Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19
BY THOMAS r. MARSHALL,
Former Vice Fresident OF the Caited
States,

The Republican and Democratic par
ties would better look out or Robert
M. La Toilette will capture a large
part of the farmer vote. Farmers
everywhere are disquieted, and what
ever else may be said OF the Honor.
able Bob, IL Is not to be denied that
he can sense dissatisfaction. He has
put his finger SO often to the pulse
of discomfort that he knows the mo-
ment 1t begins to jump Every one
knows that agriculture is In distress,
but most of US are about as much
concerned as we are over the condi-
ton of the Armenians. The distre 81
Is so far away from our own break
fast tables that we have not as yet
been shaken up to a realizing sense
Of what may happen II present farm
conditions continue. We are inclined
to say to the farmer, root or die.
AS matter of fact, he is willing to
root, but he is not willing to die so
long as he things he sees q remedy
that would cure him OF his ills. He
thinks he sees a remedy now, but he
has not ready cash with which 70
purchase il. He has mortGaKed his
farm for about all 1t will stand: he
Is willing to mortgage his future. SO
great Is his faith in the remedy that
IL beyond his reach. This remedy the
far-sishted Honorable Bob himself
suggested. He may not expect ever
to be in a position to apply IL, but
he has suggested the remedy, and no
doubt believes that his suggestion
will materially "sweeten the kitty
In the November pot. / think myself
that 1t will. l do not say that the
Honorable Bob does not believe In
the remedy and favor it; l favor It
q n q RI
not radicals.
1t seems to me - old fashioned
Democrat that i am-that the Gov
eminent might well aid the farmer
through national cooperative mar
keting system under the control OF
the farmers themselves and free from
all interference upon the part OF the
Government or its agencies. In this
way the extortionate toll which mid =
dlemcn and spectators make out of
the food products OF the country per-
haps could be eliminated.
From the administration comes a
proposal for an exhaustive study OF
agricultural conditions and problems
by q board OF expertS-agricuIturi
not farmera Owning q farm does
not necessarily mako a man q farmer
II must be remembered. If it did, ]
would be q farmer. Like other own
ers OF farms. l have not in several
years been able to note any proceeds
This has stimulated my interest in
the farm question beyond the ordi-
nary interest that every man holds
in 1t by virtue of the fact that agri-
culture is the basic industry OF
America.
To me. and to actual farmers to
whom l have talked, it seems hardly
necessary to devote more time to in
vestigating farm conditions. What's
the matter with the farm has been
the subject of several investigations,
official and unofficial. Facts, of course,
would be developed, but most OF these
facts already have been established.
1t would be again determined, l have
no doubt, that farmers have bought
too many hivVers, that some OF them
nave spent too much time sitting
around on the courthouse lawn
cussing the Government, that others
have invested in additional land at
exorbitant prices-so exorbitant that
the average eighth-grad pupil would
know that no crops the land could
yield would yield a single penny of
interest on the investment; that
farmers in some sections, those in
the Red River Valley. for instance.
are trying to make money on wheat
at an average of seven bushels to
the acre, and that not a few farmers
nave allowed themselves TO be lured
into the purchase of oil stocks.
X X X
1t Is to be noted in passing that
the farmers have critics who put the