American Agriculturist, October 25, 1924 
285 
(.Political Advertisement) 
1 Champlain 
STUDIOS INC. 
FOR PRESIDENT 
JOHN W. DAVIS 
Heavy Decline In 
Buying Power Of 
Farmer’s Dollar 
Figures prepared by the Joint Com¬ 
mission (Congressional) of Agricultural In¬ 
quiry and by Henry C. Wallace, Secretary 
of Agriculture in the Harding-Coolidge 
administration, picture the serious plight of 
the farmer. 
The purchasing power of the farmer’s 
dollar represents what he gets for the prod¬ 
ucts of the farm he sells and what he pays 
for food and other necessaries of life which 
he must buy. 
From 1913 to 1919, under a Democratic administra¬ 
tion and Democratic tariff, tire farmer's dollar was 
worth: In 1913, 100 cents; in 1914, 105 cents; in 1915. 
103 cents; in 1916, 97 cents; in 1917, 107 cents; in 1918, 
112 cents; in 1919, 112 cents. These are the figures 
of the Agriculture Commission, whose study went only 
to 1920. 
Secretary Wallace brought them through 1922. In 
1921, the first year of the Harding-Coolidge administra¬ 
tion, the farmer's dollar was worth only 84 cents, and 
in 1922, only 89 cents. 
In 1923, because of the increased prices for clothing, 
fuel, farm implements and other things the farmer must 
buy, measured in other than food and farm products, the 
purchasing power was only 59.5 cents! 
What the 
Democrats Offer 
the Farmer 
The Democratic party has 
a definite program hy 
means of which we hope 
to restore to the farmer the 
economic equality of which 
he has been unjustly de¬ 
prived. We undertake: 
To adopt, an international policy 
of such co-operation, by direct 
official instead of indirect and 
evasive unofficial means, as will 
re-establish the farmers export 
market by restoring the industrial 
balance in Europe and the normal 
flow of international trade with 
the settlement of Europe’s eco¬ 
nomic problems. 
To adjust the tariff so that the 
farmer and all other classes can 
buy again in a competitive 
market. 
To reduce taxation, both direct 
and indirect, and by strict economy 
to lighten the burdens of Govern¬ 
ment. 
To readjust and lower rail and 
water rates, which will make our 
markets, both for the buyer and 
the seller, national and interna¬ 
tional instead of regional and 
local. 
To bring about the early comple¬ 
tion of internal waterway systems 
for transportation, and to develop 
our water powers for cheaper 
fertilizer and use on our farms. 
To stimulate by every proper 
governmental activity the progress 
of the co-operative market move¬ 
ment and the establishment of 
an export marketing corporation 
or commission in order that the 
exportable surplus may not es¬ 
tablish the price of the whole crop. 
To secure for the farmer credits 
suitable for his needs. This is 
our platform and our program; 
and if elected, I purpose with 
the aid of a Democratic Congress , 
to put it into effect. 
From the speech of John If . 
Davis, at Omaha, Neb., Sep¬ 
tember 6, t92f. 
* VOTE FOR DAVIS * 
COMMON HONESTY COMMON JUSTICE COMMON COURAGE 
(Polit ical Advert ise merit) 
