Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, September 29, 1920, Page 3

ot £ T GUARANTEES FAIR DEAL FOR FARMER Declares Definite\ National Agri- cultural Policy Is Vital to Country’s Welfare. ——— " 'WOULD PUT END TO PRICE FIXING OF FARM-PRODUCTS dn Address Befors Minfesota State ~ .Falr Republican Nominee Shows Profound Understanding of Farming and its Problems. :'M{ianeapolls, (Special).—“The time thas come when, as a natlon, we must qatermlne upon a definite agricultural Ppolicy. - We must. decide whether- we States a self-sustaining nation—which <own boundaries all of the staple food sproducts needed to maintain the high- _«efit type of civilization<-or whether -we shall continue to exploit our agri- ‘cyltural resources for the- benefit of +our industrial and commerical life, and ihgeeave to posterity the task of finding d enough, by strong-arm methods, £ necessary, to support the coming ‘hundreds of millions. I believe In the self-sustaining, In- endent, self-reliant nation, agricul- turally, iIndustrially and politically. “We are then the guarantors of our own :security and are equal to the task.” 8o declared Senator Harding in a masterly address before the Minnesota ‘State Fair here, in Which.he revealed - most profound understanding of :agriculture, its problems and its rela- “ “tion to the farmer and the consumer in ‘the cities. This Bpeech has been de- -#cribed as the greatest speech on agri- ‘culture which has:ever been made by a: Presidential candidate. ;:Among other things he said: ‘“A good many years ago a Chinese ” ,_mhllosophgr uttered a profound truth when he said: ‘The well-being of a geople is like a tree; agriculture is its root, manufacture and commerce are its branches and its life; if the root ¥ treak and the tree dles.’ Cause for Concern, It may seem strange to many good ypeople that at this particular time any -one should quote this saying of a wise w0ld Chinese. ‘Never In all our history shave prices of farm products ruled high, mensu;ed\ln dollars, as during past four yéars. Farm land In the at surplus-producing states-has ad- nced. to.unheard -of prices, with S y-indication that,"but for the tight ¢ . sogney. conditions, it would.go still _‘higher. Apparently the farmers of the # perity. Why then, even by fmplica- :tion, suggest that something may be wrong with our agriculture, and that " “the trouble may be communicated to our manufactures and cominerce? Peo- ple in the-cities are disposed to think that-if there is anything wrong it is in the cities where food is selling at such high prices and nbt'Inthe coun-' try where the food is produced. “But ‘both farm and city students of national ‘problems see in the present agricul- tural situggion certaln ~ conditions which give cause for real concern to ‘every lover of his country.” : He then. referred in a most interest- ing ‘way to the development of the great-central west and sketched briefly the settlement of the great central val- leys, as follows: government gave a farm of the richest land>iiri the ‘world :to ‘every man who/| wanted one. Railroads were bullt, the \Pralries. were plowed up, and almost wvernight the agricultural’ preduction f the Unjted- States fincreased- by per ‘cent. ~ Grains ‘were preduced mnd_s0ld at the bare cost of utilizing the %oil, and the farmers of the older states:to-the east were smothered by ithis flood of cheap grain. The only thing’ that could be done ‘with' ‘this snperabundance .of food was to build icities:out of it. And ‘great cities we did _bulld, not only In the United ‘States, but-across the seas.” He,_ spoke of the hard conditions which’ ‘came upon the farmers of the ‘gentral west as a-result of their over- ‘production, ‘and then of the gradual Amprovement which began about 1903, /svhen. the-increased population in the Leitie< hegan to catch up with farm pro- “duction, “and “how : this- increased: ‘de- amand for food was:accelerated by the ‘great“World War. i Speaking of -the part-played-by the - farmer during the war, he sald: Splendid Part of Farmers. - “The:splendid part played by the ‘farmers of the nation during the war probably never will be’ understood “or “fully ‘appretiated by our people. More ithan 25 per cent of all our fighting imen ‘cime from thé farms, and 'after sending -their sons ‘to'the camps. the ‘fathers and mothers, with the help of the “youtger ‘children, turned to and “produced. more food than was ever be- fore produced in the history of the world’ in‘the same time and from the same. area of land. Thelr working days were measured not by the clock, They took to themselves the respon- sibility of feeding not only our own ple, but also our allles across the In-more ways than one, our farm- through to a successful finish. -story of what they did, some one who understands it. will furnish one of the most glorious chap- ters In American history. One thing I may say—m every American <on- flict, from the revolution for independ- ence to the world war for maintained cent American and ready for every sacrifice.” He then pointed out some of the un- WEbNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 29, 1920 #hall undertake to make of the United| .ameans that we shall grow within our; 4s tnjured the leaves fall, the branches 1and. ase enjoying unprecedented pros- | “Phrovgh -the- homestend - law -'the| i *determlnnflon which ever have made TOR HARDING { fortunate results in agriculture, grow- ing out of war conditions, especlally the premium put on grain growing at | the expense of livestock production.: He referred to the heavy losses suffer- ed by many livestock producers and | feeders, and pointed out the urgent need of restoring the balance between livestock and grain production as quickly as possible. On this subject he said: “For two outstanding reasons the maintenance of a normal balance be- tween livestock and grain production is a _matter of national concern. One is that we are a meat-eating people, and should have a fairly uniform uup-' ply at a reasonable price. Conditions | which éither greatly stimulate or greatly discourage livestock produc: tion result in prices altogether too high for' the average consuming public or altogether too low for the producer. ' The other is that the over-stimulation of graln production depletes the fer tility of our land, which is our great- est natfonal asset, and results in a greater supply than can' be consumed at a price profitable to the producer.l and” Bhally to-widespread agricultural distress from which all of our people | suffer.” % . Speaking of the trend of prices of , tarm products during the next two or three years, he sald that no one could forecast them with any accuracy. That ‘as a nation we are undergoing »the‘ same experience that the individual | undergoes when recovering from a, long and dangerous iliness. And then he made this significant statement: “Tt must be evident, however, to any | one who has given the matter even superficial consideration, that we bave now come to the end of the long period of agricultural exploitation In the United States. No longer are there great and easy and awaiting areas of fertile land awaiting the land bungry. : We ‘have now under the plow prac-| tically all of our easily-tillable land, though /idle. areas await reclamation and development by that genlus and pature respond to liuman needs. Ad- ditions of consequence, which we may make to ‘our farming area, from this time on, must comé by putting water on ‘the dry lands of the arid and sem!- arid country, or by ‘taking water off of the swanip lands, of which -we have large areas in some sections, or by dlg- ging the stumps out:of . the. cut-over timber lands of the north and south. Other Alternative an Unhappy One. “If we should unhappily choose. the course of industrial and commercial promotion at the expense of -agricul- ture, cicies will continue to grow at the expense of the rural community, ag- riculture will (nevitably break down and finally destroy the finest rural “clvilization, with the greatest possibili- ties the world has ever seen. Decreased farm production will make dear food and we shall (be obliged to send. our ships to far-away nations in search of cheap foodstuffs, the importation of which 1s sure to Intensify agricultural discouragement and distress at home. “If, on the other hand, we shall de- termine to build up here a seif-sus- but by the number of daylight hours.| | ers made thie war their war, and count- } ifice too great to help fight it d.no sacrifice i : g-rh,! in addition to ennble the farmer to written hy | maintain the fertility of his soll, and | cittes.” righ*s, the farmer has been 100 per| talning nation—and what lover of his country can make a different cholce? ‘—then we must at once set about the development of a system of agriculture which will enable us to feed our peo- ple ‘abundantly, with some spare for export:in years of plenty, and at prices which ‘will ipsure to the farmer and bis family both financial rewards and educational, social and religlous liv- ing conditions fairly comparable to those offered by the cities. A sound system of agriculture can not be main- tained on any other basis. Anything short of a fair return upon invested capital. and a fair wage for the labor which goes into the crops, and enough insure .against natural hazards will drive large numbers of farmers to the Senator Harding made it perfectly clear that this is a problem in which city people have just as much interest as the farmer. That unless we can | work out a rational and fair agricul- tural policy, the drift to the city will ! continue and our trouble will grow | | ipnterm\llsm. whether applied to ag- constantly worse. Speaking of farm organizations, he said the farm organization of (he pres- ent day Is qnite different from the or- ganization of the past; that farmers have learned sound prineiples of or- ganizativn : that they are adapting to their work the methods which busi- ness men and working men have found nl in furthering their own In- e referred especially to the- ul organizations established by the fruft growers of the west and by the grain growers of the northwest, and said the farmers of the corn belt states are also rapidly perfecting the most powerful organization of farm: ers ever known in the country. He pointed out very frankly the danger that would come to the nation if the problems of the farmer were not frankly recognized, and if the Tarmer was not given ubsolntely fair (reat- ment. He said we Nave witnessed restriets ed production of manufactures and of Inbor, but we have not yet experienced the intentionally resiricted production of foodsiuffs, ang expressed the hope that we never may “have that experi- ence. While frankly recognizing the need of a national agricultural policy, he disclaimed any Intention of suggesting that the government should work out an elaborate system.of agriculture and ' then try to impose It on the farmers.| of the country. He denounced such an effort as utterly repugnant to Ameri- can ideals. He sald that government riculture or to any other of our great natfonal fndusiries, would stifle ambi- ‘ tion, Impalr efficiency, lessen produc- tion #nd make us a nation of depend- | ent incompetents. 1ie said the farmer requires no speclal favors at the hands | of the government. All he needs is a ; fair chance and such just considera- . tion for agriculture as we ought to give to a basic industry, and ever seek to promote for oudr common good. enator Harding then spoke of the definjte policies to which the Republl- can party is committed, and which he, as its cendidate, .endorses. : : " ‘Farm Representation, First.—The need of farm representa- tion"in larger governmental affairs is | recognized. During the past seven years the right of n[rlcu)tun to a vofce *In” goverumental admlinistration has been practically ignored, and aut times the farmer has suffered griev- ously as a result, The farmer has a vitdl ‘Interest in our trade relations with other countries, In the adminis- tration of our financial policies and in many of the larger activities of the government. Second.—The right of farmers to form co-operative associations for the marketing of their products must be granted. The parasite in distribution who preys on both producer and con- sumer must no longer sap the vitality of this fundamental life, 8clentific Study. Third, — The Republican party pledges itself to a scientific study of agricultural prices and farm produec- tien costs, both at home and abread, with a view to reducing the frequency of abnormal fluctuations here. Stablli- zation will contribute to everybody's A confidence. Farmers have complained ] bitterly of the frequent and violent fluctuations in prices of farm products, and especislly in prices of live stock. They do not find such fluctuations in the products of other industries. In & general way prices of farm products must go up or downm, according to whetber there is a plentiful crop or a short one, The farmer's raw materials are the fertility of the soil, the sun- shine and the rain, and the size of his crops is measured by the supply:of | these raw materials and the skill with which he makes use of them. He can- not control his production and adjust it to the demand as can the manufac- turer. But he can see no good reason why the prices of his products should fluctuate so violently from week to week and sometimes from day to day. To Stop Price Fixing. Fourth.—We promise to put an end ! to unnecessary price fixing of farm | products and to ill considered efforts ! arbitrarily to reduce farm product prices, { additional Government drives against food prices such as we have experienced during the past two years are valn and useless. The ostensible purpose of such drives s to reduce the price the consumer pays for food. The actual result 18 unjustiy to depress for a time the prices the farmer receives for his grain and live stock, but with no ap- preciable reduction in the price the consumer pays. Such drives simply give the speculator .and the profiteer opportunities to add to their exactions. Z Fifth.—We faver the administration of the farm loan act so as to help men who farm to secure farms of their own and to give to them long time credits, needed to practice the best methods of diversified farming. We also favor the authorization of assoclations to provide the necessary o the man, whether land owner or tenant, who is hampered for lack of working capital. Unfortunately as land increases in value tepancy also increases. An Increasing Evil. This has been true throughout his- tory. At the present time probably one-haif of the high priced land In the corn belt states Is farmed by men who. because of lack of capital, find it nec- essary to rent. This increase in ten- ancy brings with It evils which are a real menace to national welfare, The tenant who . lacks sufficient working capital and who too oftefi Is working under a short time lease is forced to farm the land to the limlt and rob it of its fertility In order to puy the rent. Amid such conditions we have Ineffl- cient schools, broken down churches and a sadly limited social life. We should therefore concern ourselves not only In helping men to secure farms of their own and in helping the tenant secure the working capital he needs to carry on the best methods of dlversi- fled farming, but we should work out a system of land leasing which, while doing full justice to both landlord and tenant, will at the same time conserve the fertility of the soil. Transportation Systems. 8ixth.—We do not longer recognize the right to speculative profit in the operation of our transportation sys- tems, but we are pledged to restore them to the highest state of efficiency as quickly as possible. Agriculture has suffered more severely than any other industry through the inefficient rail- road service of the last two years. Many farmers have Incurred disas- trous losses through inability to mar- ket their grain and live stock. Such a conditlon must not be permitted to continue. We must bring about con- ditlons which wil) give us prompt serv- ice at the lowest possible rates. 8eventh,.—We are pledged to the re- vision of the tariff as soon as condi- tions shall make it necessary for the preservation of the home market for Almerican |abor, A er!ca? a]rlculgu re and American Industry. It We are to build up a self sustaining agriculture here at home the farmer must be pro- tected from unfair competition from those countries where agriculture is still being exploited and where the standards of living on the farm are much lower than here. We have asked for higher American standards; let us malntain them. So long as Anierica can produce the foods we need I am In favor of buying from America first. Fewer Land Hogs. Under a sound system of agricul- ture, fostered and safeguarded by wise and falr administration of state and federal government, the farmers of the United States can feed our people for many centurles—-perhaps {indefinitely. Farming s not an auxillary; it Is the main plant, and geared with it, insep- arably, is every wheel of transporta- tion and Industry. America conld not go on with a d tisfied farming peo- ple, and no nation js secure where land hunger abides. We need fewer land hogs, who menace our future, and more fat hogs for ham and bacon. We need less beguilement in cultivating a PAGE.THRES wonsideration fof farming as our busfe ¢ {ndustry. We need less appeal to class consciousness and more resolute intel- ligence in promptly solving our prob- lems. We need rest and recuperation for a sofl which has béen worked out” in agitation and more and better har- vests In the Inviting flelds of mutual understanding. We need less of grief about the 1lls which we may charge to the neglect of our citizenship and more confidence in just rovernment, along with determination to make nnd hold it Just, Velocity of Wind. Wken ‘wind travels at a speed of ninety miles an hour it becomes a hur- ricane, but it is on record that in trop- ical countries storms have been knowa during which the wind reached a veloc- ity estimated at more than 600 miles an hour. How to Petrify Wood. Take gem salt, rock alum, white vinegar, chalk and peebles powder, of each an equal quantity. Mix avell to- gether. If, after the ebullition is over, you throw into this liquid any wood o porous substance it will turn tke sub- stance inl‘n stone In four or five days. Kissing Once Custom at Dance. Down to the'middle of the Victorian era it was considered quite the proper thing in England for a man to ex- change kisses with kis fair partner at the end of a dance. Conglusion. Another reason why it would be fm- practicable for a man to carry a fue muff Is because he would soon ruin it by wiping his mouth on it—Arkansaw Thomas Cat. ™ A BEMIDJI INTERVIEW Mr. Gordhamer Tells His Experience The following brief account of an interview with a Bemidji man five years ago, and its sequel, will be read with keen interest by every citizem. Oliver Gordhamer, carpenter, 1200 Dewey Ave., says: ‘“Some years ago I was greatly annoyed with my kid- neys. I had a weak and lame back and it hurt me to stoop. I felt stiff and lame in the morning. I used twe boxes of Doan’s Kidney Pills and I have not had any lame back since, nor have my kidneys been dis- ordered.” Over five years later—Mr. Gord- hammer said: “I have not had a sign of kidney trouble since Doan’s Kid- ney Pills cured me. I am now pleased to say the cure has lasted. I com- firm my former endersement.” Price 60c, at all dealers. 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