The New York herald., 1922-07-21
HOUSTON OPPOSES
BONUS AND TARIFF
Former Secretary of Agricul-
ture Questions Measures I'm
wise in Morgenthau Speech.
WOULD KEEP PROSPERITY
Discusses National Issues and
Nearly Wins Horseshoe Tour
ney at Picnic.

Standing in wooded glen forming a
natural amphitheater on the thousand
acre farm of Henry Morgenthau. Jr., at
Hopewell junction. N. Y, David S.
Houston. formerly Secretary of Agri-
culture, yesterday pleaded for square
deal for the farmer and expressed the
hope that some impending. legislation in
Washington which he thought might
impede national prosperity would be
defeated.
His remarks followed an old fashioned
clambake and preceded a horseshoe
tournament in which former Secretary
Houston reached the semi-fnals only
to be defeated by DR.. Josiah Coburn
of the Board Of Health of Fishkill.. gen.
eerally conceded champion peg ringer
of Duchess county. In the finals DR..
Coburn upheld the honor of the valley.
although there was tense moment
when 1t looked as though he might be
defeated by A. e. Paulson, rank out
slider. from California.
Former Secretary Houston stressed
the necessity Of making farm life more
attractive and putting educational and
medical facilities at disposal Of country
residents. but he derided the continual
cries of the back to the 1anders" THAI
America would soon cease to supply all
the farm commodities she required.
IF there are no unwise actions. no
unnecessary or unusual legislation to
impose greater burdens on the people
or to restrict the farmers markets. we
will have good times" he said. "The
financial pick up this fall depends in
no small measure upon good crops and
reasonable return to the farmer. His
prosperity affects conditions in all chan
nels of trade
When asked what "unwise measures"
he referred to Mr.. Houston said he had
in mind the bonus bill and the Ford ney
tariff. Both, he thought, would affect
the farmer and the country at large
adversely. but he added that he pur-
posely refrained from specifying these
measures in his speech because he did
not want to get into political con-
troversy.'
THE protection the farmer needs
most" he said at another point, ''is a
great foreign market for his prod ucts
and to have that he must also have an
import market. We need not worry
about the American farmer not being
able to supply this country and other
countries with sufficient foodstuffs. We
are and will continue to be a large ex-
port nation. and attach no Importance
to the views that Americas trade is
going to be taken away by other coun-
tries"
AS an example of what the farmer has
done and could do again ex-Secretary
Houston pointed out that during the
pressure of the war, handicapped as
they were by the loss of men. the Amer
lean farmers increased their cultivated
land by 40,000.000 acres and added to
their live stock by 26.000.000 animals
The need. he declared. was not for
more farmers but for better living con-
ditions for farmers. Answers to $4,000
letter TO farmers wives showed the
things they most desired were running
water schools and hospitals.
THE farmer is the servant OF the
seasons" he said. "and is the victim
OF more uncomfortable forces than any
other member of society. The farm
loan act must be supplemented by addi-
tional legislation enabling him to get
reasonable credit to finance his opera
tions."
The clambake was a great success.
bringing forth a new species of little
neckless clans grown somewhere in the
Sound and (vouched for by Mr.. Hous-
toni carried by a private ditch into n
brook of the Morgenthau estate The
party went to HopewelI Junction in a
private car and were accompanied by
a contingent of newspa permen. who at
tempted to compete with the rural ring
throwers of Hudson Highlands.
One of the newspapermen distin-
gushed himself by ringing an Innocent
and adolescent maple attempting to
grow somewhere in the vicinity of the
peg. ultimately, however. rolling up
higher score than his competitors. The
luncheon was given by Mr.. Morgenthau
to celebrate his purchase of the Ameri-
c1u A o,-;rnIf,f,-isf