The Delta independent., 1923-12-07
FARMERS TROUBLES oRlGl-
MATED IN LAST DEMO-
CRATIC ADMINISTRATiO

Washington, Dec. AT a recent
cabinet meeting at which the entire
agricultural situation was canvasse6.
Secretary Wallace presented a survey
of conditions, together with some OBJ
servations and suggestions. The fol-
lowing official summary of Secretary
Wallaces survey is issued by the De-
partment of Agriculture:
Dealt in some detail with the diff
cult conditions under which the wheat
farmers in the spring and winter
wheat belts are laboring, setting forth
financial conditions in those regions,
production costs, taxation, freight
rates, etc.
Told what the department has been
doing during the past two years
through its extension and other activi-
ties to promote diversification of
crops, better preparation of grain for
market, explanation to help farmers
take advantage of new credit facilities
provided by Congress, cooperative or
ganizations, etc.
The government has very definite
responsibility, not only to wheat farm
ers but to the farmers in general, first
because we can not hope to have gen.
eral prosperity desired until fair price
relationships between agriculture, in
dustry, commerce and labor are re-
stored, and second, because the gov
ernment itself is in part responsible
for difficulties under which farmers
are now working
The war administration exercised
direct control over prices of wheat and
so far as possible controlled prices of
other agricultural products.
By appeals to patriotism the war ad,
ministration caused a large extension
in the cultivated acreage and large in
crease in production, creating sur
plus which is now burdening us.
By similar appeals to patriotism the
war administration caused a decreased
per capita consumption of both wheat
and meat.
The war administration caused
large advances in freight rates and
fixed upon us for some time to come
a large part of these advances by
granting heavy increases in wages and
marked changes in wage classifica-
tions and hours of employment
The war administration contributed
very much to the initiation of living
costs and of farm costs of production
by encouraging the cost-plus system in
other than agricultural industries.
During the war the administration
lent itself to great initiation in gener-
al, and this initiation was encouraged
either directly or indirectly after
peace and until the summer of 1920 in
stead of being checked. Then almost
at once a drastic deflation policy was
inaugurated, which was especially eff
fective as to agriculture and which
many believe to have been directed
against agriculture. These policies
had not little part in bringing about
the distorted relationship between the
prices for agricultural products and
prices for other things which is the
root of our troubles now.
Because of these policies the gov
tl Ildb very ulltCl TtSpOuSlDlll-
ties to the farmer and should do every
thing it properly can to help restore
normal relationships between agricul-
ture, industry, commerce and labor.
Attention must be given to condi-
tion of agriculture as a whole. Just
now wheat is the center OF attention
because of the ruinously low price. 1t
is not long since cotton and wool were
in similar state, and only two years
ago corn was selling far below the pre-
war price. Next year it may be some
thing else. The wheat situation is but
one symptom of a generaHzed and
serious trouble. The real problem is
to re-establish fair ratios between agri-
culture and other things.
Little faith in efficacy or arbitrary
government price fixing OF any one
crop. Even If 1t should afford temper.
airy help it would almost certainly
within a short time make conditions
worse for the farmer instead OF better
! The buying and holding of a large