The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-12-06
No. 6

What is the reason for this situa-
ton? To this much thought has
been given and not the least by the
farmer himself. Many say it is over
production. Others take the attitude
that there can-be no over-production
as long as parts of the worlds popu-
lation are nder-nourished. Certain
ly our production has been such that
the world will not take the farm
products grown at price remuner-
ative to the farmer. In that sense
then there has been over-production
in this country. The farmer him.
self is beginning to feel more and
more however, that the existing pri-
ces of his products is not in itself as
serious as fact that the prices of
other goods are as far out of line.
He feels that while he sells the ma
joriity of his goods on world mar
ket where the surplus exported large
ly sets the price, most of the manu-
featured goods which, he must pur-
chase are sold on a home market
protected against importations by ar
tificial barriers and the surplus is
sold abroad at whatever it will bring.
The understanding that is coming is
well illustrated in letter from cor
respondent to the Portland Oregon
ian in recent issue who says: eff
the farmer must sell his products in
the markets of the world, the manu-
facturer must do the same thing"
In other words, it is growing con-
viction on the part Of many that if
their goods must meet the COMPETE
ton Of world markets, the same sit
uation should prevail with reference
to manufactured goods in order that
the balance in purchasing power be-
tween the farmers products and man.
ufactured goods may be restored
through the orderly working of eco
nomic laws.
On the other hand, large and in
creasing proportions Of the farmers
are convinced that the producer of
agricultural products must be organ
lied until they control the major
part Of the output in every line so
that through this control they may
set the price of their goods in the
home markets and sell their surplus
abroad at whatever it will bring. This
of necessity involves tariff suffi-
GENTLY high on farm products to
prove as effective q barrier against
imports Of manufactured goods. Which
of these two ideas will prevail, only
time can tell. Certain it is that the
economic conditions for the farmer
must improve or the rapid movement
from farms to cities Of the last two
years when upwards Of a million and
a half have actually been lost to the
farm will continue until balance is
reached and production on the farm
has been reduced to such an extent
that an increasing and, urgent demand
from the non-farming population will
bring the prices in line. This slow
working of economic law, while GER
tain, often is cruel remedy and
means untold losses to literally thou
sands of individual farmers that the
farming industry as a whole may be
saved. In the long run. because Of in
evitable short crop years and absence
of surplus, it also will entail much
human suffering from actual want
for food on the part of the city popu-
lations. Should it not be possible for
us to help in a more rapid readjust-
ment so that such a situation may
never be necessary?
As q result of the critical situation
from tho economic standpOint the