410 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 



passed, and pledges its support in further constructive legislation for the 

 benefit of agriculture. 



We need more knowledge and reliable data on agricultural economics 

 and statistics in order that we may more intelligently adjust our produc- 

 tion to the probable demand of the various farm products. We should 

 ask the secretary of agriculture to gather and interpret such economic 

 and statistical data. Secretary Wallace has made recommendations of 

 this sort, and I understand the statistical department of the American 

 Federation will gather data from the Department of Agriculture and from 

 other agencies for their own information, and for the benefit of the State 

 Federations as well, in order that production may be governed accord- 

 ingly. You say it is sacrilegious and an economic waste to limit produc- 

 tion on the farm to match a healthy demand? 



That calls to my mind the desperate cry of class legislation that went 

 up when the farmers began to declare their right to market the wealth 

 they produced through the united labor of the whole family and the hired 

 man, and the sound of alarm that the agricultural bloc would wreck the 

 grand old parties. 



I venture the statement that the large majority of legislation now on 

 the statute books was passed by a bloc of some sort. It is only when the 

 word agriculture is placed before the word bloc that the cry of alarm 

 is sounded. , 



The manufacturing interests study demand and gauge their supply to 

 match. The Standard Oil Company control, demand and supply, and we 

 farmers who ride in "flivvers" pay for gas the price set by the oil magnate. 

 I believe that what is fair for the goose is fair for the gander, and that 

 we should begin studying the economics of agriculture and statistical 

 data with a view of fitting our production to the world demand, and thus 

 bring about a more stable market with a price level high enough to bring 

 to the farmer some degree of independence. 



There are many other activities that I might mention that the Federa- 

 tion will feel in duty bound to take an active part. I have tried to call 

 your attention only to the most important and larger work. 



I wish I could promise the farmers a prosperous year for 1922, but the 

 world is too sick to recover so soon. The Federation has held bank- 

 ruptcy in check the past year. Some farmers have already given up 

 and must begin all over again; others will go the same road this year. 

 But agriculture will not fail. It is useless to spend time brooding over 

 what might have been. Out of this wreck, with our combined organized 

 effort, I hope we may build a new agriculture that will make farm life 

 what it should be — the healthiest, brightest and best place on earth to 

 live. 



Remember that we are building this new agriculture for the benefit of 

 our boys and girls. They will be the men and women of tomorrow. 

 Then let us go on and perfect this program outlined by the Farm Bureau 

 Federation in 1922, bringing about a fair price level so that life on the 

 farm will be less lonely, fuller of opportunity, freer from drudgery, more 

 comfortable, happier, more attractive, so that a compelling desire to live 

 on the farm will be aroused in our boys and girls. 



