Evening star., 1925-12-07

prOQuctlOn. IL these were admitted
free of duty they would no doubt
greatly increase in volume, reduce
present farm prices and result in
much lower standards Of living on our
farms. We are also exporters as we'll
as importers. Protection greatly aids
d1verstf1catiOn and so eliminates an
Improbable surplus. Under our tariff
our flax acreage has increased from
.641 900 in 1921 to 3,093,0O0 In 1925.
Much of this would otherwise have
been devoted to wheat, increasing the
surplus and further demoralizing that
market. The same principle holds in
relation to sugar, wool and other agri-
cultural products.
1T has been thought that protection
does not help agricultural products
Any study OF dairy products. flax.
wool and the many other commodities
Will demonstrate that it does. Even
wheat, where we are exporters shows
Its effect. If we take Buffalo, to Sc.
cure point of common contact. Amer
lean No. l dark northern Is 25 cents
to 35 cents higher than Canadian, No.
dark hard Winter Is 81 cents to AZ
cents higher and No. red would be
As cents to 46 cents higher. Contract
wheat for future delivery in Chicago
has been usually as high as future de-
liveries in Liverpool. although the diff
ference in freight Is about 20 cents a
bushel. which means that our wheat
Is now about that much above world
price levels. The question Is compli-
Gated with different grades and quail
ties. some of which do not show the
same differences.
Supplying Home Markets.
But the largest benefits accruing
to the farmer come from supplying
him with home markets. What the
farmer raises must either be sold at
home or sent abroad. Our per capita
consumption of butter. sugar, meats
eggs. milk and tobacco is far above
those of foreign countries. When the
depression of 1920 came and 5 900, 900
of our wage earners were unemployed
their consumption Of the more eXpen.
s1ve agricultural supplies, such as
animal products, fell 1S per cent below
what it had been before and what 1t
became again when employment in
creased. This was more than the
amount Of our exports. Prosperity In
our industries is of more value to the
farmer than the whole export market
for foodstuffs. Protection has con
tributed in our country to making en-
ployment plentiful with the highest
wages and highest standards of liv
Ing in the world. which is Of ines
timable benefit to both our agricul
tural and industrial population. Gen
eral economic stability Is Of the utmost
importance to the farmer and a de
preston in industry with the attend
ant unemployment would do the farm
er an incalculable injury.
Giving Financial Aid.
"If the price fixing and tariff revis-
ion do not seem to be helpful, there
are other proposals that do promise
| improvements. For financing the
loan and intermediate credit banks
These have put out about 1900. 900,
| 900 Of loans at moderate rates &c
about 350.000 farmers. In addition
there Is the general banking system
National and State. All of these
agencies need to give more informed
attention to farm needs. They need
| more energy in administration. They
| should be equipped to supply not only
credit. but sound business advice
and the farmers to a much better ex-
| tent should learn to use all these IA
| cilities.
For a more orderly marketing cal
! culated to secure a better range OF
prices the cooperative movement
| promises the greatest success. AL.
ready they are handling $1,000. .000..
900 of farm produce, or nearly one
| fifth of the annual production. The
disposition Of surplus produce has
| been discussed. If by this is meant
| the constant raising of a larger sup
ply than Is needed. It is difficult tc
| conceive OF any remedy except re-
| duced production in any such com
| modify. But there are. Of course, ac-
| cidental surpluses due to more favor
able weather conditions, which are
| unavoidable and which ought to bt
| managed so that they can be sprea(
over year or two without depressing
| prices. The initiative of the farmers
| themselves, with such assistance as
can be given them by the Government
without assuming responsibility fol