Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
SENATORS ANALYzE
AGRICULTURAL ILLS
McNary and Smith Outline
Remedies in Address
Over Radio.
Continued From First Page.l

nv Charles wise. assistant leader. The
tvo Senators were introduced to the ra-
do audience by Diver Owen kuhn'
managing editor Of f.le Evening Star.
The speeches of Senators McNary
and Smith follow:
Senator McNary.
shy friends:
''There are a number of fundamental
considerations underlying sound ana
effective program for the aid OF Aneri-
can agriculture In the first place II
should be recognized that the agricui-
tural problem is not single one. but
rather q bundle of problems. While 1t
is true that the troublesome surplus
proposition has doomed large In our
national thought, there are innumer-
able dificulties in the fields OF ootn
production and marketing to wnlcn
serious attention must be given. Ii
should be recognized that there
short-tirne approach to the soiutlon %
the so-called agricultural problem, as
we'll as a longtime approach.
IA measure for the handling OF the
s,rrluses. in its very nature, conten-
plates more or less immediate results;
on the other hand. many substantial
and frequently overlooked problems WILL
require much time for their study ana
solution. Again We must recognize that
many of the economic questions now
confronting American farmers are OF
such a nature that they can be solved
only by the individual producer or
through collective action of the farm
ers themselves.
Facts Must Be Basis Of Action.
underlying all effort at agricultural
relief must be a sound basis OF facts.
Without adequate information, 1t would
be quite impossible intelligently to leg
islate or operate wisely in the interest
of a better agriculture. This need points
to substantial broadening and strength
ening of the research work In which
the United States Department of Agri-
culture and other Federal and State in
stitutions are now engaged. Coupled
with our knowledge of the facts must
20 an intensive program of education,
the purpose Of which Is to place IN the
hands of producers, individually and
collectively, those facts which. will en-
able them to better solve their produc-
ton and marketing difficulties.
Several factors appear fundamental
Ia any longtime program for agricul-
ture. Since no small part of the diff
culties of farmers during the past sew
eral years have grown out Of the Gre
alton Of SURPRISES, every effort should
be made to prevent the effects OF dam
aging overproduction, through better
adjustment of supply to market require
ments. This calls for the energetic sup
port by Congress of price analysis and
outlook work, which is fundamental in
any effort to adjust acreage to the needs
of the market. 1t calls for intensive
salesmanship of outlook information
ka avtr hnt r.
eral and State, through cooperative
organizations of producers, In order that
farmers acquire that social conscious
ness that will cause them to increase or
decrease their production as required by
market conditions, and not selfishly look
merely to their own personal interest.
Cost Reduction Vital.
Coupled with a program to adjust
production to market requirements
should go a plan of reducing production
costs wherever possible through the
adoption of more efficient methods of
farming. The degree Of efficiency varies
widely in agriculture, as in any industry.
The technique of farming continually is
changing, The adoption Of the most
approved principles and practices In
farm organization and operation I'M
doubtedly will result in further re-
ducing the cost of producing many
farm products.
Much undoubtedly can be done to
broaden the domestic markets for many
farm products. This can be accom-
plished in part by expanding the in
dustrial and other uses of agricultural
products. We may well encourage.
wherever feasible, substitution of do
nestle for imported raw materials. We
should speed up our studies of the in
dustrial uses to which farm products
may be put.
Foreign Markets Important.
Foreign markets and foreign COM
petition are no less important. A large
part OF the products produced on An1eri-
can farms finds its way to foreign mar
kets, and about 80 per cent of Aneri-
can farm products are affected by for
eign competition. Promotional work,
the purpose Of which is to expand the
markets for farm products, should be
continued and expanded by the United
States Departments of Agriculture,
Con1merce and State. These same de-
partments should provide a market in
formation service on foreign competi-
ton and demand which will keep Amer
lean farmers thoroughly appraised of
the influences which tend to increase
or decrease the foreign outlets for their
products, as well as the outlook for In
creasing or decreasing competition in
foreign countries.
In the marketing Of farm products
there undoubtedly Is room for the elini-
nation Of much waste. The spread be-
tween the prices paid by the consumer
and prices received by the producer has
Widened tremendously in recent years.
The development of efficient Corpora
tive marketing associations In some
cases has resulted In effecting signifi-
cant economies. There also is room
for the consolidation of the innumer-
able units now in the many fields Of
distribution. Unsound and improper
practices in certain Gelcs Of distribu-
ton should be deal. with adequately
and firmly.
Broader Credit System Urged.
"Perhaps one Of the most promising
avenues Of approach In the marketing
field Is through the further developments
of sound cooperative marketing asso-
Citations. Through such associations it
should be possible to better adjust pro-
duction to needs of the markets and
also market products in an effective
manner. The research and informa-
tionals service now provided for Corpora
tive doSOLl0b1ulIs ny LIE OilAbCA o0ntVo
Department Of Agriculture should be
strengthened and credit facilities should
be provided with which to finance the
acquisition by co-operatives Of physi-
cal facilities
I'm this connection, desire to en-
phasize the need Of broadening the
Federal Intermediate Credit System.
In sections of the country where the
small banks are not adequately serving
agriculture, there undoubtedly is
place for the establishment Of credit
corporations, live stock loan companies
and other financial units through which
agriculture may tap the reservoir Of
credit provided by the intermediate
Credit Banks.
Freight Rates Are Factor.
America undoubtedly has the most