The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-09
Text Of President R0Osevelt's
Address To Farmers Meetings

(which in February and early March,
1888, paralyzed business all over
the United States.
Evolution
In the seven years that have
elapsed since that time, the ma
tional farm program has properly
undergone a continual evolution
That first piece of legislation-the
agricultural adjustment act of 1885
was Z. long step forward, but it
was not perfect. AS the years went
by, weather conditions changed
market conditions changed-yes.
and even court conditions changed
So the provisions Of the farm pro-
gram have been CORRESPONDENCE
changed.
We have learned from experience.
and have gradually adapted the
program more and more closely tc
the needs of the individual farm
er, to the needs of the nation, and
to the needs of the land itself. We
realized that we had reached ou1
last frontier of new lands-and had
no choice but to conserve and re-
build our existing soil.
All through these seven years
one fundamental feature has run
like a thread through the success
sive adjustment and conservation
and ever-normal granary programs,
That is the essential policy Of To-
Called control, with the program
run by committees Of farmers
elected by farmers-and that goes
for farmers regardless of what
party they happen to be enrolled
in.
Experience has amply borne out
the wisdom of the safeguards with
which those county associations
and committees were surrounded
In three thousand counties-prac-
tically all the counties of the ma
ton which are not occupied wholly
by cities-they win respect ano
they deserve respect. None but
t.-ose farmer committeeman them
selves will ever know how they
sweated over details Of the pro-
gram, how they have sacrificed
their own personal interests and
their leisure as they spent thous-
ands Of hours and drove thousands
OF miles to make the program sue
coed.
Organizations Help
Back Of these committeeman
helping them in their work, giving
support to the program, have been
some of the great general farm
organizations. Not only in the farm
communities, but right here ir
Washington, these organizations
have helped to shape and perfect
the successive farm laws.
When we launched the national
farm program seven years ago, we
hoped that recovery in the United
States would be accompanied by 6
great revival Of our trade with
other countries.
T wish 1 could tell you tonight
that the whole world had been re.
stored to prosperity and friendly
commerce. I wish I could tell you
that the markets which YOU
fathers and grandfathers once en-
joyed were again open to receive
more of your wheat, your pork
your lard, your cotton. your to
bacco, your fruit.
1 can tell you this-that we hav.
done many things which have help
ed the situation. Through our re
ciprocal trade program, we hav
tried to spread Jul good-neighbo
philosophy through many nation
Of the world. That program ha
brought results-not only in bette
markets for our Industrial good
but in better markets for GU
farm goods-results which ar
fundamentally proved in terms {
pounds and bushels and dollars an
cents. If congress consents, W
shall continue that useful work.
But in spite of all we have dor
to help preserve and restore peac
in the world, the bitter truth is ths
the world is not at peace. AS
speak to you tonight, guns al
laundering on the battlefields {
Europe and Asia. Ships that pl
the seas are exposed to the hazard
of bomb and torpedo.
Commerce Disturbed
In the midst Of a world at wa,
we find that the foreign commere
we had managed to achieve is rude
ly disturbed. Some people may sa.
what Of that? Does not our domesti
trade comprise 80 per cent Of all on
business? Yes, that is true for tn
nation as a whole. But, for som
industries, export trade accounts fc
considerably more than 10 per Ger
of sales. In agriculture, for exampl
that is true of cotton, tobacco, al
pies, lard, wheat, and other. pro
ducts. And all agriculture is certai
to be seriously affected if our e1