The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-12

AMERICAN FARMERS
ZERO HOUR APPROACHES
Calls 1923 Year One of Fate
For Farmers of United
States.
By George Britt
NEA Service Writer


Des Moines, Ia, June 12.-When
you overhear the rustic inquiry Of
"Hows crops?" you want to perk up
and take notice of the answer
It's far more vital question in the
United States this present growing
season than almost ever before.
For 1923 is the farmers year Of
fate.
No less an authority than o. E..
Bradfute, president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation, is back OF
that statement.
Daylight Dawning
1.-The outlook so far is good, but il
it doesn't pan out. it's all up with
thousands of farmers" says Brad
fute.
"They can't run along on paper any
farther. The level of agricultural
depression has lifted since late 1920.
"Tha farmer can see daylight now.
His accounts are not SO deeply in the
red ink figures as they were two
years ago. But the time is almost
here when he must be paying off his
MOI tgages. The banks have got to be
cared for.
"Unlcss this turns out to be a good
crop year, l am afraid we shall see
foreclosures Swapping all around u.s.
The farmer this year has fairc.
fighting chance to overcome his
handicaps than any time recently.
Bradfute points out. His greatest
gain. perhaps, has been in the in
tangible quality of renewed optim-
ism. He is cheerful again and be-
lievcs he can pull out of the slump.
On top of that he has the machin-
cry of the newly amended federal
warehouse act to help in marketing.
He can hold his crops to sell them
when the market is right, stepping
into the position Of the middleman
and dealing more directly with the
consumer.
Must Conserve Resources
A second advantage from lcgisla-
tion is the new rural credits act
which makes it possible to get long
term loans on advantageous terms.
The Farm Bureau Federation is try
ing to come to the rescue still furth-
er by seeking reduced railroad rates
on agricultural products.
But IN this critical period, the
only safe policy for the farmer is to
conserve what resources he has" de-
clares Bradfutc.
"In at least one of the states, the
president of the State Farm Bureau
has advised the farmers not to buy
anything that is not absolutely es.
sential. The reports from the big
mail order houses say their business
is growing. I suspect that the mean
ing is that the farmers are seeking
30 buy necessaries by mail and save
a few cents on each purchase under
the price at the crossroads stores.
During the war period of pros
perity, farmers got used to a higher
standard of living. They got auto
mobiles and victrolas and silk sox
and sent their children to college.
Farmers now are fighting to maintain
that standard, and they have right
to those things.
I'm some instances. however, !
know that they are keeping up that
pace at the expense of their capital
investment. They are letting their
farms go without fences and fertiliz-
er and paint. That means that they
are consuming their farms"
One other angle to the situation
is pointed out. In the states where
cooperative marketing prevails, and
on crops SO organized. the recovery
toward prosperity is greater than in
the non-co-operative states.
That may be simple coincidence,
Bradfute admits. But it is a fact.