Evening star., 1928-11-03

suggestions. The first is, there has been
tendency to look for solution of the
whole agricultural problem with sin
gle formula The result has been that
the leaders of those branches of agri-
culture to which that formula would
not apply or to which it did damage
have Immediately fallen into opposi-
ton. Therefore, on any special plan of
relief we have always had sharp dis
agreement within the industry itself.
The depression in different branch IS
of farming comes from widely different
sources, and has a wide variety of
causes. The industry is not a single
industry, but is dozen specialized in
dustries, absolutely different in their
whole economic relationships. IF we
would have sound and permanent re-
lief, it can be only through complete
determination of the causes which
bring about the difficulties of each
part. BY thus going to the root of the
trouble we will find that the methods
of solution are not through one line of
action, but through many lines of
action.
And the problem is not wholly an eco
nomic problem. II is partly social
problem, because the avn is more than
place of business; it is q place of
living and hos" So that, in addi-
ton to findinC 7lution to the par
ticular difficult" that particular
branch of the business, we must have
regard for important social problems
involved. The whole foundation and
hope of our Nation Is the maintained
individualism of our people. Farming
is and must continue to be an indi-
Vldualistic business of small units and
independent ownership.
Farmer as Individualist.
The farmer is the outstanding ex-
ample of the economically free indi-
vidaal. He is one of our solid mate
riais of national character. No solution
that makes for consolidation into large
farms and mechanized production can
lit into our national hopes and ideals.
Many factors enter into solution of
this whole problem. One is by the tariff
to reserve to the farmer the American
market; to safeguard him from the
competition of imports of farm prod
ucts from countries of lower standards
OF living. Another part of solution is
to provide cheaper transportation to
market. Another is to secure to the
farmer a larger proportion of the price
which the ultimate consumer paws
through the elimination of vast num-
Der of wastes that lie in our method of
distribution
Another part of the solution must be
to secure greater stability in prices.
which are now unduly affected both bv
the seasonal surplus and by the period
lcal surplus over one year to another.
Another part of the solution is to main
tam stability and high purchasing
power for our consumers. Any depres-
sion or i'll wind which affects the con-
sumers' buying power is immediately
reflected to the farmer. Finally. every
different agricultural product is af-
fected by different forces, and we must
give aid to each as is required.
Tariff Called Essential.
Adequate tariff is essential if we
would assure relief to the farm. The
first and most complete necessity is
that the American farmer have the
American market. That can be assured
to him solely through the protective
tariff. The tariff is effective today on
many farm crops, including wool, fax,
sugar, fruit cattle, dairy products, veg
etaole oils and score of other prod
ucts. 1t maintains the premium upon
our hard wheat against Canadian i'm
ports.
The duties are not high enough on
some products, but nevertheless the
tariff is effective over considerable
portion of our whole agricultural pro-
duction. And it can be made more
effectlve, for we are still importing
something like $800,000000 per annum
OF products which could be produced on
corn market is the imports of corn to
our seaboard points.
The tariff wall we erect creates also a
profitable pressure to diversity the crop
and thereby decrease the surplus prob
lem: Ihe increase in dairying and flax
raising, for example. has disnlaced what
would otherwise have been larger and
even more unmanageable surpluses OF
other products.
And beyond this the tariff in protect
ing the wage level of the American
worker increases his buying power for
the products of the farmer. Our man
industries of the Midwest
require protection from lower wages of
foreign countries just as much as those
on the seaboard.
Standards Among Workers.
The standards of living among our
workers, our city populations, is the
only standard in the world which per-
mits them to purchase all the food
they can eat The butter consumption
In our country has increased by SO per
cent In eight years, although the popu-
latlon has increased by only 10 per
cent The tariff holds butter prices
today II cents per pound over the prices
which prevail in Europe
Aud vuI1iIo
fore we turn to other phases of the
farm problem let me say that the party
which, by the Underwood bill, removed
practically all agricultural products
from tariff protection, which withheld
that protection for two years after the
war. which opposed the Republican
tariff on agricultural products, and
winch as late as nine months ago pro-
Vlded only two votes in the Senate and
seven votes in the House to defeat a
resolution providing for instant tariff
reductlon--that party is not the party
Tor the American farmer and the Amer
lcan workman to entrust with revision
of the tariff.
If you want the protective principle
preserved, and If you want it strength
ened on farm products, it should be en-
trusted to the party that has fought
Ava anu uS4CIlueu III LOT ~ years.
Limit Upon Immigration.
I may also add upon the subject of
protection that the limitation, of immi-
grafton is a fundamental part of our
protective system, because it prevents a
flood OF labor from abroad which can
only break down our wage levels.
stand against any increase of the pres
ent quotas and for the principle of the
1890 census, with only such changes as
prevent separation of families but would
not increase in total numbers.
But to return to the farm question.
In addition to the tariff and cheaper
waterway transportation in assistance
to agriculture, the Republican party
proposes to go farther. 1t proposes to
set up an institution which will be one
OF the most important institutions in
our Government, designed to meet not