The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-07
ATTITUDE OF
COOLIDGE ON
n. W. is GIVEN
President Discusses Wheat
and Other Farm Prob
lens

President Coolidge's statement OF
what he believes Congress may do
to aid the Northwest, as told to Con-
gress in his annual message, fol-
laws:
aided by the sound principles
adopted by the government, the bus
mess Of the country has had an extra
ordinary revival Looked at as a
whole the nation is In the enjoy
mcnt Of remarkable prosperity. In
dustrv and commerce are thriving.
For the most part agriculture is sue
ccSsful eleven staples having risen
in value from about $4,000, 900, 900
two years ago to about $1,000 900, 900
for the current year. But range cat
tie are still low in price, and some
sections OF the wheat area, notably
Minnesota, North Dakota, and on
west. have many cases of actual dis
trcss. With his products not selling
on parity with the products of in
dustry, every sound remedy that can
be devised should be applied for the
relief of the farmer. He represents
a character. Il type of citizenship, and
IL public necessity that must be pre-
served and afforded every facility
for regaining prosperity.
THE distress is most acute among
those wholly dependent upon one
crop. Wheat acreage was greatly
expanded and has-not yet been sutfi-
GENTLY reduced. A large amount is
raised for export, which has to meet
the competition in the world market
Of large amounts raised on land much
cheaper and much more productive.
mo complicated scheme of relief,
no plan for government fixing of
prices, no resort to the public trea-
sury will be Of any permanent value
ia establishing agriculture. Simple
and direct methods put into opera
ton by the farmer himself are the
only real sources of restoration.
''Indrectly the farmer must be &c
licved by Il reduction Of natural and
local taxation. lie must he assisted
by the reorganization of the freight
rate structure which Gould reduce
charges on his production. To make
this fully effective there ought to be
railroad consultations. Cheaper
fertilizers must be provided
He must have organization. His
customer with whom he exchanges
products Of the farm for those of in
dustry is organized labor is organic
ed. business is organized, and there
10 for ltnro To
this unless it, too, is organized. The
acreage of wheat is too large I'm
less we can meet the world market
at n profit. we must stop raising for
export. Organization would help to
reduce acreage. Systems of cooper
alive marketing created by the farm
ers themselves. supervised by COM
petent management, without doubt
would be of assistance9 but they can
not wholly solve the problem. Our
agricultural schools ought to have
thorough courses in the theory Of
organization and cooperative mar
keting
"Diversification is necessary. Those
farmers who raise their land are not
greatly IN distress. Such loans as
are wisely needed to assist buying
stock and other materials to start
in this direction should be financed
through gO'Irnment agency as a
temporary and emergency expedient
The remaining difficulty is the
disposition of exportable wheat.
do not favor the permanent int rfer-
ence of the government in this pro-
,lem. That probably would increase
she trouble by increasing production.
But it seems feasible to provide gov
eminent assistance to exports, and
authority should be given the War
Finance corporation to grant, in its
discretion, the most Liberal terms OF
payment for fats and grains export
ed for the direct benefit of the
farm