New Britain herald., 1925-01-17

industry,
 President Coolidge has given his opinion as to what is necessary to stabilize the industry.
 Senator norah let fly hectic re- marks about prompt action to "hc)p farmers" in order to fulhn Rcpubli- can campaign promises.
 What 10 do@ All statesmen ap. pnrcntly agree that something must be done" that tho improved con- diticn of American husbandry, duo 10 higher prices for farm products. may be only temporary; and any way, the farmers do not receive sufficient of the sums paid for their products by consumers, and the fundamental situation therefore must hc changed in their favor.
 Not long ago President Coolidge urged cooperation as the panacca that would litt farmers out Of their troubles, although warning thcm it would be Of no value unless they "hrlped themselves" It is assumed that he meant better marketing methods would tend 10 cffncc the difference between the amounts they received for crops and the amount the public pays,
 Farmers have gone along piece in this direction. Already one-quar- ter of all farm products are being marketed through cooperative or ganizations, and the national council of the Farmers Cooperative Mar keting Associations. meeting in Washington recently, declared that their chief wish was to be "left alone" intmating that they con- sidered themselves as having found one good method to improve their economic situation,
 Farmers in Connecticut have not been in the evil economic straits experienced by their western hreth- ren. yet 1t is stated by no less an authority than Governor Trumbull himself that agriculture is the poor est paid occupation in Connecticut Nutmeg farmers have by no means been backward in cooperating, es- pccialIy with regards to tobacco. milk and cggs. There arc three large egg associations alone. and compe- tition in the market place is not conspicuous.
 Connecticut farmers cannot pro- duce enough to fulflll the needs ot the state, and they have largo con- suming markets near at hand. Some observers think they ought 10 at tempt to produce enough for home needs, while others are not so san euine, having in mind western com petition. Taking eggs as an eA- ample. 1t is evident to all consumers that the native product sells for higher prices throughout the state; indeed. at prices so high that large sections of the population are forced 10 cat the product shipped from distance. There is no doubt that Connecticut farmers could sell their product to the entire state -- thev had sufficient of 1t -- were the price disparity less marked; anu the greater the Cohnecticut produc- t;on of eggs, for instance, the hard or if is to maintain the high prices for the native product. Farmers know this better than many swivel chair observers.
 If Connecticut farmers had an "exportable surplus this surplus would not necessarily compete with the "exportablc surplus of other states, but the battle ground would also be right in Connecticut. Storage GEES from Chicago will always cost less in Connecticut than native eggs and the larger the number Of eggs of both sorts, tho lower the prices ar4 likely to be on both.
 In 100 years in this state round million of acres have returned 10 brush or woodland, But the value of Nutmeg farm products have h. erased enormously. Beef and sheep raising large Connecticut industries of q century ago, have disappeared before Chicago competition' The chief products of Connecticut farms with which they can hold their own in the home market, consist Of per ishable products.
 President Coolidge favors "per- mancnt" farm relief. And as step in that direction he wishes s'cre- tary of the agriculture who under stands the business side Of farmi'S' marketing and cooperation meth ods. sccrcrurIcs heretofore have bocn of the type who understand "scicnthc farming" and rroduct'on' rho farming interests have had a