White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-09-14
Philosophy of Farming


1t is necessary part of our -philos-
ophy- of government. Agriculture is
the basic industry Of the country and
in the very nature Of things will ever
be so. Whatever is to the detriment
of the farmer is, eventually, to the
detriment of all our citizens; his well
fare and prosperity are inevitably re-
Elected in the welfare and prosperity
OF the whole nation.
Many plans for the encouragement
Of Agriculture have been proposed,
and many have been given effect by
our party. In the course of my polit-
ical life every one which in my opin-
ion promised an appreciable measure
of sound relief has had my whole.
hearted and active support.
OF recent years, two farm measures
have been introduced by me in the
Senate. Two Democrat members of
the House Joined in their preparation
and introduction. The first was
known as the Curtis-Aswell Bill. 1t
created an Interstate Farm Marketing
Association. Its purpose was to pro-
14OlO anu OLl1AuldCS Lllo O1uClly 1lUN
of agricultural commodities in COM
merce; to remove burdens and ,e.
straints on such commodities in COM
merce; and to provide for the process
ing, preparing for market, handling,
pooling, storing and marketing Of ag-
ricultural commodities through coop
erative marketing associations. The
object Of this measure was to place
the marketing organizations under the
ownership and control of the farmers
themselves. The other measure was
known as the Crisp Bill. Its
object was to enable the farmers to
stabilize their markets against undue
and excessive fluctuations; to pre-
serve advantageous domestic mar.
kets; and to minimize speculation and
waste in marketing.
Republican Record
Without the help which the Repub.
lican party has given, the agricultural
situation would be infinitely worse
than it is. The Capper- Volstead Act
gave to the farmer the right to engage
in collective buying and cooperative
selling. In every possible way the
Republican administration has en-.
deavored to give practical and sub.
stantial effect to that right.
The Department Of Agriculture fills
an important place in the work of aid
ing and advising the farmer. 1t is our
policy to widen each year as much as
possible the scope of the Departments
effectiveness. In the last year alone,
$2,29S,172.00 was spent in particularly
valuable research work covering nu.
merous classes of agricultural prod;
ucts, incluling cattle and swine 1t is
estimated that s4,157,SS7.00 will be re-
quired for this work for the ming
year. Nearly S3,0OO,O00.OO is expend.
ed annually by the Department of
Agriculture in broadening agricultural
MAJ 'sets.
The development of inland water
ways, and water transportation in
general, is of great value to the agri.
cultural sections of the country. AN
extensive project in this regard is now
being executed. The last Congress
has provided for a barge line to en-
tend from St. Louis to Missouri River
points, which when in full operation
will bring decided relief in the Difficult.
ties and cost of transporting farm
products. When the loss Of the for.
eign market for our products was
imminent because of insufficiency of
ships in which to transport them, YES
sells of tho United States Shipping
Board were reconditioned and placed
in service, thereby saving the market.
Tariff protection against foreign
competition always has been given to
farm products. The Fordney- McCum.
Der Tariff Act carries higher rates Of
duty on agricultural products than
any tariff law in the history of the
nation. 1t has been found that GER
tain of the duties are not high enough
to give adequate protection to some
of the products of the farm, and I be-
leve it is the duty of Congress to
provide rates high enough to protect
such products against foreign com
petition. In addition, by this act, the
duties have been lowered on most OF
the articles the farmers buy or they
have been put upon the free list.
Appropriations have been made
freely to aid the farmers in time Of
crop failures. The Federal Farm Loan
System and the intermediate credit
banks have made available to farm.
ers, on loans at low rate Of interest,
more than $2,500,O00, 100000.
That effective help has been given
to the farmer by the Republican party
since it took charge on March 4, 1921,
is indicated by the statement of the
Washington Office of the American
Farm Bureau Federation. On page
one Of It's Annual Report dated April
6, 1923, there appears the following:
1.-THE passing Of the 9th Congress
into history marks an epoch in the
undertaking of the American Farm
Bureaus national legislative cam.
paign. 1t is not too much to say that
the twenty-six laws passed by that
Congress, which were initiated and
e,l~nnrteJ h." ava nf far mora i'm
go. : 3 = Is