The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-02-15
OUR WEEKLY LETTER
FROM WASHINGTON

Washington, ID. C.-That the aid
and cooperation Of the federal govern
mcnt viii be used to the fullest extent
possible for the purpose Of aiding
the great agricultural northwest was
made evident today by President Cool
idge when. in addressing eighty rep
rcScntativcS of agriculture and kind,
red industries, he pointed out definite
proposals fer government assistance
70 wheat farmers and other agricul
turalists in financial difficulties. The
President spoke in favor of direct eX
tension OF federal funds to finance
wheat growers in attempting divorsi
iication Of their crops and the con
tmuancc of advances through the
War Finance Corporation to cooper
@tivc enterprises and financial insti,
tutions in the farming regions.
President Coolidge pointed out that
unless there was cooperation betwecn
tate, local and federal governments
hclp could not be made effective. II,
also stated that creditors Of the north
western farming communities must
: axe concerted action for the refund
ing and extension Of existing indebt
edncss to make the aid of the GOV
rlmment effective. The chief executive
said:
"The place which, in my opinion
|, Ihe federal Government ear properly
take, in cooperating with you, as its
share of the work to be done; first
enactment of the Norbeck -Burtness
bill provided in the appropriation t.
be administered by the Secretary OF
Agriculture and two additional com
missioners, for the purpose Of pro
noting the divcrsifications Of the
country, which, heretofore, have been
devoted primarily to the production OF
wheat.
Continuing, the President pointed
ont that such fund could be used tc
make loans to wheat farmers to.epable
,hcm to purchase livestock and poui
try and thus equip their farms fol
dailying and general farming. He
also pointed out that the policy has
been to make loans where they would
be helpful to the agricultural and live
tock interests and he stated that
! hcsc loans should be made on q sound
business basis. These statements viii
mean that responsible financial inter
| nediaries will handle the government
id. Continuing, President Coolidge
said:
There have been severe losses {
| banking and commercial interests on
account of the serious conditions pre-
| yailing in the northwestern states
Some of these losses doubtless can be
| repaired, and further losses avoided
ii the program of action herein out
| med is adhered to. But we must take
no action that will make it possible
% transfer losses from private inter
2sts to the public treasury. The oh
| ect should be reconstruction, not
charity, whether it is charity for the
weak or for the strong. 1t should be
repeated, therefore, that the govern
mcnt should not be asked to take over
| without recourse, an insecure OF
| doubtful paper now held by banks or
| )thcr creditors, or to make loans tC
enable farmers to liquidatc existing
| Indebtedness to going institutions. =
The President did not contend that
my plan so far advanced was a pana
ea for all ills, but believed that the
prc posed measure would be an effect.
i've holp. I'm addition he said "Agri
ulturc and banking, like all other in
crests are not the business OF the
government. but the business OF III,
)eople. Primarily, they must assume
esponsibility for them. The govern
.nent can help, should help, and will
ep."
Secretary of Commerce Hoover and
ccrctary Of Agriculture Wallace, who
ere present, at the conference, made
,rief addresses. Eighty individuals
anticipated in the conference, which
vas composed of practical farmers
lankers, economists. men versed in
he matter Of transportation and
cncr activities that pertain directly
indirectly to agriculture. These
teps mark definite move to relieve
he condition Of the distressed farm
rs Of the northwest.