The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-07-18
HARDING The
FARMERS FRIEND

In his speech at Hutchinson, Kan
sas, dealing with topics of particular
interest to our agricultural industry,
President Harding generously left to
others much credit for accomplish
ment which he might properly have
taken to himself. He spoke of the
governments part in lettering the
situation, and also of the cooperation
of all the governmental agencies and
the great national farm organizations.
Probably because of a desire to avoid
ever the appearance of making a
speech that could be considered po-
litical, he omitted any claim of per-
sonal achievement.
During his career in the senate, Mr..
Harding was a Jealous advocate of
measures which tended to improve the
condition of American agriculture.
In his addresses as a candidate for
the presidency, he emphasized the
need for governmental policies which
would relieve agriculture of the de-
preston under which it was then suf-
fering and which would aid agricul-
tural producers in finding larger and
better markets for their products.
His speeches as a candidate, were,
after his Inauguration, translated into
official acts which have brought very
tangible results.
One of his first Official acts was
to put into effect the work of the war
finance corporation, which had been
revived by the Republican congress
by the passage of a ball over the veto
of President Wilson. His next offO-
cial act was the calling of a special
session of congress for the enactment
of ali agricultural emergency tariff
law and for the appropriation of ad-
ditiOnal funds for the work of the
farm loan board. Although the farm
loan board was still in legal exist
ence and was theoretically active, il
had become practically inactive be
cause of lack Of funds. The combined
work of the farm loan board and the
war finance corporation, which latter
agency furnished funds for the order.
ly marketing of crops, which would
have been sold at enormous sacrifices
if forced upon a surfeited market, to-
gether with the enactment of the EN-
Urgency agricultural tariff law, which
protected American agricultural pro
ducers against ruinous competition
from other countries, did all that wa:
possible to be done by government
assistance to relieve the farmers from
the depression brought about by tn
deflatiOn program of the Democrat
federal reserve board in 1920.
During the campaign of 1920 Nj
Cox had endeavored to make foreigl
Affairs the dominant issue of the cam
paign. Although MIR. Hs) ding al,
not evade any issue bearing upon for
eiCn relations, he insisted that dc
nestle problems were of paramount
Importance. Among these domesti
problems he gave first place to agr.
culture. Because of his insistenc
upon the Importance Of this subject j
his campaign and because of HI
prompt and vigorous leadership fC
the enactment Of legislation and f.
the effective administration of tn;
legislation after it had been enacte
President Harding is entitled to
very large measure of credit for r.
suits accomplished.
Because he was modest in pointir
out his part in the work that had bee
done is no reason why the America
people should be ~neglectful in accor
ing him the credit to which he is e
titled.