The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-08-23
Gou. Smith Explains Farm Relief Program,

Gov. Albert Smith, of New York, delivered
his address accepting the Democratic nomination
for President of the United States, at Albany N T.,
late Yesterday afternoon The people OF the Central
West were particularly interested in his program
to bring relief to agriculture, and the entire coun-
try was interested in his prohibition declaration In
the latter he comes out for State option, insisting
that he is opposed to the od-fashoned saloon COM
ing back
Radio conditions so bad Wednesday that
it was impossible for the people OF this section 70
hear the address The Herald publishes herewith
Mr.. Smiths farm relief program in full as follows:
Publicity agents of the Republican adminstra-
ton have written so many articles on our general
prosperity, that they have prevented the average
man from having proper appreciation OF the de-
gree of distress existing today among farmers, and
stockraisers. From 1910 to the present time the
farm debt has increased by the striking sum OF
$4,000 100000 from S4,OOO,OOO,0O0 to Sl4,oOO'-
100000. The value of farm products between 1921
and 1925 decreased by $4,000, 100000. This de-
preston made itself felt in enormous increase
s of bank failures in the agricultural districts.
In 1927 there $50 bank failures,
with total liabilities of more than $27O,0O0,-
OOO almost entirely in the agricultural sections, as
against 40 such failures during the last year OF
President Wilson's administration.
The report of November IT,, 1927, of special
committee of the Association of Land Grant Col
leges and Universities states: incomes from farm
ing since 1920 have not been sufficient to pay
fair return the current value of capital used and
fair wage for the farmers labor, or to permit farm
people to maintain standard of living comparable
with other groups of like ability" The Business
Mems Commission on Agriculture said in November,
1927, "Snce the the prices of farm products
have persisted in uneconomic and unfavorable
adjustment to the general scale OF prices OF other
goods and services and 'the disparity between
urban and farm incomes has emphasized the dis,
parity in standards of living in the rural and urban
populations" "The value of farm land and farm
property decreased heavily in the postwar defation
and large numbers have lost all their property in
this process"
We have not merely problem of helping the
farmer. While agriculture is one of the most in
dividualzed and Independent of enterprises, still,
as the report of the business mems commission
points out agriculture is essentially public func-
ton, affected with clear and unquestionable
public interest" The country is economic whole.
If the buying power of agriculture is impaired, the
farmers makes fewer trips to Main street. The shop
owner suffers because he has lost large part CT
his trade. The manufacturer who supplies him
likewise suffers, does the wage Garner, because
the manufacturer is compelled to curtail his pro
duction. And the banker cannot collect his debts
safely extend further credit. This country can
not be healthy, strong economic body if OF
its members, fundamentally important agrl-
culture, is sick almost to the point of economic
death.
The normal market among the farmers of this
country for the products of industry is $10000-
100000 Our export market, according to latest
available figures, is exclusive of agricultural pro-
ducts approximately 81 600, 600, 900. These large
blow to national prosperity as whole which Is
struck when the buying power of the farmer is
paralyzed. ~ --
e When, therefore, / say that am in accord
this problem must be prime and immediate con-
of the Democratic administration, I make no