Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-30
RURA( CREDITS 70
PR[C|P|Ib1E Fight
MERRY CONTEST I'M NEXT CON-
GREss CERTAIN OVER LOAN
MEASURE.
GOVERNMENT AID OR
NO AID IS QUESTION
s.us Likely to Split Democrats in
Senate and May Split Thorn in
House Government Aid Advocates
Up In Arms Because Of Frams-Up
in Picking Joint Committee.
Especial correspondence

Washington, March 30-War will
break out in the next congress over
rural credits 1t is looming up now.
The lines are already being drawn. The
issue is likely to split the democrats in
the house and may split them in the
senate. Republicans will be divided
but as they are in the minority the is
sue for them will be less serious than
it will be for the party In power.
Government aid for a rural credit
credit system or no government aid is
the real contention.
The difficulty would be less serious
were it not for the fact that President
Wilson is insisting that any rural credit
system which is provided shall be
minus a government aid feature. This
is the view of Secretary of the Treas :
ury McAdoo. 1t is also the view OF
Secretary of Agriculture Houston.
Victims Up in Arms.
Today it was learned that the be-
levers in government aid in house ana
senate are up in arms because they
believe they have been made the VIC
tins of a frame up" in the selection
of the personnel of the joint committee
OF house and senate to investigate
rural credits and report to the next
regular session. They have been HOOK
ing into the personnel and find that the
joint committee is against government
aid
Charges that the committee has been
stacked with opponents of government
aid are in the air.
To back such charges. the friends
of government aid point to the fact
that every one Of the six house mem
bers on the committee is against gov
eminent aid. The committee consists
of twelve members, six senators ana
six house members. 1t was PROVIDED
for just before the end Of last session,
not because there was any real need
for investigation OF the well known
subject of rural credits but because II
was an easy way to block for the time
being the passage of rural credits leg
islation. Sentiment in the house last
session was SO strong for government
aid that if law had been passed on
rural credits it would in all likelihood
have contained government aid fea-
ture.
Democratic Attitude.
Leaders among the democrats IN
congress who favor government ald
are already talking in plain terms
They resent what they consider the
fact the committee OF investigation mas
been loaded down with opponents OF
aid. They are preparing
to fight the bill which the committee
if II is devoid OF govern
ment aid provisions.
Many of the southern democrats are
strong for rural credit system en-
bodying the idea Of government aid.
They threaten to break with the ao-
next session.
BY no means the least entertaining
phase of the controversy is that many
Of the southern democrats charge that
Colonel House. who is close to the
president, is the real factor In the ad-
opposition to government
aid. They allege that Colonel House
is not in sympathy with the farmers
and the rural population but that his
sentiments flow out warm TO Waii
street and big business. Some OF the
Texas members, who don't like Col
onel House and his influence with the
administration, are especially bitter
Congressman Henry. chairman of the
rules committee, is one of the south
ern m embers who is earnestly for gov
eminent aid. Congressman Eagle, also
of Texas. a leading member OF the
banking and currency committee is an
other. Mr.. Henry said recently ne
would fight for government aid and
would fight for it to the last ditch.
AS for Colonel House, who is abroad
on a mission OF peace. he is likely to
find plenty of belligerency on this side
Of the water on his return. 1t will ap-
pertain not to the allies and Germany
but to government aid in the loaning
of money for rural credit purposes.
Democrats who are for government