The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-23

Manufacturers Give
Their Opinions of
Farm Situation.
by VINCENT LYONS
Times Financial Editor
THB American exp0r ter

THE American exporter Of
il manufactured arucl-s is more
interested IN the continued pros
pcrity OF agriculture IN the United
states than in the prosperity OF
countries abroad. VINO buys his ex-
ports. This is the conclusion
drawn by the foreign trade special
lists who discuss the farmers PROB
lem in a booklet entitled Foreign
Trade and Domestic Markets is
sued by the American Manufactur-
ers' Export Association.
The prosperity Of the farmer Gre
ates a large share Of the manufac-
turers domestic market. the book
let ADDS. which he needs just rs
much rs he needs exports. Not only
the farmer but the rural towns
people, the shippers. packers. rail-
roads and a host Of other people
depend upon agricultural pros
peritv and all these buy nearly 50
per cent Of the industrial COM
mOdities sold 10 the consumer.
Because the purchasing power Of
= large part Of our rural and farm
ing population depends upon ex-
ports the manufacturer is keenly
interested in maintaining the ex-
port of these commodities What
coffee, wool, meat and other prod
ucts are to Australia. Brazil, Co
lOmbia and other foreign countries,
cotton, tobacco, lard and a great
many more products are to the ag-
ricultural sections Of this country
the main source of wealth and
the main purpose Of export.
IF We contemplate the elimina-
i ton of cotton exports from
Texas" the booklet continues. I'VE
shall have 10 face the permanent
unemployment of approximately
half the population of that state, or
their shift into other Tields of en-
deavor. The latter would be i'm
possible because We would have TO
contemplate also the loss of a very
rich market for industrial goods,
and the consequent restriction OF
industrial production"
Whenever the agricultural COM
munities are prosperous it is be-
cause the can export freely to
other countries and whenever this
is the case industries are likewise
prosperous and the country ex-
periences good times. Crop re-
StrictiOn, the book states is not the
final answer. however necessary it
may have been as an emergency.
As solution the American
Manufacturers Export Association
puts forward four propositions Cd
raise all the cotton, wheat. to-
bacco .hogs-in fact, everything
from the farm that we possibly
can. o. sell all we can at world
gold prices. 30 accept payment
from abroad for our SURPRISES on
raw materials and goods that we
can use and (4 mpeg prices of
industrial goods in order that
there may be the necessary bal
snce with the level of agricultural
prices.
CONSIDERING the source of the
~ eSpOuSal of his cause, the
American farmer undoubtedly will
take the manufacturers assertion
with a grain of salt The industrial
cast and the agricultural sector
have never been what might be
called boon companions. The
farmer today regards the processing
tax as his tariff and believes that
he is as much entitled to its bene-
fits as the manufacturer is entitled
10 the import duties which exist on
manufactured goods.
II is not likely neither that the
farmer will accept whole-hearted-
" the first plank in the associ-
tons program. Crop restriction
may not be the final answer to the
problems of agriculture but. at the
same time. farmers are well salts
fed with the bounties paid by the
Federal government in exchange for
Curtailed production.
Points and in the platform
are linked together. The nation
would like to sell its SURPRISES
abroad at world prices, but it seems
We are indiSposed to accept goods
of other countries in exchange.
Restoration of foreign trade of the
United States. as we'll as other
powers. probably will not gain
much Roadway until much of the