Evening star., 1921-04-10
BIZ G. GOULD LINCOLN.


TINE farmers of tho country are
planning a drive on Congress:
at the session which opens to.
morrow. for legislation which
they conceive to be IN the interests OF
the producers of food. 1t is their conten'
tfon that the farmers have been giver
the short end Of the stick too often II
tho past
Although their program is still II
the making. 1t is almost certain to in
clude tho following measures:
A bill authorizing cooperative mar
keting by agricultural producers.
An emergency tariff bill giving the
ths&r products against foreign i'm
ports
Ample protection for farm products
in the permanent tariff bfll which will
follow the emergency measure.
An ant-grain gambling bill.
A pure fabrics bill, designed par
ttculariy to protect the wool growers.
Repeal Of certain features Of the
transportation act in an effort to
bring about lower freight rates.
Though it is not so sure to be in
Guided as some Of the other measures
mentioned. 1t is likely that the So
called packers bin. to regulate the
meat-packing business. will be on the
program. At any rate. a large sec
t1on Of the farming interests will de-
mand that legislation
- -
two situation. many of the farmers
win attack the proposal to levy a
sales tax or turnover tax, which is be-
ing advanced by a number Of promi-
nent legislators.
The wool growers are insisting upon
legislation providing an embargo on
the shipment Of wool into this coun-
try, and Senator Smoot Of Utah has
indicated that he will offer = measure
for that purpose.
With the republicans in ss>e saddle
and about to enact a protective tariff
law, the farmers, and the senators
and representatives. from agricultural
ers arc just as entitled to protection
for their products as arc the manu-
facturers located in the big cities of
the country. There is a strong group
in Congress which will seek to have
the farmers given this protection.
0DDosft3on to Hteh TarfR.
On the other hand there will be
strong opposition to q high tariff on
farm products from members Of Con-
gress representing constituencies that
do not produce, but have to purchase
food The demand which has been
heard above all others In this coun-
try in tho last few years is a reduc-
tion In the high cost Of living. In re-
cent months the cost Of living has ac-
tuaIly been on tho decline. SO far as
food and clothing are concerned. In
enactment Of 4 high protective tariff
win not suffice to keep up the prices
now that tho turn for lower costs has
been taken. But there arc those in
tho republican party who are by no
means Glad to see an effort under
way to keep mp the prices Of food
stunA They fear the consequences
when they go to the polls a year from
next November. If the party 10
charged with having kept up the
prices Of meat bread, potatoes and
other kinds Of foods and clothing.
The attitude of the democrats in
the Dast has been consistent opposi-
ton to high tariff rates on neces-
sarieD Of life. 1t Is true that during
the Hast session some of them broke
away from this Traditional policy and
voted Tor tho Fordney emergency tar
If bm. 70 protect the producers Of
Agricultural producto-principally the
democrats from the cotton and sugar
states. Democratic leaders warned
them that this record would cause
them embarrassment in the future.
But the demand from their constitu-
ents was too strong to be denied.
1t may be expected that the demo-
cratic minority-it is an unusually
minute minority-will attack the pro-
posed increases in tariff rates on nee
essaries vigorously at the coming ses-
sion. and will not be slow to inform
tho country that the republicans are
seeking to enact legislation which
viii keep high the cost of living.
There are other features of the
farmers program that will be subject