Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-06-19

the association idea stands for.
Our movement is basically an ap-
peal for an increased measure of CO.
neutrality-suspicious. in advertis-
ing, in our publicity, effecting COM
munity organization, in marketing our
idle acres, in handling the problems
that perplex the shipper and the grow
er, in promoting the sale of our pro-
ducts, in establishing our brands and
in standardizing our products Of what
ever nature they may be. If we can
stand together, if we can coordinate
our efforts, We can make the PENN
sula the best known and most sought
place in the whole land. It is not con-
ceivable that here in this favored spot
adjacent as we are to the worlds best
markets. That We may evolve formu-
las and methods which will materially
contribute to the solution of the mar
keting problems which are the only
factors menacing agricultural devel-
opment
Economic ills and physical ills have
one point in common. Cures in each
lstance are dependent upon correct
diagnosis. Before we can handle our
problems there must be agreement as
to what they are. Agreement can on
ly be reached upon the basis of ascer-
tanned facts. And it is to develop es-
sential facts that research organiza-
tons are established. I am glad that
we have with us today representatives
OF the four cities thru which we clear
most of products which we buy and
sell. The presence of these represen-
tatives is evidence that clear thinkers
are placing an increased Importance
upon the relations between cities and
the agricultural hinterlands which sur
und them. No modern city can in
this day regard agricultural areas as
districts to be exploited. The business
men of Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia and Wilmington may not always
realize it, but they sustain financial
wallop whenever the potato crop in
Virginia is failure. The business
men of those cities suffer if marketing
methods anywhere on the Peninsula
are primitive and wasteful. They suf-
fer if their terminal facilities are un-
necessarily expensive They suffer if
trainload of fruit rots upon a rail-
road siding. They suffer if shipper
is bilked by dealer
1t is delusion, a great economic
delusion, that such losses are visited
upon the farmer alone For every
dollar the farmer loses is loss in po-
tential purchasing power. Such is our
economic -interdependence that it
would pay the great American cities
to spend millions of dollars on re-
search, if by SO doing they could wipe
out the boil weevil in the South. Let
us make no mistake A loss is a loss.
There is no difference economically
whether a crop is destroyed by drought
or destroyed by an invading enemy.
"AAe~S 40 AAAO4Ss SAAC4C ID GU
nomic difference between the losses
due to drought and the losses due to
faulty methods of distribution, to ar
chaic methods of packing or to wastes
arising out of inadequate facilities to
handle and transport crops.
1 am not arguing that agricultural
development should be dependent up
on urban leadership. I am contend
ing, however, that cities are vastly in
trested in rural progress. Every time
we increase the agricultural turnover
of the Peninsula choice corner lots
in nearby cities increase in value. Our
relations are as close as that. And so
it is well that we should meet today
for the purpose of discussing our mu-
tual problems. Norfolk, Baltimore and
Philadelphia are welcome. AS for
Wilmington, she is one of US.
Gentlemen of the Conference, a
word in conclusion. I have faith in
the Del-Mar-Va Eastern Shore Asso-