Evening star., 1922-01-23
Suggests Six Vital
Steps in Opening
Conferences.
OVER 800 EXPERTS
TAKE UP PROBLEM
Secretary Wallace Seeks
Action to Make
Aid Permanent.

Aid permanent. .
Attended by approximately 500
delegates, representing agriculture in
all its phases and the industries re-
lated 10 farming, the national agri-
cultural conference was. convened in
the large ballroom of the New Will
lard Hotel today by Secretary Wal
lace, and Immediately heard from
President Harding a declaration Of
interest and sympathy by the admin
istrationsin the present plight of the
nations farmers. together with a
series of suggestions for remedying
existing conditions.
The President. in an address touch
ing upon the agricultural situation in
detail. but without attempting to die
tate the course of the conference dis
cussions, outlined a half-dozen broad
questions, to the consideration OF
which the conference might well give
its attention. These briefly included:
Six Vital Questions.
Development of thorough code OF
law and business procedure with the
proper machinery of finance through
some agency to insure that turn
over capital shall be as generously
supplied to the farmer and on as
Reasonable terms as to other indus
tries.
Formation of cooperative loaning,
buying and selling associations.
Creation of instrumenta1ities for
collection and distribution of useful
and true information so as to pre-
vent violent fluctuations of markets.
Practical development of the water
resources of the country both for
Transportation and power, including
plans for Identification Of the ma
tion's railroads.
Methods for bringing about further
reclamation, rehabilitation and ex-
tension of the agricultural area
Promotion of a new conception OF
the farmers place in the national
social and economic scheme.
President Gets Ovation.
The President, who walked the four
blocks from the White House to the
New Willard Hotel, received hearty
ovation when he appeared in the con-
ference hall. ~
The delegates and others in atten-
dance, including a number efssenators
and House members, listened atten-
lively, and frequently applauded the
executives statements. Especially
strong applause greeted his deciara-
tion for more adequate credit facili-
ties and applause also broke forth
when the President made a slight df-
gression to assert that present condi-
tions in the agricultural industry us
truly a national interest and not en-
titled to be regarded as primarily the
concern of either class, or section,
or bloc"
The President was followed by Sec
retary Wallace, who declared the
conference had been called to con-
slider the present agricultural depres-
sion and remedies for it and also the
laying down of permanent policy
for the upbuilding Of sustaining
agriculture.
Mr.. Wallace announced that Repre-
sentative Anderson of Minnesota,
chairman of the joint congressional
inquiry commission, would act as per-
manent chairman of the conference,
and DR.. II. c. Taylor. chief of the bu-
reau of markets and crop estimates,
as executive secretary.
Outlines Relief Plans.
Secretary Wallace told the delegates
that constructive efforts might prop
erly be made in three fields, which he
outlined as follows:
First, what may be done prop
erly through legislative action:
Second, what may be done
through administrative and educa-
tional effort, national and state,
by the various agencies charged
with the duty of fostering agricul-
ture.
Third, what may and should be
done by the farmers themselves
individually and through their or.
ganizations.
Finds Aid Sorely Needed.
"It is not my purpose" the Secre-
tary continued, "to suggest what you
shall do here. Realizing, however,
that you have come at our invitation
and that your time is precious, we
have made plans to help you use this
The Secretary of Agriculture went
on to say that he> had assumed" to
set up committees to deal with the
various questions which automatic
ally present themselves In any gath
erlng called to consider agricultural
problems"
"The agriculture of the nation" Mr.,
Wallace declared, "is in a bad state
and our entire business and indus
trial life Is suffering In consequence.
High production costs followed by
ruinously low prices have greatly re-
duced the farmers net income. and
his purchasing power has been still
further reduced by the dispropor-
tionately high cost Of everything he
needs to buy"
Chairman Anderson's Address,
Chairman Sydney Anderson of the
Joint congressional commission of ag-
ricultural inquiry, in an address on
Agricultural Prices and the Present
Situation" following that by Secfe-
tary Wallace. said, in part:
'The restoration of conditions of
normal operation and prosperity of
the farmers of the country Is depend.
ent. first, upon the completion Of the
cycle of readjustment of commodity
prices and of costs and profits Of
manufacture and distribution, and,
second, upon the establishment of q
means of stabilizing agricultural
when consider the desperate
character of the situation,- / Could
wish that there was some means lof
bringing about this condition BY gov
ernmental action, but am sure there
: is no governmental panacea, that
there Is no magic word Of legislation
and no magic wand of administrative
action that can bring about these re.
suits. ] am persuaded that they can
only be accomplished through q more
efficient organization of the produc-
ers.
., Key to Prosperity. -
ut Is possible by organization for
farmers to standardize the quality Of
the product Of many farmers within q
given locality and by such standardixa-
tion to increase the price Der unit for
the entire crop. / am convinced that
farm organization Of sound, wise and
1ar-seetng character IL the key to
more prosperous and better paid agri.
(COttfnued On PaRe ~ Coiumn "a -,--'