Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-06
SERVING THE FARMERS
washington Post)

Through all the pother over farm
movements and agricultural hlocs
there runs false note implying a
widening rift between the party in
power and agricultural element
This false note is clearly traceable
10 the false string on which the par
tisan opposition so persistently plays.
If any administration ever has played
fair with the farmer championed his
cause honestly, fought his battles
fearlessly and effectively, and kept
the faith in letter and in spirit, it
is the one now in power. Yet par
tisans do not hesitate to malign it
for the good that it has done, to
distort it's ministrations to agricul-
tural needs into semblance of injury,
to attempt to poison farmers with
| distrust and, by implying an antago-
nism that does not exist, to betray
the agricultural element into be-
traying the administration that has
proved itself friend in need and
deed.
From its beginning to the present
time, the present administration has,
directly and indirectly, by depart
mental activities and special relief
| agencies, by Independent and cooper
alive actions of the executive and
Congress, addressed it's best efforts
to aid the farmer, and has rendered
nm yeoman service in removing
obstacles that have too long been
permitted to block his path. On its
accession to power, the administra-
ton found the farmer foundering in
slough of despond into which he.
had been plunged by economic con-
dluons brought about in part by the
eXtravagant practices of the pre-
ceding regime. In the shadow of
threatening financial and industrial
disaster that then lowered over the
nation, the farmer burdened by in
deDtedneSS and crop poor as a result
OF falling prices, doomed as a figure
cast for tragedy. His condition de-
manded immediate relief, and this
the present administration has given
him.
One of Mr.. Hardng's first acts
was issuance of a call for an extra
session of Congress, in order that
there might be prompt enactment of
tariff measure, which would afford
the farmer quick relief from falling
prices. This legislation was speedily
put through in the form of an emcr-
gency tariff, and the subsequent rise
OF prices on agricultural cOmmodi-
Ties is convincing proof of the effec-
tlYcnesS of this remedial action
But this relief was not enough, and
the adm ra ion rpolizaI IL Wat
numbers of farmers were threatened
with loss not only in stored crops
but in lands, on which they had been
forced to place mortgages and liens.
To enable them to meet the oblisa-
tons thus created, the War Finance
Corporation advanced funds that en-
abled agricultural debtors to come
safely through the era of stress. AS
result Of that aid, many basic
agricultural industries have been
rescued from threatened collapse. and
thousands of farm homes throughout
the country have been saved. from
foreclosure. Then came the crop-
destroying drouths of last year TO
asgravatc the plight Of the farmers
in certain sections. To meet the re-
sultlng need for relief, appropriations
running into the millions have been
made and advanced as loans to en-
able the stricken farmers to purchase
seed and start fresh crops
In addition TO tariff and financial
aid extended the farmer, the admins
tratlon has been diligent in promoting
his interests in other directions-as
in the exercise Of executive influence
which proved so effective in bring
ing about the reduction in railroad
freight rates on agricultural COM
moditics
The aid thus given the farmer in
meeting what may be termed his
temporary needs is only partial
statement of the credit due the adj
ministration on this score. Some of
the agricultural conditions that con-
fronted it on its assumption of con-
troll called for more than temporary
aid. 1t could not deal with them
successfully without dealing with
them on permanent basis-and this
the Republican party has done and
is doing. Congress is now putting
its best efforts into the task of en-
acting permanent tariff schedule
that will afford the farmer the con
tinuinS protection that he needs. II
has extended the scope of War Fl
nance activities to include the finance
of marketing operations in a manner
that will enable the farmers to reap
the benefits to he placed within their
reach by the protective tariff. The
administration has addressed itself
to the problem of transportation as