Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-03-02
attempt
WRECK 1.-THE
Agricultural
CONFERENCE

There was determined but futile
effort to wreck the Agricultural con-
ference called by President Harding
and Secretary of Agriculture Wallace
for the purpose of giving serious and
non-partisan consideration to the ex-
isting agricultural crisis. Notwith.-
standing the fact that in the selection
of delegates Secretary Wallace made
no discrimination against any agri-
cultural organization because it held
unusually radical beliefs, or against
any section of the country because of
its party alignment, no sooner was
the conference in session, and it be-
came apparent that the Democratic
radical influences were not going to
dominate it, than an attack was
launched along the line by Democratic
leaders, aided and abetted by three
or four radical malcontents who are
satisfied with nothing short Of out
right socialism.
The most bitter accusation that the
conference was packed" by Secretary
Wallace came from delegate repre-
senting Southern cotton association.
After he received his invitation from
Secretary Wallace to be present as
an accredited delegate representing
his association, he proceeded, without
any authority, to invite between sc
and so of his political friends to at
tend the conference as delegates
When this was found out he was in
formed that he had no authority to
invite a crowd to attend the conference
as delegates and that those whom he
had so invited would not be recog-
nized as delegates. 1t was then that
he turned critic of the conference and
its methods. In short, instead of Sec
rotary Wallace packing" the conven-
ton, this gentleman himself attempt
ed to pack the convention and, failing
to do so, went outside and attempted
to wreck it.
In this effort he was wholehearted-
ly supported by Senator Helm, Dem
ocrat, of Alabama, and Senator Har-
| rison, Democratic floor leader in the
Senate, both of whom made bitter par.
tisan attacks upon the conference af
ter they found that they and THEN
i henchmen would not be able to dictate
its proceedings.
Their attacks upon the conference
were but the elimination of a deter
mined effort in Democratic circle.
to control the conference. This cam
paign began Immediately after it wa.
known the conference would be called
Democratic National Chairman HUI
issued statement shortly afteir tn,
conference was decided upon in whicl
he clearly intimated that unless tn
conference subscribed to the Demo
cratic doctrines of free trade and
League Of Nations, it would be fail
ure and would be so charged in Dem
ocratic circles. Chairman Hull's eff
forts were supplemented by a state
ment issued from Democratic nationa
headquarters through its publicity bu
reau to the same effect, that unles
the conference endorsed the entranc
of america into League of Nation:
and also took opposition to protect
!. i've tariff, it would be failure an
would be put down as merely an effol
of the administration to make politi.
al capital.
Democratic newspapers joined j
the campaign, carrying editorials t
the effect that the success of the COZ
ference depended upon its endors,
! nent of the Democratic doctrines
free trade and Americas entrance
4 some sort of league of nations.
Two-thirds of the conference col
sisted of genuine farmers or agricu
= tural officials and because its deliber
i Itions were entirely along econom
n lines, rather than political, the Dem
/ cratic attempt to stampede it fall
Y After it was seen that it would fl