Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-15
Determination of Means of
Solving Problems Is Groups
Initial Work.
AGRICULTURAL EQUALITY
is HELD NECESSARY
President Tells Members They
Must Consider CresRon of Per.
manent Busipa-s Institutions.

In assembling members of the newly
created Federal Farm Board at its ini-
tial meeting at the White House today,
President Hoover stated that their
fundamental purpose must be to de-
termine the means to find solution to
a multitude of agricultural problems,
among them to more nearly adjust
production to the needs of the coun-
try and to better marketing conditions
by creating permanent business insti-
tutions to be owned and controlled by
the farmers.
The President reminded the group
that he was veSting them with re-
sponsibility, authority and resources
such as have never before been con-
ferred by our Government in assistance
to any industry.
The Presidents remarks to the board
as the members sat about the table in
the cabinet room Of the Executive of1ce,
follow:
II have no extended statement to
make to the Federal Farm Board as to
its duties. The wide authority and the
splendid resources placed at your dis
posal are we'll known.
Il am deeply impressed with the
responsibilities which lie before you.
Your fundamental purpose must be to
determine the facts and to find solu-
ton to a multitude of agricultural
problems, among them to more nearly
adjust production to need: to create
permanent business institutions for
marketing, which, owned and controlled
by the farmers, shall be so wisely de-
vised and soundly Sounded and well
managed that they by effecting
economics and giving such stability
will grow in strength over the years to
come. Through these efforts we may
establish to the farmer an equal op-
portunity in our economic system with
other industries.
Cannot Be Done Overnight.
1T know there is not a thinking
farmer who does not realize that all
this cannot be accomplished by .
magic wand or an overnight action.
Real institutions are not built that
way. If We are to succeed it win be by
strengthening the foundations and the
initiative which We already have In
farm organizations. and building
thought that we are building not for
the present only, but for the next year
and the next decade"
The eight of the nine board members
ch:sen thus far by the President as
seiSbled in response to Mr.. Hoovers
call. After posing for pictures on the
White House grounds the group re-
turned to the cabinet room, where Mr..
Hoover delivered his charge to it.
Later they returned to the Mayfiower
Hotel, their temporary headquarters,
until they move into the Southern
Building.
The members also were given their
first opportunity to become personally
acquainted, many of them never hav-
ing met before. Probably the most
generally known within the group was
Alexander H. Legge, who resigned his
position as president of the Interna-
tional Harvester Co. to become chair
man of the board and give it the
counsel of his experience in business
and finance.
Although the board was created to
cope with the general problem of the
agricultural depression and is COM
posed Of members representing all the
major phases of farming, administra-
ton leaders regard the wheat situation
with its continuing surpluses as the
most pressing of the farmers woes.
Board without Spokesman.
Strangely, in view of the situation,
the DOdTO UOOdy WAS WITHOUT SpOkeS-
man for the wheat growers, because Ut
the Presidents desire to select q man
acceptable in every way, and a differ
ence Of opinion among the grain men
who disagree over the cooperative and
pool plans of wheat marketing. Never
theless, President Hoover is hopeful that
a decision can be reached within few
days and the personnel Of the board be
completed.
In addition to Legge, the members
are Secretary Hyde. who holds a place
(Contir.oI on Page 2, Column ID