tion, and the Illinois State Bar Association. This conference was attended by several hundred people. The resolution committee which was appointed made its report and resolutions were adopted by the general meeting. Those resolutions I would like to have inserted in the record. The CHAIRMAN. That may be done. (The resolutions are as follows:) RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY GOV. LEN SMALL'S AGRICULTURAL SURPLUS CONFERENCE, HOTEL LASALLE, CHICAGO, JANUARY 15, 1926 I. AMEND PURE FOOD LAW ON BEHALF OF CORN SUGAR We importune Congress to speedily amend the pure food law to banish the discriminations now existing against corn sugar and that we go on record as favoring a publicity campaign for the purpose of bringing before the people of the United States the virtues of corn products. II. WATERWAYS Resolved, That the Lakes-to-the-Gulf waterway be immediately developed on a full scale, so as to cheapen the transportation of crops. III. MESSAGE TO SOUTH We request the cotton growers of the South to join with us in obtaining a solution of the agricultural surplus problem from the present Congress, as the question of surplus is the same on cotton as it is on corn. IV. SURPLUS PROBLEM There has grown up in the United States, through legislation and organization, a complicated protective system aimed to stabilize and support industry, trade, finance, transportation, and labor, which has enhanced farm production costs. Normal surplus production of the most important cash crops has rendered tariff protection largely ineffective to producers of them. The farm depression in recent years has largely resulted from the working out of this national policy. We now feel that the responsibility for the development of a new national policy to include agriculture upon its surplus crops rests upon the Nation as a whole. We join with the other agricultural surplus States in asking the Sixty-ninth Congress, as part of a national program, to enact legislation under which farmers may secure an American price for that portion of our crops consumed in America independent of the world price for the surplus, thus placing agriculture upon a basis of economic equality with industry and labor. Recognizing the right of farmers to leadership on this question, we pledge our support and cooperation to their efforts through their own organization to secure the adoption of an equitable national farm program. V. PROMPT CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION That whatever legislation is to be passed by Congress in conformity with the recommendation that may come out of the " corn area conference," that Congress pass such legislation in the speediest manner possible so that we may apply such legislative relief to the present corn crop and all other farm products. VI. COMMENDATION OF IOWA We commend the State of Iowa for initiating the corn area conference and pledge our cooperation in the meeting called for January 28. Mr. PEEK. On January 21 delegates were appointed by Governor' Small to attend the conference called by Governor Hammill in Des Moines on January 28. A list of those delegates I will place in the record for your information if I may have permission. The CHAIRMAN. That may be done. (The list of delegates is as follows:) List of delegates appointed January 21, 1926, by Governor Small, to attend the corn conference at Des Moines, Iowa, January 28, 1926 Name John S. Collier. R. R. Meents.. Frank A. McCarthy. 8. H. Thompson (to be represented by proxy-Frank Evans, secretary, American Farm Bureau Federation.) John H. Camlin E. A. Eckhardt. Arthur C. Page.. Earl C. Smith.. Geo. A. Fox.... A. Otis Arnold.. Frank D. Barton.. Samuel R. Guard.. S. E. Lentz. Andrew S. Cuthbertson.......... Frank Hayes---- Hugh M. Luckey. C. B. Watson. George N. Peek.. C. V. Gregory.. 8. J. Stanard. D. G. Reder.. Kankakee.. Elgin... Quincy.. Address Rockford..... Mascoutah. 212 West Monroe Street, Chi- Representing Farm Adviser, Kankakee County. President Illinois Chamber of Com merce. President State Grange. Editor Orange Judd Illinois Farmer. President Illinois Agricultural Association. 608 South Dearborn Street, Chi- Secretary Illinois Agricultural Asso ALTERNATE Lewis C. Stevenson. ALTERNATE AND SECRETARY OF DELEGATION Harry C. Butcher.. 608 South Dearborn Street, Chi- Director, department of information, cago. Illinois Agricultural Association. Mr. PEEK. The Des Moines conference on January 28 adopted resolutions which appear in the statement which I will place in the record at this point. The CHAIRMAN. That may be done, too. (The resolutions are as follows:) . Resolution adopted at the "All Agricultural Area Marketing Conference" of 11 Central Western States held at the State capitol, Des Moines, Thursday, January 28, 1926: To all we extend greetings: PART I Whereas the unfavorable situation of agriculture since the war has been due in large part to the working out of national policies which in the past have expanded farm production to the utmost above domestic needs, on the one hand, while they have maintained a high level of farm production costs on the other. Because of this, the responsibility of establishing a new national policy aimed to correct existing disparities and to promote economic equality for agriculture rests on the Nation as a whole. Attempts to include the American farmer in the protective system by tariffs have been largely futile because the normal surplus of the important cash crop holds the domestic price to world levels regardless of tariffs. With the vast numbers of people migrating from the farms to the cities because of meager wages and meager dividends, it is evident that there has been a marked decrease in agricultural productive effort; and yet because of favorable weather and climatic conditions a large surplus of wheat was produced in 1924, and a large surplus of corn during the current year and similar surpluses in other staple farm crops have been produced at various times; these conditions can not be controlled by human agencies, nor can the individual productive efforts of 6,500,000 producers at this time be successfully correlated into a genuine, united, and sustained cooperative movement. It is doubtful if agricultural production can ever be completely regulated or controlled. Hence surpluses will inevitably occur and their occurrence will safeguard and prevent a shortage of food supplies within our own borders. SURPLUSES MUST BE THROWN UPON WORLD MARKET These surpluses when produced must be thrown upon the world market and sold at world price levels, competing with products produced by the peasant labor of Europe, the coolie labor of Asia, and the peon labor of South America. It is an economic law that the price levels of all that portion of the commodity required for domestic consumption are determined by the world price levels. It is apparent, therefore, that other and more profitable means of disposal for the surpluses must be found. If the farmer buying in a restricted market and selling in an open market is to attain the same degree of standards of living and prosperity enjoyed by those engaged in other industries, the economic balance must be changed and the following recommendations are respectfully made. The farmer does not seek legislation of a paternal nature. He does not ask for special privilege, a bonus, or subsidy. He does require either a readjustment of existing legislation now stabilizing and protecting other industries or the enactment of such legislation as will place agriculture on a basis of equality with manufacturing, industry, transportation, trade, and labor. OTHER INDUSTRIES HAVE MEANS OF STABILIZATION It is manifestly apparent that there is established in this country a system of protection and stabilization for nearly every industry except agriculture, the greatest industry of all. The manufacturer is protected by the tariff, the railroads are stabilized by governmental agencies, their rates are fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission; these rates are based on capital investment, depreciation in the value of rolling stock and equipment, operating expenses, and carrying charges. The banks and financial institutions are stabilized by the Federal reserve system and are uniformly in good condition, except perhaps less so in those localities where agriculture is most seriously depressed. Labor is protected by the immigration and other laws. There is no question but that this protective legislation is, in a large measure, responsible for agriculture's greatest ill, namely; that of buying in a high-price market and selling in a low-price market. ECONOMIC ILLS HAVE BEEN BENEFITED BY LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES To those who assert that agriculture is suffering from an economic ill which can not be cured by legislative remedies, we would point out that many economic ills of manufacturing, industry, transportation, trade, and labor have been greatly benefited by legislative remedies. We would further point out that the production of agricultural products is the largest industry in the greatest industrial nation in the world. Therefore, there can not be a durable national prosperity without a contented and prosperous agriculture: Therefore be it Resolved: 1. Commend Iowa. We are proud of this conference that includes nearly onefourth of the Nation, the first and the greatest agricultural conference of its kind ever held in the United States. And we commend Iowa for her fortitude and leadership in initiating this movement. 2. All lines of business joining in this organization.-We, representing the governors, Congressmen, State secretaries of agriculture, farmers, farm organizations, farm publications, agricultural colleges, business men, manufacturers, professional men, bankers, and all other delegates to this "All Agricultural Area Marketing Conference" of 12 States, namely (upon receipt of wire from Griggs County, N. Dak., convention of farmers held to-day wiring their commendation and support, North Dakota was invited to join and its name added to original 11 States), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota, are aware that our agriculture has too long been organized as a business and because of that fact has heretofore only gotten in the main what was given to it instead of being able as an organized unit to stand up for what it was agriculturally entitled. From this day forth we, with all the power, energy, and influence that we command, embark upon a movement that shall seek to bring about the following: (a) Twelve agricultural States to be organized as unit: The organizaton of the agricultural area as a closely knit unit and keep it so organized indefinitely. (b) Research of cost of commodity production: Institute a practical but energetic study of the cost of farm commodity production and distribution and devise ways and means to orderly market the farm commodities in ratio as the consumer can "assimilate" them. (c) Farmer must have right to fair profit: That farm commodity production hereafter shall and must be sold only on the producers' fair price like all other well regulated business enterprises, and not on what the buyer is willing to pay. The farmer must not have his inalienable right denied him to say how, when, and to whom he will sell and at what price that will insure him some fair profit for his labor and his investment. 3. Indorse fundamentals of Dickinson bill on export corporation and Federal agricultural board. We indorse the fundamental principles as set out in the "Dickinson bill," now before Congress; a measure which provides for a Federal agricultural board to administer an equalization responsibility or the surplus farm commodities, any deficit that may be incurred in the distribution of the surplus to be borne by the producers themselves in the most practical manner, and the actual buying, storing, and selling involved in handling the surplus to be done with the support of the board by the organizations of the producers themselves with provisions for immediate operation through other agencies wherever producer organizations are not or can not be organized for immediate needs. 4. Developing home markets. We believe we should stress the necessity for developing "home consumption markets" for our farm commodities. We believe that home markets can be developed in a number of ways, among which we would suggest (1) that the Federal agricultural board, working cojointly with the United States Department of Agriculture, should establish a comprehensive research department to study and develop new and additional uses for the commodities of agriculture and their by-products; and (2) by an intelligent and consistent educational campaign, both State and national in scope, to popularize the uses of such by-products. 5. Amend the pure food law on behalf of corn sugar.-We indorse the principles of legislation now before Congress and importune Congress to speedily enact such legislation to amend the pure food law so as to banish the discrimination now 91358-26-pt. 2- 4 existing against corn sugar, and we exhort all fellow citizens of our States and the country to aid in the popularization and usage of this commodity that can be made such a vast potential market for our corn. We urge the following without prejudice to our beet-sugar growers. 6. Prompt congressional legislation. That whatever legislation is to be passed by Congress in conformity with the recommendations that may come out of this "all-agricultural area conference," we exhort Congress to enact such legislation in the speediest manner possible so that we may apply such legislation relief to the present farm crops. PART II Whereas this "all agricultural area conference" meeting in Des Moines to-day, January 28, 1926, has outlined specific recommendations to Congress, we believe in the interest of agriculture which we are seeking to serve and also as expressive of our desire to cooperate with the administrations and Congress, that we should also offer some specific recommendation for carrying into effect the agricultural 'platform" adopted to-day and do so herewith as follows: "" (a) Title of organization.—That the "all-State advisory marketing committees' of our agricultural States shall be welded together into a closely knit organization to be known as the American All Agricultural Area Marketing Advisory Committee: That this committee shall remain permanent for five years or longer, as may be necessary; that it shall raise a fund of money with which to finance itself in establishing headquarters and to carry on its legislative work at Washington and for all such other proper expenses incident to its work. And in all of this we shall give such aid as we can. (b) American all agricultural area marketing executive committee. From the all agricultural area marketing advisory committee there shall be selected a committee to be known as the all agricultural area marketing executive committee. In view of the fact that it is important that this work should be gotten under way at the earliest possible moment, we herewith authorize the presiding officers of this day to appoint from the "all agricultural area marketing advisory committee" gathered here to-day, said executive committee, which shall consist of two delegates from each of the 11 States (total membership of executive committee, 22), represented at this meeting (North Dakota is invited to choose two executive committeemen), the first named to be chairman, who shall also be chairman of the all agricultural area marketing advisory committee. The personnel of said executive committee shall be distributed as near as it is practical and possible to do so among the different lines of pursuits, such as farming, manufacturing, professions, business, press, banking, etc., and if and when other agricultural States may join this group they too shall be entitled to equal representation. We exhort this executive committee to meet at its early convenience to organize itself, select one or more vice presidents, treasurer, secretary, and establish a headquarters. (c) Executive committee to take agricultural platform to Washington. We exhort the committee to take the agricultural platform adopted to-day to Washington and proceed with its presentation in whatever way they may decide is best, possibly in some such manner as follows: (1) Present said platform to a meeting to be called in Washington of all of the Congressmen and Senators from the agricultural area and particularly of our 11 States represented at this conference, so that they may thoroughly understand the fundamentals of our platform and so that our executive committee may at the same time have the benefit of the recommendations from these representatives in Congress. (2) This platform shall also be presented to the United States Agricultural Committees of the House and Senate of the United States Congress. (3) It should also then be presented to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the President of the United States. (d) Executive committee must not surrender principle of platform.—Our executive committee must under no consideration surrender the principles of our agricultural platform adopted here to-day. (e) Governors urged to all-State meeting.—If any of our agricultural States have not held their all-State agricultural marketing conference we urge them to do so and ask our executive committee to set about at their earliest opportunity to assist, so that each of the agricultural States may become thoroughly organized as an integral part of the all-agricultural area marketing advisory committee. |