Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-07-13
PARTMENT Of
AGRICULTURE IS
NOT EFFICIENT
HARDING STATES
Democrats First Brought a
University Professor In As
Secretary, and After Him
Came a Publisher.
REPUBLICANS DON'T
NEED ANY REFORMING
Senator Replies to Gov, Cox'S
Statement; Conferences
Are Held With Prominent
Bull Moose Leaders,
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED w,ssl


Marion, O.. July 12.-Senator
Harding today conferred with re-
publican and progressive leaders
and agricultural experts with
whom he discussed labor, transpor-
tation economic and social prob
lens. He also replied to the an
nouncement of Governor Cox. the
democratic nominee, that If elected,
real dirt farmer" would be ap-
pointed secretary of agriculture.
The senator said If the republi-
can policies of practical useful
ness" under which the department
was created had been carried for
ward by the present administration
"half our problems of high cost of
living would have been solved in
advance"
The principal conference was
with Raymond Robins oS Chico go
and w. F. Brown of Toledo, o.,
prominent as progressives in the
1912 campaign. with whom he dis
cussed labor and economic prob
lens especially. Later Mr.. Robins
announced that the conference had
been very satisfactory" Matters
involving the part the prog ressives
would take, he said. were 3tsO dis
cussed.
On the fundamentals surround
ing the general economic situation,
Mr.. Robins said he and the senator
were in substantial agreement"
Mr.. Robins said he had commu-
nicated with several labor leaders
to learn their views on the repub-
lican ticket but most of them
wished to read the senator's speech
of acceptance before committing
themselves, although some had al
ready done so. He announced,
however, he would support the SEN
ator.
While this was understood to
have been the first extends con-
ference at which the senator had
discussed the labor situation at
length, it was understood tonight
other similar conferences might be
expected. Senator Harding is uff-s'
derstood to be in close touch with
labor leaders recognized as being
of the more conservative stripe and
he is expected to seek their views
before discussing the labor prob
lem in his speech.
Senator Harding, when told Gov
ernor Clement of Vermont had de-
clined to call a special session OF
the legislature to consider woman
suffrage. refused to comment ex-
cept to say II had hoped that he
would"
In his statement on secretary
tnp JDf Il n fr
said he was gratified to know of /
the Acknowledgement "of a: least /
one mistake of the democratic ad- |
ministration."
II note" he added, that the |
democratic candidate announces, as
one of the first reforms he has IN |
mind is to appoint a real dirt |
farmer-secretary Of agriculture.
That is a reform the republican
party does not need to adopt. For
sixteen years we had a real farm
er from a real farm as secretary OF
agriculture-'Uncle jim Wilson of
Iowa, who made the department
the greatest of its sort. He ran it
for the farmers.
"When the democrats came into
mower they brought q university
president az secretary, and after
him a publisher The democratic
party certainly needs to be re-
formed in this regard. The repub-
lican party certainly does not.
"It is gratifying to see this early
recognition Of at least one mis-
take of the democratic admins
tration and purpose to correct 1t
by returning to republican meth
ods. At lot of others will be found
that can best be corrected in the
same way; and when the country
comes to pass on the program, 1t
will decide to apply she repuoll-
can method of correction directly
a republican admins
tion."
Another caller today was Sena-
tor Cummins of Iowa. chairman OF
the senate interstate commerce
committee, who discussed the
transportation situation. In a
he praised the republic
can candidate whom he declared is
''as progressive as any man in the
country, bar none"
To get to work on his speech,
the senator planned to so into Sc
rlusion the next few days, begin
ming tomorrow.
I