AGRICULTURAL RELIEF
The CrarrmMaN. Mr. Hollingsworth, I believe you have a few
words.
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STATEMENT OF W. F. HOLLINGSWORTH, SEATTLE, WASH.
Mr. KincHELOE. Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether I am going
to be able to stay here during these hearings or not. My under-
standing is that they will close to-day.
The CuatrmaN. That will be for the committee to determine.
How many are there who desire to be heard?
(After informal discussion.)
Mr. HoLuiNgsworTH. In 1914 I was called by my uncle as trustee
of the Hollingsworth estate to Europe. During that trip I found
that the Netherlands and other countries were buying material from
the United States and putting it into finished products and disposing
of it in our New York and other markets at a profit. Being a 100 per
cent what they call “Missourian,” they have to show me why a
foreigner can outdo an American, and I said “I am coming home and
use my brains a little bit as well as use my hands as a plasterer.”
I am a common plasterer, but I farmed a thousand-acre wheat ranch
in the Indian Territory 40 years ago. And I began to figure the
proposition out, and I evolved the Hollingsworth Civic Center Town-
ship Association, which has been on record here with your copyright
office since 1922. It will be the largest farm organization in the
world, with more members than any other organization, and can do
more effectual good for the American farmer than any other farm
organization.
These gentlemen are talking about the equalization fee being
unconstitutional. What was our Constitution founded on, if it was
not founded on equalization; and if you can not institute a law in these
United States that can equalize a man’s efforts in these United States
civilization has failed to function and we had better stop.
This is one of the bills—the outstanding bills that the American
people have got to support. If they do not support it Europe will
take the ascendancy and our march of western civilization will stop
its functioning. We have had the experience of other countries; we
have had the benefits of the efforts of other countries. We have
seen their failures; and if we, one of the amalgamation races of all
Europe, haven’t got the brains to conquer this situation we had
better step down and out. }
I am going to give you a few points at issue here, gentlemen, that
will meet this contingency completely, and you can judge for your-
selves and you can ask all the questions you want in one minute. and
I{will answer them all at once, if you want me to.
The CaairMaN. Very well.
Mr. HorringsworTH. Here is the point at issue: The corn farmer
was stimulated during the war to a production of 3,000,000,000
bushels for about four years continuous production. They have
depleted our soil condition to the point that to-day the corn hyn
are exacting a toll of $10,000,000 appropriation to oligriste a
suffering. That is a foregone conclusion that it will be one. soll
Mr. KincHELOE. Do you think the corn borer is the result ol soi
depletion?
