Evening star., 1923-12-06

staples having risen In value from
about $5.soo,ooo;ooo tWo years
current year. But range cattle
are still. low in price. and some
sections Of the wheat area. no.
tably Minnesota. North Dakota.
and on west, have many cases OF
actual distress. With his products
products OF industry. every sound
remedy that can be devised should
be applied for the relief Of the
farmer
He represents a character, a
type Of citizenship and a public
necessity that must be preserved
and afforded every facility for re-
gaining prosperity.
Urges Cheap Fertilizer.
The distress is most acute
among those wholly dependent
upon one crop. Wheat acreage
was greatly expanded and has
not yet been sufficiently reduced.
a large amount Is raised for ex-
port, which has to meet the COM
petition in the world market OF
large amounts raised on land
much cheaper and much more
productive.
No complicated scheme of re-
lief, no plan for government fix
. public Treasury will be OF any
permanent value in establishing
agriculture. Simple and direct
methods put into operation by
the farmer himself are the only
real sources for restoration.
Indirectly the farmer must be
relieved by a reduction ot ma
tional and local taxation. He
must be assisted by the reorgani-
cation of the freight-rate struc-
ture which could reduce charges
on his production. To make this
fully effective there ought TO be
railroad consultations. Cheaper
fertilizers must be provided.
Backs Co-Operatfves.
He must have organization. His
customer with whom he exchanges
products OF the farm for those of
industry is organized. labor Is or
ganized. business Is organized, and
there is no way for agriculture to
lied. The acreage of wheat is too
large. Unless we can meet the
world market at a profit we must
stop raising for export Organiza-
tion would help to reduce acreage.
Systems Of cooperative market
ing created by the farmers them
selves. supervised by competent
management. without doubt would
be of assistance, but they cannot
wholly solve the problem. Our
agricultural schools ought to have
thorough courses in the theory
of organization and cooperative
marketing.
Diversification is necessary.
Those farmers who raise their
living on 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
temporary and emergency ex-
The remaining difficulty is the
disposition of exportable wheat.
! do not favor the permanent In
reference of the government in
would increase the trouble by in
creasing production. But il seems
feasible to provide government
assistance to exports, and autnor-
ity should be given the War
Finance Corporation to grant. in
terms of payment for fats and
grains exported for the direct
benefit of the farm.
Wanted Muscle ShoaIs.
The government is undertaking
n
project known as Muscle Shoals.
on which IL has expended many
million dollars. The work is. still
going on. Subject to the right to
retake In time of war. ] recon-
mend that this property with a
location for auxiliary steam plant
and rights of. way be sold. This
would end the present burden or
expense and should return to the
Treasury the largest price possible
to secure.
While the price is an important
element. there Is another consld-
Grafton even more compelling. The
Agriculture Of the nation needs a
greater supply and lower cost OF
Fertilizer. This Is now imported In
large quantities. The best infor-
nation ] can secure indicates that
present methods Of power produc-
tion would not be able profitably
to meet the price at which these
imports can be sold. To obtain
would require long and costly eX-
perimentation to perfect a proc
ess for cheap: production. Other
wise our purpose would fail COM
pletely 1t seems desirable, there
fore, in order to protect and pro-
mote the public welfare, to have
adequate covenants that such ex-
ON to success. The great advan-
tage OF low-priced nitrates must
be secured for the direct benefit of
the farmers and the indirect bene-
fit Of the public in time of peace,
and Of the government in time OF
war. If this main object be ac-
compiished. the amount OF money
received for the property is not q
primary or major consideration.
Such a solution will involve COM
plicated negotiations. and there
Is no authority for that purpose. l
therefore recommend that the
Congress appoint a small joint
committee to consider offers. con-
duct negotiations and report def-
mite recommendations.
Reclamation Needs.
BY reason of many contributing
causes occupants of our reclama-
tion projects are in financial difh-
culties, which in some cases are
acute. Relief should be granted by
definite authority of law empower
ing the Secretary of the interior
in his discretion to suspend, re-
adjust and reassess all charges
against water users. This whole
question is being considered by ex-
perts. You will have the advan-
tsge of the facts and conclusions
which they may develop. This SIT
uation, involving a government in
restment Of more than 10000
900, and affecting more than 10000
water users, is serious. While re-
= lief which Is necessary should be
granted, yet contracts with the
government which can be met
should be met. The established
general policy OF these projects
should not be abandoned for any
private control.
Backs Highways and Forests.
Highways and reforestation
should continue to have the inter-
est and support of the govern
ment. Every one is anxious for
good highways. I have made
liberal proposal in the budget for
the continuing payment, to the
states by the federal government
Of It's share for this necessary pub
lie Improvement. No expenditure
of public. money contributes SO
much to the national wealth as for
building good roads. =:
n mort anrn