Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-05

velopmcnt of navigation in the Mis-
sissippi Valley and in the 81.
Lawrence river. can think of
nothing that will surely help the
farmer 50 mIch as economy,
economy III the local and National
Governments. This remedy WASH
ington is generously providing.
These remedies have been effective
at last. What we won't now is the
ing prosperity.
1T can not be that the problems
OF the farmer are beyond solution.
His business and his welfare are all
governed by natural and inevitable
laws What is necessary is an in
ttns!ve study in order to find out
what these laws arc aud provide
for their application and obscr
vance. It is not so long ago that
the financial and monetary system
of our government was maintained
in an illogical and haDhazard way.
Sometimes there was Il great
abundance of currency and credit. at
other times there was a great
stringency. After many repeated at
tempts at remedy the whole sub
ject was surveyed. all the facts as
sembled. the logical results admitted.
"'NNi'NA my appeared w wv p'IdfA'
or not, and n government financial
system adopted which was strong
enough to meet all the requirements
of the Great War. Without it
disaster would have prevailed.
Acting on similar theory, / have
intrusted what [ believe to be a
thoroughly representative and most
ably equipped conference with maxi
ing an analogous study of the farm
problems. The members of this
conference will be entirely free from
any kind of political pressure in the
consideration of these questions.
The farm problem is not political
problem, 1t is an economic problem.
1t must have an economic solution.
The conference can take broad and
inclusive view of the whole agri-
cultural field, the production of
all other foods and materials that
come from the farm. Out of their
consideration / trust there may
emerge a plan which will enable us
TO do. for the agriculture of the
nation something like what has been
done for the finances of the nation"
Such plan must be on sound
basis to be effective, the President
added.
I'VE know by all experience that
government subsidies or price fixing
would increase production and ag-
gravate the evil". he continued. 1--WE
might give way the surNluses, or buy
and store them indefinitely; still the
cost must come from the taxpayer
and the farmer Is Il taxpayer. But
in the end these efforts always fail.
The sound remedy is to reduce pro-
duction, and that is a remedy which
will automatically apply itself If
there is not artificial interference.
Another point of attack is better
marketing
All plans, however will fail. the
President warned. unless the farmers
take every advantage of them.
= More than anything else, the far
mer needs to know the truth about
himself and his business" he assert
ed. He needs to understand all the
facilities that have been created.
wherewith he can help himself. He
needs to study them. and to learn to
utilize them. both as an individual
producer. and through cooperative
organizations In buying and market
ing. The time has come when the
great farmers organizations must
be somehow linked together in great
er and more effective corporations
than have yet been known.
Neither the government, nor the
institutions of agricultural education,
nor the benevolent purposes of soci-
ETY. as whole, can In the end do for
the farmers the things that only the
farmers can do for themselves. Elk
perts and scientists may devise