The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-24

effectively to help himself through
organization and cooperation.
One OF the most serious OBJ
stacles To a proper balancing OF
agricultural production lies in the
lack of essential information. All
too frequently such information il
gathered by ptivate interests whose
concern in private profit rather
than the general good. Agricul-
ture cannot thrive under condi-
tons which permit the specu-
lator. the broker. the forestaller.
because of superior informatio
to become chief benefciaries. The
element of speculation in crop
production is at best so great as
| 10 dictate that other speculative
elements. always liable to be
manipulated to the disadvantage
OF the producer. shall be reduced
to the minimum.
Suggests Method Of Aid.
With proper financial support for
agriculture, and with instrument
talities for the collection and
dissemination OF useful informa-
ton, a group of cooperative mar
keting organizations would be able
10 advise their members as to the
probable demand for staples, and
to propose measures for proper
Limitation of acreages n particu-
lar crops. The certainty that
such SCIENTIFIC distribution OF pro.
duction was to he observed would
strengthen the credit Of agricuI-
ture and increase the security In
which financial advances could be
made to it, The disastrous ef-
f"cts which arise from overproduc-
ton are notorious. Tae CcnEres-
sional Joint Committee on agricuI-
tural conditions. in the valuable
report which il has recently issued.
declares that a deficiency Of one
| tenth in the production OF a par
tlcular staple means an increase
OF three-tenths in the price. while
deficit Of twO-tenths in produc-
ton Will mean an increase of
( eiGhth-tenths In the price.
/ The converse of this is just as
emphaticallys, true. In a recent
address to the congress | stated
this situation thus:
4. 1t Is rather shocking@to be told,
and 10 have the statement strong
~ supported. that 100000 bales
or cotton. raised on American
plantations in a given year, will
actually be worth more to the
| producers than $4,000 600 would
have been. Equally shocking is
| the statement that 700, OOO, 900 bush
els OF wheat. raised by American
farmers, would bring them more
money than 1000 900, 900 bushels.
| Yet these are not exaggerated
statements. In world where
| there are tens of millions who need
FOOD and clothing whichs they can
not get such condition is sure
TO indict the social system which
makes it possible.
Consumer Also Concerned.
! 1t is apparent that the interest
OF the consumer. quite equally
with that OF the producer, de-
mands measures to prevent these
| violent fluctuations which result
from unorganized and haphazard
! production. Indeed, the statistics
/ of this entire subject clearly DEM
/ onstrate that the consumers con-
[ Germ for better stabilized condi-
lions is quite equal to that of the
| producer. The farmer does not de-
mand special consideration 10 the
| disadvantage OF any other class
he asks only for that considera-
| ton which shall place his vital
industry on parity of oppor-
tunity with others and enable il to
serve the broadcast interest.
NO country is so dependent upon
ralIroad transportation as is the
United states. The irregular coast
lines Of Europe. its numerous in
denting arms of the sea. as well
as ITS great river system, afford
thst continent exceptional water
| transportation. The vast con-
tinental area Of the United States
Is quite differently situated. its
greater dependence upon railroad
transportation being attested by
its possession of near one-haIf the
railroad mileage of the world, and
even this is not adequate. The
inevitable expansion of pipula
ton will enormously increase the
burden upon our transportation
facilities. and proper forethought
must dictate the present adoption
OF wise and far-seeing policies in
dealing with transportation.
IT broad-visioned craftsmanship