Evening star., 1922-12-24

farm credits legislation De
enacted for the benefit of the Ameri-
can farmer. differences OF OPINION
among the proponents of this leSisia-
tion have assumed proportions that
threaten real row on the floor oi
tho Senate: when farm credits bills
are taken up for consideration. Much
will depend upon the measure which
Is to he reported out by the Senate
banking and currency committee
within the next week or ten days.
One group of the proponents OF
farm credits legislation. among whom
nrc to be found Senator Norbeck of
South Dakota, republican. and Sen
ator Simmons of North Carolina,
democrat. insists that the Lenroot
Anderson bill. sponsored by the ad-
ministration, is not adequate to meet
the needs of the farmer for so-called
intermediate credits credits that
run from nine months TO two or three
or four years. Furthermore, there is
charge made in some quarters that
banking interests dc not propose TO
let the farmers have what they want.
but intend to keep control of the situ-
alton under legislation now proposed.
Suspicious Of the Draft.
1t has even been suggested by crit
les of the Lenroot-Anderson bill that
it wa drafted either by farmers who
knew too little of financial matters,
or by bankers who knew too much,
and who put it over" on the farm
ers.
There have been threats on the
part of some of the senators to talk
right out in meeting" and to accuse
The supporters of the Lenroot-An-
,ierson bill of trying to fool the farm
crs into believing that something was
being done tor them. unless the meas
urc is considerably amended.
While these difference of opinion
arc pronounced. it is not believed that
they will be so irreconcilable as to
prevent farm credits legislation at
the present session of Congress. The
American farmer in the last two years
has assumed a position Of tremendous
Importance in the political armament.
To such an extent is this true that
there arc demands today all along the
line that something be done for the
farmer
In years gone by the farmer has
been the subject of much admiring
conversation in legislative halls and
comparatively little real assistance
from national legislation. it is
charged. But this is being changed
now. When the farm bloc In Congress
speaks. it speaks with authority
and more than ever since the elections
last month. when in the great agri-
cultural states of the middle west and
west, senator after senator and rep
resentative after representative went
down to defeat. largely because the
farmers we're UP in arms over condi
tions existing there.
Farmers Well Organized.
This change in the political situ-
alton of agricultural America has
not ali come about simply as matter
of justice to the farmer. In the first
place the farmers are better orga-
nized today than they ever were be- |
fore. In the second place their repre- |
sentatives in the Senate and House !
have organized. The farmers have
made themselves felt at the polls in |
their vote of protest against condi- |
tions. and the farm bloc has made !
Itself felt by it's votes In Congress !
on measures affecting the farmers.
a complaint of the farmers has !
been that their interests in the past !
have been overlooked when it came |
to the enactment of tariff legisla-
tion; that the Dement'S of the tariff pro-
lection went to manufacturing and
commercial interests: that everything |
which the farmer had to buy, he |
bought in a protected market, while !
he was forced to sell his own prod
ucts in an open market. The farm |
bloc made a drive for protective du- |
ties On agricultural products when J
the rordney -McCumber tariff bill was |!
up for consideration. 1t got what It |
wanted In largo part: In fact. 1t was !
.Itar that II 1t had not done so, the |
republicans would have had a hard |
time putting through any tariff bill \
At all.
Hurt By Poor Credit.
Another complaint Of the farmers |
has been that he has been unable to /
obtain the credit necessary properly |
to finance his operations. Because |
Of this inability to obtain proper |
credit. tbs farmer has been squeezed |
Into selling his products for what he
could get for them by men who real I
lied the farmers position and that |
II. had to sell.
Several years ago. in 1915, there
was enacted the so-called farm loan
act. and the federal farm loan board
was set up. While through the op-
Grafton of this law. the farmers have
been benefited in the matter Of long
time credits. It has not done all that
was hoped for. The farmers still
have difficulty in obtaining money on
their personal security, backed by
the crops which they expect to har-
vest.
The present drive for farm credits
10 designed to remedy this situation.
It seams clear that the administra-
tion and republicans generally fear
that unless something il done with
out much delay to help the farmers in
his respect. the republican party is
going to fare badly In the national
rlses1ons in 1894. 1t Is clear, also, II
hat once q farm credits bill that IL II
at an satisfactory to the great ma
)ority q senator's IL reported from .
The Senate banking aud currency
It will be taken up imms-
iias1ty. thereby displacing the ad-
pat measure, the shin