Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-24

farmers income and his purchasing
power has been still further reduced
by the disproportionately high cost OF
everything he needs to buy"
Representative Anderson in an ad.
dress accepting the Craftsmanship OF
ton of normal conditions in the farm
ing industry was dependent upon the
completion Of REIMBURSEMENT of com
modify prices, of costs and profits
manufacture and distribution and III
the establishment of means of ST.
bilizing farm product prices upon a
profitable level.
No Magic Wand
"When / consider the desperate
character of the situation" Represent
alive Anderson said, Il could wish
that there was come means of bringing
about this condition by governmental
action, but / am sure there is no magic
wand of administrative action that can
bring about these results. / am per-
suaded that they only can be accom-
plished through a more efficient or
ganization of producers"
Mr.. Anderson declared that the gov
eminent must remove the obstacles
which retard, if they do not prevent,
combinations Of farmers for the pur-
pose Of sorting, packing or processing
their products. The states must give
legal status to organizations Of this
kind"
Corn belt farmers were described as
in the worst condition in the nation S
history by A. Sykes of Ida Grove,
Iowa, speaking for that section.
Scattered over the corn belt are
thousands of farmers facing ruin" Mr..
Sykes declare, land some of them are
embittered." Mr. Sykes said the farm
ers in the face of such conditions were
compelled to pay increased prices for
materials they need and for transporta-
ton and they want to know why
Reduction of retail prices to cor
respond with reduced prices which
farmers are receiving for their prod
ucts, Mr.. Sykes said, would do much
viving industry.
Congress Is Scared
w. ]. Bryan late in the afternoon
described the conference as one of
the most important held ia this country
was in the worst condition in 80 years
and he could not see how there could
be any general prosperity until the
condition of the farmer was improved.
Touching on other questions. he de-
clared that the present congress had
done more than previous ones, "be-
cause I think it's more scared than
other congresses
| Praising the agricultural bloc. he
said it was different from other blocs,
because its members had acted open
| ly and the others acted secretly
| John III. Hagan, Of North Dakota,
4 6, LII
w. Morton. Of Georgia. for the cot
| the livestock producers. and Z. 3.
Cornwall, of Vermont, for the north
eastern agriculturists, maed sugges-
tons for remedial measures, most of
f! the mtouching on reduction of freight
rates and retail prices.
Thomas f. Wilson Of Chicago,
president Of the Institute of American
Meat Packers, declared that the agri-
cultural depression has been a great
factor in reducing "tremendously" the
value Of the packer industry output,
| upsetting stability by forcing livestock
| and packing house products below the
general level of commodity values and
turning a small rate of profit into a
| large loss" The packer, he said, has
| done everything within his power to
| assist agriculture in tiding over the
critical period.
| Mr.. Wilson suggested much might
be done by increasing meat consump-
ton. Production, he declared. must be
placed on more scientific basis,
economics affected and costs reduced
Effects of falling wheat markets
! have been destructive to the milling
! business, James F. Bell, of Mime
apolis, asserted, adding there was too
much competition in the intermediary
steps between the producer and con-