REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 19 



include all agricultural products of which we have a considerable ex- 

 portable surplus and the prices of which are substantially out of line. 

 Especially should provision be made for handling pork products, of 

 which we export large quantities and which also were brought un- 

 der Government control during the war. 



Many objections, some of real merit, can be urged against the 

 scheme proposed. It is conceivable that there are some obstacles 

 which may not be easy to overcome. However, there seems to be 

 so much of merit in the proposal that it is worthy of the most pains- 

 taking analysis and the most critical scrutiny. The principles in- 

 voked are such as have been successfully applied in times past by 

 private initiative by industries which have successfully disposed 

 abroad of an embarrassing surplus. 



If farmers could control their production as does organized in- 

 dustry, or if they could exact a price for their labor as does organized 

 labor, unusual action by Government might not be demanded so 

 urgently. It is just as well to keep in mind that both industry and 

 labor are beneficiaries of Government action and that such action 

 during the war and the two years following has added not a little to 

 the farmer's difficulties. 



It is well to remember also that our population is growing rapidly 

 and that before many years there will be a home demand for even 

 more of farm products than we are now producing. If, during this 

 period of agricultural distress, we permit production to be shrunk 

 to present needs by driving farmers from the land and into the cities, 

 we shall be under the necessity of reclaiming at large expense the 

 productive land which is now being abandoned. And if we should 

 experience one or two years of short crops while this process is going 

 on, the consuming population will find itself compelled to pay prices 

 for farm products which will impose upon it a burden comparable 

 to that under which the farmer has been groaning. 



On the assumption that it is the national purpose to keep our- 

 selves on a self-sustaining basis agriculturally, wisdom would seem 

 to justify going to some trouble to help farmers bridge over a period 

 of depression caused by an economic cataclysm. Precisely that thing 

 has been done in the case of labor and of some industries. Those 

 who urge that economic laws should now be permitted to have free 

 play with agriculture do not give full consideration to what hap- 

 pened during the war and for two years afterwards. 



