Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12
Decrease in Farmers
Seen as Relief Plan
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Industrial, commercial, financial and
political Washington is still worrying
about the question, What are we going
to wo with or for the farmer?"
Economists within and without the
great governmental departments have
come to the conclusion that the only
thing that can be done is to reduce the
farmer in numbers and increase his
earning power.
The trouble is that few Of these
specialists agree on how this Is to be
done. They agree that perhaps we have
too many farmers in the United States.
The rural population drawing sus-
tenance from the farms amounts to
nearly one-third Of the total population.
Some authorities, among them the
executives Of large railroad lines, say
that 10 per cent could produce all the
and that the remaining 20 per cent
should be placed in industrial activities.
Farmer Doesn't Fix Prices.
Merchants, on the other hand, say
that the 80 per cent farm population,
with an annual purchasing power of
some $4,000, 900, 900, Is the backbone
Of the Nations business. The farmer
himself says he has to buy whether he
makes the money to pay or not and that
he has to pay more proportionately for
what he buys from others than he re-
ceives for what he sells them.
The farmer is the only producer in
the world who does not Ak the price of
what he produces. The buyer fixes the
price for practically everything the farm
er raises. When the farmer wishes to
sell his grain, hay, live stock, eggs or
poultry. he brings his product to mar
ket, There he is told that the price is
so much. If he is disinclined to sell
at that price, he is politely requested to
take his wares home again. But he
cannot take them home. He has no
place to put them and some Of them
are sure to deteriorate on his hands
He Is therefore ct the mercy Of the
buyer. II there is demand for certain
products and supply is short, COMPETE
ton between buyers forces the price
high; but II there is a surplus the farm
er must take what the buyer offers.
Surplus Makes Price.
Few farmers realize that the price is
not made by volume, but by surplus
This country consumes q certain num-
Der of bushels of wheat. If the farmer
produces more than that amount he
must sell the surplus elsewhere. The
return from his full crop depends not
on what he can sell part Of It for, but
what he can get for all Of 1t.
Economists say that 1t is for this rea-
son that, any effort to aid the farmer
by pegging prices has failed. 1t may
be possible to control markets and
prices within this country, but this
country does not control world mar
kets, which are dominated by world sur
pluseS. Despite the fact that the United
States Is one Of the main food pro-
ducers Of the world, the price of wheat
Is made in Liverpool. So is the price
of wool. The price Of American fresh
meats is made in Chicago, but the price
of world meats is made in London and
Buenos Aires. Argentina dominates the
linseed market Australian and Scan
dinavian butter can compete in our do
nestle markets.
Agricultural Department experts de-
clare that no small portion of Amer
ica's crops are produced on inferior
lands, under antiquated methods and