The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-02
REED ADDRESSES
PRICECONFFRFNCE
Agricultural Problems and
Remedies Discussed
NEED OF MARKETS
Two Things Advanced That
Would Benefit Farmers At
Present Time
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch. ]

ules were advanced as logical rene
dies for the present agricultural de-
preston in the northwest by ]. F.
Reed, president of the Minnesota
Farm Bureau Federation in an ad-
dress delivered before the North
west Agricultural Price Stabilize :
ZION conference here today. Mr. Reed
opposed artificial price adjustments,
fasserting that such action would
Lead TO an unbalanced situation in
the business world and cause reac-
ton detrimental TO the welfare OF
producers
During the last three years of ex-
ceSsive agricultural depression, far
mefs have been cropping around for
some means that will place their
business, ii not on parity with that
OF other industries, in as good po-
sltion, at least, as thew were prior to
the world war;" Mr.. Reed SAID.
There is not a business OF any
magnitude in America today that
does not realize Its interdependence
upon agriculture. The position in
p which agriculture now nnds itself
has been brought on by causes over
which producers never have had
!. have been the master. In a word,
y this situation is the result of the
present disparity between the prices
of products of our fields and feed
lots and the prices the farmers
have TO pay for the necessities for
their homes and equipment
Best Solution Of Farmers.
a higher price for farm products
is obviously the best solution from
the farmers standpoint and l am
strongly OF the opinion that this So
tuition must come through efforts on
he parS OF farmers themselves, not
in the control of his products, but
in the directing of their movement
p 10 marketing and sale.
One OF the major difficulties in
the way of this program however, Is
the farmer himself and his inner
lied tendency TO yield nothing TO
what he considers his inherent
lights, nor do anything that will &C
commodate himself or his business
10 his neighbors' need.
Organized business, as now con-
Quoted. moves with mass effect
against the development OF group
action in agriculture, and to the ex-
tent that paid propogandists can ian
the ancient idea of isolation, indie
pendsnce and self reliance in the
farmer. producers efforts viii fail.
The business of agriculture can
not violate the ordinary economic
principles of business and be long
5, stained. any more than can any
ether business be sustained on an
artificial plan for any considerable
time without Tuinous reaction TO the
bu siuesS itself. !
\ study OF Tariff Schedules.
"A casual study of the tariff SEIZED
u'es. as affecting agriculture. leaves
.,ach a tremendous balance Tor the
rarmer TO paw that il is staggering In
rs proportion.
II have not seen criticisms ny or
csniZed business interests or the
difference in price made. possible by
this act. 1t seems to me entirely
meet that this important subject
should receive careful consideration
in our studies OF what can be done
10 assist agriculture.
legislative bodies nave talked
aloud and long of their willingness
and their sincerity to do something
for agriculture, but usually they
have turned their backs upon legis-
hecause of the preponderance OF the
weight of opposition to needed
measures brought by organized
business, and the lack OF organized
agriculture to function in mass ac.
zion. | regret the two most helprul
things that can be done for agri-
culture at the present time to be:
"First-Extension, correlation
and strengthening the cooper
alive marketing program.
''Second-A demand upon leg
tslative bodies for equal oppor-
tunity with other organized in
dustries.
Until farm organizations can be
made to function and until farmers
will back their industries with the
same action as do those interested
In other industries, regard any
real help 20 agriculture from out
side sources as of very problemati-
cal value.
Production and production costs,
marketing. transportation, coopera
tion an various economic problems
of the farmer came In for exhaustive
discussion and study today when the
northwest agricultural price STABILIZE
alton conference opened for a two
day session here.
delegates from ten wheat growing
states, invited to the conference by
Governor j. A.fO. Preus, were pre-
sent when Rev. T. A. Hoff OF Mime.
: apolis delivered his invocation and
the conference got under way in an
attempt to help the farmer solve
some of his difficulties.
Colonel G. II. March, of Litchneld
Mimi. chairman of the farmer bank
or council of Minnesota, which insti
gated today's meeting, delivered the
opening address to the delegates who
came from Minnesota, Wisconsin
North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois
kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan
and Montana.
Purpose Of Conference
The purpose of the conference, &C
co,dine to the call issued by Gov
erI,or Preus as chairman, is the res
toration of agriculture and industry
in the ten states whose delegates are
taxing part in the deliberations
Five sessions of the conference are
Scheduled. three to be held today
and two tomorrow, the final day OF
the meeting.
Little action is expected at today's
session. which is considered in the
! nature of a preliminary meeting, al
tho,ieh several authorities delivered
address, including Governor Preus
and ]. F. Reed, president of the Min
nesota Farm Bureau Federation.
I'd