New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-23

with me that the solution | offer is
one based upon the historic policy
of the democratic party. TO assure to
each state its complete right of local
believe it is a So
luton which would today be offered |
by Jefferson, or Jackson or cleye-
land or Wilson, if those great leaders |
were with us.
Agriculture
Publicity agents of the republican
administration have written so many
articles on our general prosperity,
that they have prevented the average
man from having a proper apprecia-
ton of the degree of distress existing
today among farmers and stock
laisers. From 1910 to the present
time the farm debt has increased by
tine striking sum of ten billions OF
dollars, or from four billion to IA
billion dollars The value of farm
property between 1920 and 1925 de-
creased by twenty billions of dollars,
This depression made itself feit IN
enormous increase of bank failures
in the agricultural districts. In 1877
there were $50 bank failures, with
total liabilities of over 210 millions
of dollars. almost entirely in the
agricultural sections. as against 40
such failures during the last year OF
President Wilson's administrations.
The report OF November u. 1927.
of a special committee of the Asso-
citation of Land Grant colleges and
universities states: incomes from
| farming since 1920 have not been
sufficient to pay fair return on the
current value OF capital used and
| fair wage for the farmers labor, or
to permit farm people to MAINTAIN
a standard OF living comparable with
other groups of like ability. The
business mems commission on agrl-
culture said in November. 1927.
"Since the war, the prices of farm
products have persisted IN an un-
economic anu untavorable ADJUST
mcnt to the general scale of prices
of other goods and services: and
the disparity between urban and
farm incomes has emphasized the
disparity in standards of living in
the rural and urban populations
The value of farm land ana farm
property decreased heavily IN the
post-var deflation" and large num-
hers of farmers have lost all their
property in this process.
Agriculture and Business
We have not merely problem OF
helping the farmer. while agrlcul-
ture is one of the most individualiz-
ed and independent OF enterprises
still as the report of the Business
Mems Commission points out, "Agrl-
culture is essentially d public function
affected with a clear and unquestion-
able public interest The country is
an economic whole. If the buying
power of agriculture is impaired, the
farmer makes fewer trips to Malr
street. The shop owner suffers be
cause he has lost large part of his
trade. The manufacturer who sup
plies him likewise suffers as doe
the wage Garner, because the manu-
facturer is compelled to curtail hi
: production. And the banker canno
collect his debts or safely extend
further credit. This country canno
: he a healthy, strong economic bod!
if one of its members, so fundament
, ally important as agriculture is slcl
almost to the point OF economl
, death.
The normal market among tn
y farmers of this country for the pro
i ducts of industry is ten billions o
! dollars. Our export market according
i to latest available figures, is ex
: elusive of agricultural products. ap
y proximately one billion, six hundre
=. millions of dollars. These larg
figures furnish striking indication Q
" the serious blow to national pros
perity as whole which is struc
when the buying power of the farme
+ is paralyzed.
# Relief for Agriculture
o When. therefore. say that al
c in accord with our platform declare
If ton that the solution of this rrobler
$ must he a prime and immedia'
r concern OF the democratic admin!
fe tration, | make no class appeal
n am stating a proposition as vital
1t the welfare of business as of agr
l. culture.
m With the exception of the admin
strations of Cleveland and Wilso
re the government of this country h;
ie been in republican hands for half
he century. For nearly eight years II
II. president and congress have been r.
Ne publican. What has been done
l. solve this problem? Many promis
g were made which have never bee
IN fulfilled. Certainly the promise
n relief by tariff has not been fulfille
Id The tariff is ineffective on con
r modities Of which there is exportab
n surplus without controlled sale
= the surplus, Our platform points Il
IN way to make the tariff effective f
Ia crops of which we may produce
III surplus. There has been governme
m interference with laws Of supply al
nj Command to benefit industry, col
~, merce and finance. II has been on
u sided because business industry al
r. finance would have been helped mo
by if proper attention had been Civ
p to the condition of agricultuI
ay Nothing of substance has been DO
OF to bring this basic part of our n
h. tional life into conformity with t
er economic system that has been
cd up BY law. Government should int
nd fere as little as possible with bu
ness. But if 1t does interfere with o
4.