The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-11
Corn Belt in Revolt

begins to look as though the problem that
fronts every farmer will receive intelligent
consideration. North and South Dakota farmers
who raise corn feed large portion Of their crop
but in Iowa and Illinois market is Imperative
The slump in the demand has precipitatcd
most serious situation. The crisis has focused
national attention upon the plight of the agricul-
turalist the nation over
Unless something is done, there going to be
some surprises the next Congressional elections
Price fixing panaceas will not aid Some revisions
in the tariff may help temporarily. Equalization ,
of freight rates bring relief. With the low
freight rates prevalent through the Panama canal |
the agricuturast Of the Atlantic and Pacific coast
has a decided advantage the farmers OF the
Mississippi and Missouri valleys.
In Iowa conditions most acute. More than
200 banks have closed with many more the
verge of forced liquidation. Fortunately the Da-
kctas are in better shape but here, too agriculture
is not receiving the rewards that enjoyed by
other Industries favoraby represented at the
national capital. Recent announcements at Chl- |
cago by the administration rejecting the attitude
of Republican leaders toward agricultural legisa-
tion does not meet with the approval of the middle
west Republicans who in the past have been the
backbone OF the party and without whose votes a
Republican victory is impossible.
Agriculture is the biggest single industry in
attention Secretary Hoover has tackled some
great industrial problems, but the best minds at
Washington to date have produced nothing but time
worn platitudes in the treatment of one OF this
nations most acute economic problems-the future
OF agriculture
The indignation meeting recently at Des Moines
carried as far as the White House and the halls
of Congress. deluge Of pans have resulted
Even President Coolidge stirred to action
tl,o .,,;p l,;s
Chicago address
Resolutions adopted at the Dcs Moines Corn Belt
Conference virtually hostile demonstration
against the Washington administration. Not
much against President Coolidge, whose hands
more or less tied but at the failure OF Congress
to agree upon any sensible plan that will extend
to agriculture some of the benefits conferred upon
industries nearly so important to the nations
welfare is the stability Of agricultural conditions.
Some OF the difficulty arises over the great diff
ference of opinion expressed by various farm
groups to what must be done. Secretary Jar
dine has announced series Of conferences in hope
Of ironing out some OF them and evolving plan
that will help. How to handle and to control crop
turpluses to be the most urgent problem press
ing for immediate solution.
One policy should govern, however, and that is !
that price fixing government subsidy is not the
permanent way out. Former Governor Lowden of |
Illinois has suggested that credit organization
similar to the Federal Reserve system be provided
to stabilize agriculture HIS arguments seem sound |
and workable. There many existing agencies |
engaged in the marketing of farm products Cor |
relation and coordination are needed Political |
panaceas overtlres to the 1926 primaries should
be avoided
2 One OF the most crushing burdens that agricul-
tlre carries today is taxation. Economy and eff
iciency in every statehonse of the land and every
city hall and courthouse will do much to relieve
agriculture OF one of its big factors commonly set
down in the ledger of business as overhead
Farm organizations must be strengthened and 1
divorced from politics Federal marketing regula-
tons can be modified to stimulate cooperative ven
lures and certain abuses in. the great primary mar
kets where the farmer must sell his product need
correction.
Probably as result OF the wave Of Indignation
over the middle west of the major issues will
no settled, but it Is hard and uphill fight for agri
culture !