Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-15

whole country. Before we are car
ried away with any visionary ex-
pectation Of promoting the public
welfare by a general avalanche OF
cheap goods from foreign sources,
imported under a system which.
whatever it may be called, is in
reality free trade. it will be well first
to count the cost and realize just
what such a proposal really means.
Protection and Agriculture
I am for protection because it
maintains American standards of liv-
ing and of business, for agriculture,
industry. and labor. l am in favor
of the elastic provisions OF our tariff
law. / propose to administer them,
not politically, but judicially. AS the
business of the world becomes stabi-
lized. without throwing all our eco
nomic system into confusion, We can
raise or lower specific schedules to
meet the requirements Of aSscientiflc
adjustment.
confess that my inheritance and
personal experience have bred in me
q keen interest in the welfare Of
agriculture. Perhaps the very hard
ships that those who have been en-
gagged in 1t have, encountered have
caused 1t to be the chief source Of
| ttA6I independence AA4 StoAWoAL SAkAN
zenship which has contributed so
lavishly to the glory Of American
life. It constitutes an element in our
Nation of such importance as to be
worthy of the utmost solicitude and
concern. One Of our first thoughts
in 1921 was for its relief and revival.
AS many as Is laws have been pass
ed to assist and support this funda-
mental industry. Through the War
Finance Corporation it has been ex-
tended credits of between 100000
900 and $500, 100000. In addition to
this, government activity provided
about $50,00o.000 from private
sources for the relief Of the cattle
industry, and in the early spring of
this year $10,000,000 corporation
was formed. which it was estimated
could furnish S100.000,000 for diversi-
Northwest. The intermediate Credit
Banks have loaned over $4,000. 900
to individuals and cooperative mar
keting associations, which assisted
directly and indirectly over 100000
farmers.
Notwithstanding all this, agricul-
ture was subjected to an era of most
serious depression. Several of its
great staples like cotton, cattle, hogs,
corn, and wheat, suffered from low
prices, due to overproduction, unbal-
anced conditions between costs and
sale prices in agriculture, industry,
and labor. and the disorganiZation Of
the markets of the world. but for
the enormous buying power which
the high wages of industry put be-
hind the market for American food
products, especially meat, the agri-
/ NIvlttVya1 rnOinnC would houo r.
fenced even a far more severe finan-
cial crisis.
The Fundamental Remedy
Due to n change in the world sup
ply, prices of products have begun to
improve, even SO far as to increase
land values. The Government rem
dered a great deal of assistance and
private enterprise cooperated, but the
fundamental remedy was provided,
as it always must be provided, not
so much through the enactment Of
legislative laws as through the work.
ing out of economic laws. Because
the farmers have thoroughly realized
this, they have on the whole opposed
price fixing by legislation. While
maintaining that sound position, they
have seen a partial relief come in a
natural way. as it was bound to
come.
7 We now need in, agriculture more
organization. cooperation. and diversi-
fication. The farmer should have the
benefit of legislation providing for
food control and development Of inland
waterways, better navigation east and
south from the Great Lakes, reclama-
tion, and especially relief for those
who can not meet their payments on
irrigation projects. But the main
problem is marketing. Cooperative eff
fort, reorganization of the freight-rate
structure, good business. and good
wages in manufacturing. and the set
Element of European affairs will all
help to provide better market condi-
tions.
The Republican platform recognizes
that agriculture should be on a basis
Of economic equality with other in
dustries. This Is easy to say, but the
farmers themselves and their advisers
have never been able to agree on a
plan to provide It by law. Now that
nature and economic law have given
some temporary relief, I propose.
therefore, to appoint q committee to
investigate and report measures to the
Congress in December that may help
secure this result which we all desire.
] want profitable agriculture establish