Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-05
had adopted reservations to the covenant OF
the league Of nations.

the league Of nations.
X X X X
Probably the most dramatic feature attend
ant upon the first weeks session OF Congress
will be the "drive" which friends Of the farm
ers are to make for aid to the agricultural
interests Of the land. Rumblings of the dis
content Of the farmers have been heard. in
increasing volume, for several weeks past, and
in the last few days have attained proper
lions calculated to attract the attention of
the entire nation. especially as the storm will
break in Congress.
committee Of governors of states, APP
pointed by the conference of governors held
in Harrisburg. Pa. last Wednesday. will after
survey and report come to Washington to
lay before tho government and the Congress
the appeals of the farmers and a statement
of the conditions they outline Them
Cows. Harding Of Iowa; Beckett OF North
Carolina; Holcomb Of Connecticut; Parker OF
Louisiana and Goodrich OF Indiana were
designated to make the survey and will be on
the committee which comes to lay the findings
before Congress-
During last week. one Of the large farmers
organisations was in session in washington,
going over the, same subject and preparing
its findings. At the same time the COM
mittees on agriculture of the Senate and House
had the subject under consideration So when
the Presidents message has been presented
and the House and Senate get down to routine
business the case Of the farmers Will occupy
the attention of the Congress to the minimiza-
ton Of other subjects for the near future.
-. Tho intensity and aggressiveAess of this
prospective movement in behalf OF the agri-
cultural interests Will probably come as =
lor0 nd
ditions as set forth may cause something of
a shock The measures likely to be proposed
for relief will unquestionably be challenged
and cause debate and vigorous discussion.
The case as it will be presented to Congress
will relate that the farmers dnd themselves
caught in a falling market with bumper crops
on hand. which, they claim. they could not
move when prices were high because Of lack
Of transportation facilities; that they are ex-
periencing difficulty in securing adequate
credit and extension Of credit from banks; and
that IL this condition continues, they will face
the contingency Of being unable TO plant sufii-
cient food crops in the f0ture, SO that the
country may face near famine.
The relief asked takes several forms. One
proposal is to revive the War Finance Cor
poration; another to mold the federal reserve
system to extension OF credit; another to
form either public or private corporations on
a mammoth scale to give credit TO Europe. so
that agricultural products can be purchased
abroad. There are innumerable measures for
other forms Of aid.
X
Starting with the practical certainty that
Congress will be disposed to do anything that
promises to be feasible and practicable for the
farmers, it is yet likely to be true that Con-
gress will move cautiously and only after in
vestigation and the placing of responsibility
for the present plight of the farmers.
Congressmen from the commercial and in
dustrial centers, IT. is said. will ask how far
farmers may have been to blame in DELHI
erately withholding their products. This ques-
ton will be directed especially to the cotton
growers. it is said. induced by the reports of
organized attempts to keep down distribution
and restrain future production.
Another point (which congressman from the
non-asricultural states would like cleared up.
they say, 4s who is getting the margin between.