 acres
of farm land. Although these two are
interested primarily as farm operators.
the women delegates generally will he
concerned with the problem OF making
the farm home more enjoyable for the
farm wife and her children.
About half the desegates will be WIN. /
- called real dirt farmers. men who |
operate farms. dairy plants and ranches |
Secretary Wallace VIII follow Presi- |
cent Harding on tho platform at fhe |
morning session 70 explain the prob \
lenis before the conference. Reprcsen- 4
taiiye sydney Anderson CArinn) viii 4
describe the results OF an Investigation
OF the agricultural crisis which was
studied BY a joint Congressional com. 4
o. inquiry.
The exact situation OF the farrnn,
then will be laid before the conference
'n a series Of six addresses by repre-
Srntatives OF the princi-ai sections OF
the country. These will include reports
IN the corn belt. cotton belt. wheat re-.
eions. range country and the North.
eastern States.
Next will come series Of rcportg BIZ,
on the milllnr Industry
farm imnlements. meat packing. ferti.
lizer iraustry and other ines OF bnsI-
ness crdaavor whose nrosnaritv dapends
upon tho nro ospnrity Of the rural sec.
iions. The conference then will divide
into co'rinittees to study tho questions
n relief