The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-12
Editorial Comment
Secretary Jardine's Choice
est. Paul Dispatch


when the prosperity OF the American farmer
depends upon the failure OF a crop either at home
abroad writes former Governor LOwden in the
October Worlds Work, at hangs on a very slender
thread"
II Secretary Jardinc pcrseveres in his present
policy Republican political fences in the West are
also to be left dangling by that same Very slender
thread. Secretary Jardinc ought TO have a program
of general farm legislation ready for Congress when
il assemblies in December. To do that, the present
is not a bit begin Yet, since President
Coolidge indicated last July that the agricultural
conference of 1924 might be recalled to Washington
there has not been a sign Of life from the Depart
mrnt of Agriculture
Secretary Jardinc is headed straight for rnnou'
bnndcr. Says John Lee Coulter, president of the
North Dakota Agricultural college. What need
is some very calm, deliberate, thoughtful confer
cnces" When conservative and we'll balanced
authority DR.. Coulter speaks in that language
it becomes impossible for Secretary Jardine to
solve the problem by denying its existence If Dr.
Coulter is not enough, there is Mr.. Lowden, who has
been cited as conservative authority long enough
to command hearing in any society, who declares
that 1.-THE farm problem is not solved"
! 1t is the present administrations duty to take
: cognizance of this problem 1t would be any adj
ADMINISTRATION duty to show decent concern owe"
the welbeng of the basic national industry. But
in the case Of Secretary Jardine, a special oblga-
ton exists. Secretary Jardine came into an office
which was pledged to the specific work of finding a
solution. But nearly year has passed, nOthnt;
has been done. and fundamental conditions remain
exactly the same when the pledge was made.
Secretary Jardine has two courses He can provide
for the very calm deliberate, thoughtful confer
ences," or he continue to be severe with the
Chicago Board of Trade and let it go at that.
1t is generally agreed that the root of the diff
Guilty lies in the fact that America produces of Its
great farm staples surplus. The difference OF
opinion is over the best courseatosbe followed in
overcoming the difficulty. Some say get rid Of the
surplus; others, take the situation it is and
= transform a liability into an asset. Those who talk
about eliminating the surplus are forced to ignor"
the present realities of agriculture. AS Mr.. Low
den observes, ut is clear that surplus is inevitable
and desirable if would have nation self
sufcing in the essentials of life That is the con
clusion to which great many, if not practically all
of those who formerly hopeful Of getting
: rid of the surplus coming Once that conclu
y sion is reached, the problem becomes the very
special of finding the best machinery for coping
with the surplus which does exist. Mr.. Lowden Is
right The important thing is not to confess our
selves impoten in the presence OF what many Amer
leans deem to be the greatest menace to the future
: of our civization-a decaying agriculture" What Is
needed is some "calm, deliberate, thoughtful confer
ences" A move from Secretary Jardne is in order