The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-01-12
W WASHINGTON NEWS
LETTER
By PARKER LA MOORE

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The national conference to consider
agricultural problems to meet soon in
Washington at the instance Of Pres
ident Harding is the subject of much
discussion on Capitol Hill. where SEN
ators and congressman are reasseu-
bling after the holiday vacation. Al
though the calling of the conference
at this time has been the occasion
of some little surprise it has been
recognized in Washington that Pres
ident Harding is alive to the critical
condition of the farming industry.
and that this latest move is but
fitting climax to the long series of
efforts made by the majority party
to solve this most perplexing prob
lem.
In fact, throughout the fight staged
by the agrarian group in Congress
for the betterment Of the agricultural
industry the President has been an
able ally of the farmer representa-
tives. He promptly signed the farm,
ers' emergency tariff bill, sponsored
M. Young; has accorded his full CO.
operation to the efforts of Secretary
Of Agriculture Wallace in the lat
ter's constant endeavor to put the
farmer on his feet; and, since in the
shift in parties at the White House,
has done his full part to facilitate the
administration of the War Finance
Corporation, which has already been
of much benefit to the growers in
the south and west.
Fortunately, thanks to the activity
of the farm bloc, Congress has al
ready done its part to survey the sit
uation in the country in this regard
through the Joint Commission on Ag-
1icultural Inquiry, appointed some
months ago to study the underlying
causes of the present depression, and
to recommend legislation for its anne
IioFation. The work of this commits
sion is now well advanced and a pro-
gram of constructive legislation pre-
pared for presentation to Congress
this month. Those in touch with the
White House say that President Hard
ing has watched the work of this COM
with great interest. and that
the present conference is called not
only to assure the commission that
it will receive the sympathetic CO.
operation of the Administration. but
also to make it possible to continue
the good work, thus far so we'll ad-
vanced, upon a much broader scale
through increased facilities.
Thus the calling Of the farm con-
ference may be taken as one more in
dication Of the spirit of cooperation
now existing between the executive
and legislative branches of the gov
eminent. Indeed, members of the
House and Senate are expected to play
q big part in the coming meet. Con-
gresham Sidney Anderson, of Mime
sofa, as chairman of the Joint Com
mission, is certain to exercise much
influence in the deliberations, familiar
as he is with the situation through
his position as head Of the congress
sional investigation. Congressman
Young. author of the emergency tar
Finance Corporation, and of various
farmer relief bills, is also regarded
as a leader in the farm group, and
this, coupled with the fact that he
represesnts the Northwest upon the
Ways and Means Committee. should
make him a strong factor. Mr..
Young has represented the Equity Co.
operative Exchange here at various
times during the past three or four
years and he will probably lend his
aid to the Equity men again in the
coming conference. Congressman
Burtness, although new member, has
already made place for himself
through his energy as committee
worker, and will be in good position
to cooperate with delegates from the
Red River Valley.
Congressman Sinclair, always in
terested in farm legislation, comes
from a district that has suffered much
during the period of depression, and
will attend the farm discussions with
full attention. Other men in the
House certain to lend every coopera-
ton to the agricultural conference
will be Halvor Steenerson, of Mime
sofa; Harold Knutson, the Republican
whip, also from Minnesota; Gilbert
Haugen, chairman of the Committee
on Agriculture, and L. J. Dickinson,
a leader of the agrarian bloc, both of
Iowa; the full delegation from South
Dakota, Johnson, ChristophersOn and
and Carl Riddick Of Mon
taina.
On the other side of the Hill Sen
ators Kenyon, of Iowa, and Capper,
of Kansas, with Norris of Nebraska.
chairman of the Agricultural Com
mittee, are among the leaders of the
farm group. Senator Ladd, as a men,
Der Of the committee on Agriculture.
will probably also give much time to
the conference. Senator McCumber
will be occupied with the tariff bill,
since he has had active charge of the
Finance Committee during the past
year. Then, too, his soldiers bonus
bill is on the calendar, and may be
called up Immediately after the dis
posal of the tariff. The same is
true of Cummins, of Iowa, now Pres.
ident, pro TEN Of the Senate. and OF
Curtis, of Kansas, the party whip.
and majority leader in the absence
of Senator Lodge, delegate to the
arms conference.
Evidently the soldiers adjusted COM
pensation act is in for another ses-
sion of political jockeying: When
the bill was presented early in the
new Congress President Harding re-