Evening star., 1925-09-14
FARMERS PROSPER,
COOLIDGE IS TOLD
Jardine Paints Encouraging
Picture of Agricultural
Situation.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge and Secretary oil
Agriculture Jardine drew their chairs
close together In the formers ONCE
today and discussed at length the
AGRICULTURAL situation. This was the
first opportunity President Coolidge
has had since leaving Washington
last June to hear directly from the
lips of the head of the Department OF
Agriculture just exactly What the
condition is at this time, and to learn
the views of the Secretary himself.
Mr.. Jariine intimated, after nav
ing seen the President, that his re-
sumo unQuestionably caused the
President to feel optimistic regarding
the prospects for the farmer for the
next year.
Secretary Jardine believed that the
agricultural situation throughout the
country is good. In fact, he went SO
far as to say that If every other IN
dustry in the country fares as we'll as
does agriculture this nation can look
forward to another year of prosperity.
Will Discuss Merger.
The Secretary has personally visited
many sections of the country during
the Summer and besides this, he has
been especially well informed of the
crop and marketing situation. He
said that he did not discuss the ques-
ton of the Armour Morris packing
merger, but inttmated that his Office
very shortly, probably later in the
afternoon, would have an announce
mount to make. This was taken to
mean that the announcement would
have to do with the merger.
Secretary Jardine did not care to
discuss the agricultural commission
which President Coolidge appointed
last Fall to make a survey OF the
situation and to make recommends
tons for legislation with a view to
bringing relief and improvement in
those sections where it is needed. He
stated that he understood that the
President had announced at Swamp
scott that this commission would be
called together again shortly for the
purpose of completing its survey be-
fore the meeting of Congress. He said
he would rather have the President
make announcements as to the work
of the commission.
The Secretary also said he did not
wish to discuss the Presidents advo-
cacy of voluntary railroad consolida-
ton as a cure for the rate evil and
which the President felt so sure would
be a great benefit to the agriculturists.
Corn Sections Prosper.
Secretary Jardine said that one of
the pleasing features of the agricul-
tural situation is that those sections
of the country which were not so for
tunate in the matter of profitable re-
turns from their crops last year are
now enjoying the greatest of the sea-
sons prosperity. This is mainly true
of the corn sections of the Nation, he
said. Iowa and those other States
which have large corn crops should
reap splendid profits this year. In
his opinion the only chance to lessen
these prospects iss for heavy frosts
between now and the time the corn
Is all harvested and safely stored
away, and even then hte danger is
very remote.
Secretary Jardine in speaking opti
mistically of the situation explained
that his figures show that while the
volume of production is not so great
as last year, the prices, on the whole.
are better and that the returns will
be balanced SO as to equal, If not sur
pass, those of last year
Discusses Many Subjects.
Besides being given first-hand de-
scription of the agricultural situa-
ton, President Coolidge received from
Mr.. Jardine the latter's personal
views upon a variety of subjects di-
rectly associated with the depart
ment. He also touched upon the
question of agricultural legislation,
but in the opinion of Secretary Jar
dine he does not expect the admins
tration to make any great demand