Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-16

Distress among individual farmers
who have been hard hit by the drought
and excessive heat during the Summer
months is the chief concern OF the
press as the Government approaches
the task of relief. Pessimism as to the
winters food supply is not general, but
there are numerous warnings that
profiteering must be checked.
There is to be plenty of food for
the people," declares the Duluth Herald.
THAT is a good thing. Plenty of bread.
meat and fruits. The land has pro-
duced and now let it be seen that the
toiler in the fields gets his due" The
Columbus Ohio State Journal holds
that 1.-THE drought has done for the
farmer something the Federal Farm
Board was unable to do. However, !"
concludes the Journal, "the price has
not yet attained a point where it will
compensate for the heavy reduction in
yield, competent authorities say"
Approving the idea that the Farm
Boards revolving fund should be used
for the benefit of the producers, the
Little Rock Arkansas Democrat argues:
I'm an era of depression which already
is being felt by the farmer in the re-
duced demand for his products there
suddenly comes q drought which sweeps
away what little he had and much of
what he may hope for. If Mr.. Hoover
is politically wise he will move promptly
toward alleviating the distressing condi-
tions."
The Atlanta Journal agrees that ''the
country as a whole, so vast and various
are its resources, will withstand the
worst, but for localities and individuals
the drought is beyond measure lamen-
table" The Salt Lake DeSeret News,
points out that "in a terribly drastic
manner the drought is helping the
country solve its problem of surplus
wheat" The st. Louis Times COM
ments: Small crops do bring higher
prices. Too small output might bring
in too small total to compensate for
expense. A fair crop, at or under the
volume of demand could be profitable
indeed. more profitable than a large
one. But it is hazardous to speculate
on possibilities from prolonged. extreme
torridity." The Asheville Times re-
marks that lin terms of real values,
lasting values, 1t is pretty hard to evolve
anything favorable from what appears
TO be Nationwide disaster TO growing
crops"
Economic uncertainty" Is seen by
the Flint Daily journal, declaring that
while It will serve to reduce SURPRISES
of farm products, it also serves to re-
duce the income of farmers, thereby
reducing their purchasing power" The
Fort Worth Record-Telegram remarks
that "it is a sad commentary on agri-
cultural and market economics when
all manner OF attempted governmental
help has steadily reduced prices, that
only took an upward trend at the an
nouncement of a Nationwide drought,
with almost famine potentialities in
many localities"
"Th4 most distressing disaster of the
kind that ever scourged this country"
is recognized by the Pasadena Star
News, with the comment: Problems
may arise as to just what help is needed
and in just what form 1t can be and
should be extended But as the situa-
ton develops its hardships and suffer-
ings, ways and means to give relief
should suggest themselves from the cir
cumstances in each locality"
''As some Of our national leaders
point out" says the Schenectady Ga
zette, this Summers drought contains
valuable lesson for farmers in the
regions affected--and even in others.
And that Is the weakness of the one
crop method Of production" In a dis
cussion of the condition of the farmers,
the Rochester Times Union suggests:
whether producers will benefit greatly
by the higher price Is doubtful In
thousands of instances wheat raiSers
sell their grain in the field. Those who
have sold at the lower price. before the
effects of abe drought became apparent,
have no heat to sell at the higher
price"
Certainly thousands In rural neigh
borhoods and in the towns throughout
the wide area burned tlp by the drought