Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-18
EVENTS OF a WEEK.

The problem OF devising methods
to enable the farmers Of the country
to tide the period OF stringency
caused by the lowering Of the prices
Of farm products has occupied more
Of the attention Of congress than any
other subject during the week. The
senate committee on agriculture has
recommended for passage a bill pro-
viding for the revival Of the govern
ment finance corporation. The pur-
pose at the outset was to aid in the
export Of farm products, but the scope
of the has been broadened
SO as to include other. products as
well. this change being made on the
Observation-Disclosures, of some of
the great manufacturing districts.
s4ss y g
Coupled with this plan in the orig
inal measure was a recommendation
to the federal reserve board to grant
more liberal extensions of credit to
farmers, but this recommendation
was eliminated. 1t was asserted tina
the provision contained the implica-
ton that the board had 20 been do
ing what it should have done in this
direction. and there is also q well-de-
fined irnpfessibn in many quarters
that thssSxtSnsion proposed could not
afford any real or permanent relief.
Several measures looking toward
exclusion Of foreign farm products
by embargo Or import duties have
been introduced, and the suggestion
has also been made that the whole
subject be left for treatment in a gen.
eral tariff bill. Opposition to this
postponementsseomes from represen-
s~s.atives ofssxriealtural districts on the
sgroundsstAatsrettef is needed immedi-
.ately, and.that it cannot be given in
time except by means Of special leg
islation intended to meet this partic-
uIar emergency.
Closely related to the farming sit
uation and the suggestions for remedy
for existing conditions is the action
of the federal trade commission in
citing officials of the Minneapolis
chambers fasenuamerce to appear and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. against
charges, brought by the Equity asso-
citation that it has engaged in unfair,
discriminatory and monopolistic prac-
tices to h injury OF the Equity and
Of the farmers of the northwest.
Prosecution in the federal courts is
indicated in case the chamber of COM
merce does not make satisfactory re-
ply to the charges filed.
The house OF representatives has
passed bills repeating all but a very
lew OF those measures which, passed
during war time, and because of war
conditions, conferred on the president
extraordinary powers. Should the
bill seem likely to receive favorable
consideration in the senate there will
be some speculation as to the atti-
-tude Of the president toward it. Mr..
Wilson. has been charged with being
quite tenacious of his war time au-
.HAority, and whatever his course to-
sNnrd this legislation it will afford
ground for criticism. If he should
approve the bill now, in the closing
weeks of his administration he will
be charged with a desire to deprive
his successor of powers which he de-
sired to retain for himself. Should
he veto the bill, preferring tina his
successor deal with it, there will be
some who will ascribe to him a de-
sire to hold onto all his authority un-
Nj the last possible moment. A pres
ident is constantly reminded of the
fact hat he cannot please everybody.
AZ X X X
Senator Harding has been having
4 busy time holding conferences with
prominent men whom he has invited
" meet him for the discussion Of mat
tors of state. During the week two OF
the, most prominent men in the ma.
tjon:H Ehhu RootSand Herbert Hoover
have been visitors al Marion in re.
95ponse to invitations from Mr.. Hard
1Ag. Hoover, it is known, advocated
44gefongiy the acceptance of the League
8E Nations as a going nee and tbs
entrance Of the United States uuder
Msch notifications as would meet the
Principal objections which have arisen
H. this country. This, also, has been
sst)4e attitude OF MI. Root. The latte,
- shown special interest In the ere.
~ non under the auspices Of the
lIAspe ~ m intsrnational court, bu,
| <9deosatton has been weakened IN
- measure ~ the disinciinatior
gAAagscetRowsrs ct Geneva to &C.
S66SSSsigatofy arbitration feas
eaS incfeporateds In the court con.
lE1eionS ~ ~ comminsiea IL which
nRppt 1as = memAes.
ASsEA fsAtpre Of the conditions sur.
5illAAtng president OF the United
1iAee which = Of growing intsresd
Alscssed ~ Nr. Root after III,
q 1esslsw III 6eSaaer Hardtnxn1ht
~ na.aS1 y ahich j psatad
q 5lntlteeessSs1 aNaasas-Sgss
hnt196sd III Ast69l vDek. Via
"A Sxpan6llS III itliSfln Ssss1
Il slAxg1 alaairs ~ -
GAHns SsNAf6r dsaaan4s y
Il sn9sey II ~ ehltf q,
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