The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-08

OF the courage and hopefuinesS oil
the American farmer. H..
Certainly no other industry could
have taken the losses agriculture
has taken and maintain production,
he said, land we have no evidence
to show that any other group OF
workers would have taken the re-
dUction in wages in the spirit in
which the farmers have taken their
reduction. Many thousands of far
mers have not been able to weather
the storm, Notwithstanding their
strenuous efforts. Thousands who
purchased land during the period OF
high prices have been obliged to
give up the struggle, let their land
30 back, lose all the money they
paid for it, and start anew. Many
thousands of renters who had sub
stantial savings. invested in farm
equipment and livestock have gone
through the same experience and
have lost everything"
Some Hopeful Aspects 80.
There are some hopeful aspects
to the situation Notwithstanding the
continued low purchasing power of
farm products, Secretary Wallace
pointed oat
ut is fair to say that in general
the farmers of the United States are
in better position financially now
then they were year or eighteen
months ago." he declared. Farm
products are selling at considerably
higher prices, and 1t is estimated the
aggregate value of the crops in the
country this year is about $3.50,
000,0 900 more than last year. Consid
cradle quantities o. these crops will
be fed and the increased value will
not be wholly recovered by the far
mer. but the bare fact that such a
large increase in money will reach
most gratifying and reaSsuring.
THE advance in price of cotton
has been most helpful throughout
the cotton growing states, Consid
erably higher prices for wool, lambs,
and sheep have resulted in pulling
the sheep industry out of the slough
Of despond and setting it on its feet
again. Right through the period of
depression hogs have been selling
at. considerably higher prices rela
| lively than corn. On the whole ii has
been fairly satisfactory year for
cattle feeders. Credit conditions
have have fd improved and interest rates
3. Another Hopeful Sign
Another hopeful sign is the in
creasing willingness and desire OF
people engaged in industry, com
merce and finance to help bring
about O more favorable adjustment
for the farmer. Such people are com
ing to realize more and more the
10 hnt al -, to- a
SO unfayorable TO agriculture as
those OF the PAST three yeas. Their
latitude toward the farmer has
changed from that OF a benevolent
paternalism such as was 50 much in
evidence during the ten years pre-
lceding the war. They now under
stand more clearly that their OWE
future is inse2arably linked up with
the farmer, and that in doing what
they can to help him get on his feet
again they are helping themselves
as well"
In relation, to the price of farm
products at the farms and prices
charged for farm products in the
cities, Secretary Wallace said the
cost of distribution remains high, not
withstanding frequent violent de-
nunciations of profiteers in the
cities. In part, this high cost of dis
tribution, he declared, is caused by
the multiplication of distributing
agencies during the last six years,
in part by the increase in rent, and
supplies, but in larger part by the
higher wages which employees b the
distributing business have BEEN able
to maintain. .H
Taxes on farms in most farming
states have more than doubled and
is proving to be one of the most fire.
quent subjects Of complaint by far
mers and during the next few years
considerable attention by thoughtful
farmers.