Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-23
FULL TEXT OF THE
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

Il
Secretary Wallace and members Of
the conference:
at Is an occasion of the greatest salts
faction to me that Secretary WaIlace's
invitation has been so widely and cordial
ly accepted. / confess tho firm belief
that In the public life of a people SO in
telHgene as the American Nation most
problems max be regarded as well on
the way TO solution when they are once
reduced to their simplest terms and
generally understood. This conference
was called with the aim to bring about
such a general understanding of the
critical situation now confronting Amer
lean agriculture,
I'VE all understand that this con
ference is not a legislative body. It's
recommendations will require to be
written into the statute books by other
authorities. or applied in administration,
after sanction by those who must assume
responsibility. But we do confidently
anticipate that the considerations here
had will be helpful and Illuminating to
those Immediately responsible for the
formulation of public policy in dealing
with these problems. Therefore. il has
seemed to me. 7 can make no more ap-
prOpriate observation than that your
work here will be If value precisely as
you address yourselves to the realities.
the matters Of fact. the understanding
Of conditions as they are. and the pro
posal OF feasible and practicable methods
for dealing with those conditions.
Concerning the grim reality Of the
present crisis in agriculture, there can
be no differences of opinion among IN
formed people. The depressiOns and dis
couragements are not peculiar to agrl-
culture, and 1 think it fair to say there
could have been no avoidance or a great
slump from wartime eXcesSeS to the
hardships Of reimbursement. We can have
no helpful understanding by assuming
that agriculture suffers alone but we
NAV fairly recognize the fundamental df-
fcultfes which accentuate the agricultural
discOura gemeuts. and menace the health
full life Of this basic and absolutely
necessary industry.
~ do not need to tell YOU or the
country of the supreme service that the
farmer rendered our Nation and the
world during the war Peculiar circum-
stances placed our allies in Europe, as
we'll as our own country, IN a position
Of peculiar and unprecedented depend
ence on the American farmer. with his
labor supply limited and in conditions
which made producing costs high be
voud all precedent. the farmer rose to
The emergency He did everything that
was asked Of him. and more than most
people believed it was possible for MIN
to DO. Now, in his hour OF disaster
consequent on the reaction from the
feverish conditions of war, he comes to
US asking that he be given support ana
assistance which shall testify our ap-
probation of his service. To this he -
entitled. not Only for the service he has
done. but because if we fail him we Will
precipitate a disaster that viii affect
every industrial and commercial activity
of the Nation.
THE Administration has been keenly
alive TO the situation and has given en-
coura cement and support TO every meas
ure which 1t believed calculated to amcll-
crate the condition of agriculture. In the
effort to finance crop movements. to eX-
pand foreign markets, to expand creolts
at home and abroad, much has been ac-
complished These have been. it is true.
largely in the nature Of emerged
measures. SO long a 5 the emergency con
tinUes. 1t must he dealt with as such;
but at the same time there is every reason
for us to consider those permanent modi-
fications of policy which may make re
lief permanent, may secure agriculture so
far as possible against the danger That
such conditions viii arise again, and
place it as an industry in the trmest and
most assured position for the future.
You men are thoroughly familiar with
the distressing Diet ais OF present condl-
tons in the agricultural community. he
whole country has an acute concern with
the conditions and the problems which
you are met to consider. 1t is a truly
national interest, and not entitled to q
regarded as primarily the concern OF
either class or section.
CITES DEPENDENCE
ON AGRICULTURE.
"Agrfculture is the Oldest and most
elemental Of Industries. Every other
activity is intimately related TO and large
Iy dependent upon it. 1t is L he first in
dustry to which society makes appeal
in every period Of distress and difficulty.
When war is precipitated, the first d.
mand is made on the farmer, that he will
produce the wherewithal for both com
batdnts aud the civil population to be
fed and in large part also to be clothed
q = a
agriculture has always been the first
line of support of communities in war,
and too commonly he victim Of those
distresscs which em5nate from great con
ficts. Perhaps [ may be pardoned word
by way of developing this idea UntH
comparatively very recent times the land
was the first prize of victory in war.
The~cOnquerOr distributed he subJugated
soil among his favorites and gave them
his prisoners as slaves TO work it. Thus
the ownership Of the land became the
symbol of favor and aristocracy, while
he working Of it was regarded as the
task Of menials, dedicated 10 iH-paid
toll in order that the owners Of the
able. TO maintain themselves III luxury
and 70 enforce their political authority y.
Coming down through the ages, we
see the advance OF clvllization gradually
emancipating the soil from this low es
tate We see the institutions Of seldom
and vilIenaEe, under the feUdal order,
succeeding those IF slavery. Later, we
see the creation Of a rural peasantry,
broadly those who till the soil,
but in most cases do not own it, anu
whose political rights are very re-
strcted. 1t is, indeed, not until We
come to very recent times aud to our
own country's development that we see
the soil lifted above the faint Of this
unjust heredity, and restored to the full
dignity and independence to which 1t is
entitled.
most modern and enlightened establish
ments the soil has continued to enjoy
less liberal institutions for its encourage
ment and promotion than many other
forms of industry, Commerce and manu-
featuring have been afforded ample finan I
cial facilities for their encouragement
and expansion. while agriculture on the
whole has Jagged behind The merchant. |
the manufacturer, the great instrument
Of public transportation, have been pro
vided methods by which they enlist
necessary capital more readily than
does the farmer. 4 great manufacturing
industry can consolidate under the owner |
ship of a single corporation with null
titude of stockholders, Il great number |
Of originally separate establishments, and |
thus effect economies and concentrations, !
and acquire for itself power in the