Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-11-23

German repara-
tons and the solution Of the Russian
problem.
The farmer has a greater direct in
terest in European conditions at this
time than has the merchant or the
manufacturer or the banker. They
all have other trade fields to which
they can turn. The farmer has none
other Europe is the sole customer
for our agricultural SURPRISES, the dis
position Of which Is vital to every
American industry.
Open European Markets.
A shrewd business frm is always in
terested in the welfare Of its Gus
toners. The fewer the customers the
more solicitous the management.
Since the farmer has but the one Gus
toner 1t becomes exceedingly lmpor.
tant that our trade relationships with
Europe be maintained upon such a re-
eiprocal basis as will enable us to
keep open our European markets. So
keenly do the farmers Of the country
realize not only our moral obligations
to Europe in time Of their distress but
our own economic dependence upon
their welfare that we insist upon such
liberal grant of credit as can be safe
ly accorded them and object to any
tariff barriers which would prevent
an easy flow of world commodities.
There is no limit to the agricultural
possibilities of America and we ought
always to produce a food surplus. Our
national safety, in fact, depends upon
it. But If we produce a surplus, we
must have for that surplus not only a
market but a profitable market. 1t IS
because that market lies almost ex-
clusiyely In Europe that the American
farmer has so vital an interest in the
reconstruction of Europe.
Farmers Foreign Commerce.
Let US see how large the farmers
stake is in foreign commerce. In 1920
the whole value Of all domestic ex-
ports for the year was Ss,Os0,O0O0OO
OF this total amount s4,122, 100000
we're agricultural commodities either
In raw state or semi-fnished form.
This was Ss2,OO0OO0, more than one
half the entire amount of exported
products.
It is interesting to know that for
that year there was exported S1,53S,-
100000 of cotton, $1,TS0 100000 bread
stuffs, S4s1 100000 Of Animals and
animal products, $2S9O00,OOO tobacco,
the four commodities constituting
more than so per cent of the total.
There are three things which If ac-
complished in Europe would assist
greatly American agriculture, viz, the
balancing Of European budgets, the
final settling of German reparations
and the sterilization of exchange.
The three are somewhat inter-related.
A nation is like an individual, it can
not continue to spend more than It
collects indefinitely. Bankruptcy
would inevitably come. This Europe
has done and has kept out of bank
ruptcy as yet through the issuance of
currency not based on stable values.
This has been largely responsible for
the drop in the price of foreign ex-
change. 1t is clear that American agri-
culture which dispOses of so many
surpluses abroad, is able to sell its
products for a higher price as the
price Of exchange goes higher and be
comes more certain. Our interest lies
in having exchange go back to par
and stay there.
Gold Basis Necessary
have Indicated that the interest Of
the United States and Of American
agriculture lies in the re-establish-
ment of the gold basis by foreign
countries This cannot be accom-
pllshed by draining those countries of
their gold as had been done in 1921,
during which period net gold imports
into the United States exceeded three
fourths of a billion dollars.
Production is not only the antithesis
Of bankruptcy-it is the cure for 1t.
1t is the only means by which we
progress in material affairs or ad
vance in our standards of living. Half
our own domestic trouble lies in lack
Of production. As nation we
need to learn that idleness is more
we need to learn that idleness is more
highly fatal physically, socially and
morally than is overwork. l can CON
ceive of no better solvent for the pres
ent world distress than work-and
Europe can only be rehabilltated
through the medium of well-directed
productive energy. The American
Farm Bureau gladly joins its efforts in
every good effort to bring order out
of a world chaos. Our cause and In
terest are one. We must be patient
for the whole civilized world is yet
war torn and shell shocked. The ends
we must seek are not nostrums or ex-
pedients or stimulants but perma.
nent welfare of the people and the
continuing peace and good will of the
nations
ONION GROWERS WILL