Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-24

industries. -. i H 81
Demand Tor reduction 81 freight
ne vas yoiced generally BY the
saxy. step to start increased consump-
ton Of farm products. E##&s s 3
Cooperation Pledged.
Depression in agriculture, which
vas declared to be general in the
United States by speakers from nv
leading farm regions. ID reflected In
industries intimately connected with
and dependent o a prosperous agri-
culture. 1t was asserted by representa-
tives Of the milling. packing. fertil-
izer and implement industries. Each
with agriculture In any effort looking
to restoration OF normal conditions.
Secretary Wallace, as head of the
department of agriculture. outlined
he purpose OF the conference after
President Harding had delivered his
address, Representative Anderson of
Minnesota was then made permanent
chairman while twelve major COM
mittces were appointed to study vari-
GUS problems with the view of SUBJ
hitting recommendation.
Committees Appointed. -
The committees, with their chair
men. follow:
Agricultural and price relations, z.
B.. Cornwall. Vermont.
Agriculture Credit and Insurance.,
s. F. Houston, Missouri.
Transportation, H. ]. Waters, Mis-
souri,. III, W.,
Foreign Competition and Demands,
HI. Spence, Illinois.
Costs, Prices and Adjustments, H.
L.. Russell, Wisconsin.
Crop and Market Statistics, c. B.
Barrett. Georgia
Marketing of Farm Products, G. n.
Powell. California.
Agricultural Research n Educa-
ton, o. E.. Bradfute, Ohio.
National Forest Policy. Clifford
Pinchot. Pennsylvania.
National Land Policies, r. A. Pear
SOM Iowa.
Farm Population and Farm Homes,
s. J. Lowell. New York, and Co-ordi-
nation of State and Federal Legisla-
ton. s. E.. Brigham, Vermont. r
Tho delegates and their families to-
night yer guests Of President and
Mrs. Harding at a reception at the
White House.
W. j. Bryan Speaks.
William J.. Bryan, who was in the
audience, was called to the platform
late y the afternoon and described
the conference as one of the most i'm
portant held in this country in a long
time. Agriculture, he said, was in the
worst condition in 80 years and he
could not see how there could be any
general prosperity until the condition
of h farmer was improved.
+ Touching on other questions, he de-
cfAred that n present congress had
done more than previous ones, be
cause f. think it's more scare than
other congresses"
Praising the Agricultural bloc, he
a.; said it was different from other bloc.
because its members had acted
openly and the others acted secretly
The situation Of the various great
farming sections of the United States
Were described by their representa-
tives, and the effects of the depressed
agricultural conditions on the allied
industries was discussed during the
afternoon.
/ Ha6an Is Heard.
John H. Haxan Of North Dakota,
speaking for the wheat belt; A. Sykes
Of Iowa, for h corn belt; James w.
Norton of Georgia, for the cotton
belt; H. Bixby Of California, for the
livestock producers. and E. B.. Corn.
wall Of Vermont, for the northeastern
aSrcuiturtsts, made suggestions fos
remedial measures, most of them
touching on reduction Of freight rates
and retail prices. Several of the
speakers also advocated acceptance
by the government Of Henry Ford's
offer for the Muscle Shoals plant.
Re-establishment Of thu grain cor.
poration with a minimum guarantee
price for staple agricultural products,
was advocated by Mr.. Hagan. He
said II this were dom a farmer and
1 q ~
named on the management of the
corporation.
A number Of representatives of in
dustries dependent upon agriculture
followed the agricultural speakers.
Packers Are Hit.
Thomas E.. Wilson of Chicago,
president of the Institute Of Ameri.
c4n Meat Packers, declared that the
agricultural depression had been a
great factor in reducing tremendous
ly" the value of the packer industry
outpt, unsettling stability ~ ~ Z
livestock n packing house products
below the general level of comm ditJ
values and turning a small rate Of
profits into a large loss"
The packer, he said, has done
agriculture in tiding over the critica'
period. The farmer, he added. "hai
done much Of his liquidation through
the packer and the packer has sue.
ceeded in getting this huge volume o.
production. surplue and all, over thu
consumer, though at a great loss"
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
sumner. The milling business, he de
clared, was interested in seeing thu
farmer get q price for his produc
sufficient to stimulate production.
Founder OF Women's
d. I'LL n1.-N