6 THE AGRICULTURAL BLOC 



He became convinced that he must stop the 

 drift toward the shoals of indifference. He 

 recognized the power of organization and there 

 grew, ahnost overnight, large and determined 

 groups, under the leadership of seasoned men 

 who were farm-bred and trained. Finding mere 

 appeal brought scant results, these leaders took 

 council with their chosen representatives in the 

 houses of Congress. 



Let us review some of the irritating factors 

 in the agricultural situation which has stimu- 

 lated Congress to give closer attention to agri- 

 cultural needs. Crops had been sold at a loss, 

 when marketable at all, because of the high 

 cost of production and excessive freight rates. 

 The factors involved in the cost of production 

 of farm crops, principally labor and interest on 

 capital involved, were still at high levels though 

 the price of the finished product had dropped 

 far below the level of the pre-war period. 



Freight rates, of which the farmer pays con- 

 siderably over half of the total, had not been 

 reduced to any extent in 1921, and were having 

 a paralyzing effect upon production. Farmers 

 were forced to decide whether they should 

 change their system of farming, as high freight 

 rates would ultimately force them to do, or 



