Evening star., 1936-09-07

btSftts
duce. In the same way it is the
purchasing power of the workers in
these factories in the cities that
enables them and their wives and
children to eat more beef, more pork, |
more wheat, more corn, more fruit |
and more dairy products, and to buy
more clothing made from cotton, wool
and leather. In physical and prop
erty sense, as well as in spiritual
sense, We are members one Of an
other.
simple panacea can be applied to the
drought problem in the whole of the
drought area. Plans must depend
on local conditions, for these vary
with annual rainfall, soil character
istics, altitude and topography. Water
and soil conservation methods may
differ in one county from those in an
adjoining county. Work to be done
in the cattle and sheep country differs
in type from work in the wheat coun-
try or work in the corn belt
The Great Plains Drought Area
Committee has given me its prelim-
mary recommendations for a long
time program for that region. Using
that report as a basis, we are CO.
operating successfully and in entire
accord with the Governors and State
Planning Boards. AS we get this pro-
gram into operation the people more
and more will be able to maintain
themselves securely on the land. That
will mean a steady decline in the
relief burdens which the Federal Gov
eminent and States have had to as
sumo in time of drought, but more
important it will mean greater con-
tribution to general national pros
perity by these regions which have
been hit by drought. 1t will con-
serve and improve not only property
values but human values. The peo-
pie in the drought area do not want
to be dependent on Federal, State or
any other kind of charity. They want
for themselves and their families an
opportunity to share fairly by thei-
own efforts in the progress of Amer
ica.
The farmers Of America want q
sound national agriculture policy il.
which permanent land-use program
will have an important place. They
want assurance against another year
like 1892, when they made good crops |
but had to sell them for prices that
meant ruin just as surely as did the
drought. Sound policy must main
tain farm prices in good crop years |
as well as in pad crop years. 1t must |
function when We have drought. It |
must also function when we have
bumper crops.
Maintenance of Price
Equilibrium Is Aim.
The maintenance of a fair euuilib- |
rum between farm prices and the |
prices of industrial proaucUs is an
aim which we must keep ever before |
us, just as we must give constant |
thought to the sufhciency of the tood |
supply of the Nation even in bad |
years. Our modern civilization can
and should devise a more successful |
means by which the excess supplies of |
bumper years can be conserved for
use in lean years.
On my trip have been deeply i'm
pressed with the general efficiency of
those agencies of the Federal, State
and local governments which have
moved in on the immediate task Gre
ated by the drought. In 1884 none
OF us had preparation; we worked
without blueprints and made the mis-
takes OF inexperience. Hindsight
shows us this. But as time has gone
on we have been making fewer mis-
takes. Remember that the Federal
and State Governments have done
only broad planning. Actual work ON
a given project originates in the local
community. Local needs are listed
from local information. Local prof.
ects are decided on only after OBJ
tanning the recommendations and help
OF those in the local community who
are best able to give it. And it is
worthy OF note that on my entire trip,
though ! asked the question dozens
OF times, heard no complaint against
the character OF single works relief
project.
The elected heads of the States con-
cerned, together with their State OFF,
cials and their experts from agricul-
tural colleges and State planning
boards have shown cooperation with
and approval of the work which the
Federal Government has headed up.
am grateful also to the men and
women In all these States who have
accepted leadership in the work in
their locality.
In the drought area people are not
afraid to use new methods to meet
changes in nature, and to correct mis-
takes of the past. If grazing has
injured range lands, they are willing
to reduce the grazing. If certain
wheat lands should be returned to
pasture, they are willing to cooperate.
If trees should be planted as wind
breaks or to stop erosion, they will
work with us. If terracing or Summer
following or crop rotation Is called
for, they will carry them out. They
stand ready to fit, and not to fight,
the ways of nature.
We are helping, and shall con-
tinue to help the farmer to do those
,hings, through local soil conserva-
ton committees and other cooper
ative local State and Federal agen-
cies of government.
Plan Defenses Against S2F
Low Prices and Drought.
I have not the time tonight to deal
With other and more comprehensive
agricultural policies.
With this fine help We are tiding
,ver the present emergency. We are