Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-25
INSURGENCY IS
THREATENED At
farm MEETING
Agricultural Department is
Charged With Packing
The Conference
BLOC MEN DEFIANT
Second Days Session Is Marked by
Mutterings And Indecision on Part
of Conferees

Washington Jan. 25.-At the close
of the second day of its sessions the
National Agricultural Conference
seemed dangerously near discord and
ineffectiveness. 1t revealed an under
current of pessimism and cross pur-
poses, with an insurgent element
charging that the gathering ls
packed" by the Department of Ag-
riculture and that few "dirt farm
ers" are represented.
There was no doubt that practi-
cally every man at the conference
called by the Administration wants
it to succeed for sake of country.
industry and self-but it was just as
plain that harmony and success are
vet to be achieved.
Here were the headline develop
ments today and most of them were
disturbing:
Following President Harding's in
direct slap at the Senate "agricul-
tural bloc" at the opening session
Yesterday, a conference speaker to-
day declared that 1--WE have bloc IN
the Senate. intend to have one, IN
every State Legislature and in
every Parliament of the world and
to obtain for agriculture its rights"
He was literally applauded.
The 50 called radical element in
the conference endeavored to force
tho apnointment of committee on
resolutions. with general supervis
ory powers over all committees and
resolutions. This was checked by =
move from the chair. occupied at the
time by Representative Anderson
of Minnesota. Following defeat OF
this move J.{ S. Wana,naker, of
South Carolina, president Of the
American Cotton Association.
charged in a statement that the
conference was "nacked" and was
"a camouflage affair."
Another farm leader of national
reputation. who declined to be quo
ted until he openly takes the war
path. said privately:
"The devil is going to break loose
here in few hours unless there is
change. EVERYTHING seems cut
and dried. l don't believe there are
three dozen real farmers, dirt farm
ers in the whole outfit. Watch for
something to pop"
There was no indication of sup
mort of the conference by the "agri-
cultural bloc" in Congress. That this
"bloc" is suspicious Of the Admin
istration's move in calling the farm
oathering--fearinc that it is a polit-
ical move to check the growing DOW
er of the "bloc" in Congress-is
"nnnrallv known. Tho conference
n1atform TODAY was minus leaders
"f this agrarian group on Capitol
Hill: they arc paving little or no
attention tn tho meeting.
The conference still buzZed today
in apnrohat;nn of the remarks yes
aord2v Of William Jennings Bryan
Mr.. Brvar. although not deleoate,
was called to Tho platform and there
assailod tho Wall street "hloc" and
praised tho "farmors' bloc" He
e"nms to have struck the keynote OF
| .his convention.
Ontsiin of the orat"rv TODAY and
iho disrussions. araden,ic or direct
thn second dav of tho conference
hrou"ht r,uttnrin"s and indecisior
! rather than cnnrrota results. The
committees ~nt down To organize.
'ion ard nrnlim;nnrv work and viii
ho"in 70 rnnort Thursday However,
/ ahn Wanama knr mnvn. which fol
1nr.nd ronfnrenrn nf dozen or So
, :rsurrents this m""rino was n cha
lor--o tn tho committee organization
If he conference.
Mr. Wanor,kn~ told tho conference
th"f h" had power board Of a oath
"rinp of th;s ci2c without a rn~nn'it
too on resolutions. He moved tha
s,lch hc named. each State deie"a
fion to nan'o its own Representative
thnrcnn The existing committees
# is charged. are mainly the rrea
lures Of tho Department Of A"rl
culture and tho Administration
tho Wanana knr motion
However Chairman Anderson terse
W. informn1 the conference that h
thought the existing committee
were sufficient in number to tax
jurisdiction over anv subject pre-
contcd r. tho conf"ronrn and he say
No use of resolutions committee
Chairman Anderson a"rced. neverth
less. r. put the Question of "conside
!. ration" Of the Wanamknr motinr
The "noes" had it bv loud major
itv and the Wanamaker insnreen
r,nvo was snnelched. This merely nd
,Ind - the discontnnt Of the so-calle
"dirt -farnner'' element which he
liorn1 that tho prorram has bee
mapped out in advance.
| orI Nfrs