Evening star., 1924-11-16
Is ARE IN RUNNING
FOR WALLACE POST
Coolidge Faced With Record
Scramble for Office.
Kansan Favored.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

SuCn a SCram bic Tor nigh federal
Office as Is raging around him in con-
nection with the Secretaryship OF
Agriculture. Farm politics Is being
played with a vengeance. No fewer
than Is names, each strongly sup
ported. are on the list OF avowed or
receptive candidates for the port
folio. Washington Is full Of poll
ticians in connection with the meet
ing of the Land Grant Colleges and
the Presidents farm inquiry commits
sion. Who is to be Henry c. Wal
lace's successor la the topic upper
most in their minds.
4 candidate hitherto little men,
tioned-Dr. William NJ. Jardine of
kansas-has bounded prominently
into the forefront because OF the
backing he enjoys. He Is said to be
the preference OF Herbert Hoover
Or. Jardine. who is president Of the
Kansas State Agricultural College
at Manhattan. was the last publicly
announced member Of the Collidge
Farm Commission.
Foe of Farm Bill.
DR.. Jardine's boom attracts the
attention OF farm leaders because he
is an outspoken foe OF the McNary-
Haugen bill In an article contrib
uted to the official organ of the United
Nations Business. in June, 1924, Jar
dine smote the bill hip and thigh
The article was entitled I'VE Must
Stop Exporting Wheat" Dr. Jardine
declared that the effect of operation
of the measure will be to pyramid
prices, increasing the cost OF manu-
factures. Thus exports of non-agri-
cultural products would be curtailed
large imports would break over the
tariff wall, and a serious wave of un-
employment would be created" Incl
dentally DIR. Jardine suggested that
the scrip system proposed by the Nc
Nary -Haugen bill would invite cor
ruption.
Conflict on Mark citing.
The reported backing Of DIR. Jardine
by Mr.. Hoover causes farm politi-
clans In Washington to recall the
feud between the Departments OF
Commerce and Agriculture over con-
troll Of certain farm activities. A par
ticular conflict has been raging over
the marketing problem. Secretary
Hoover is an apostle of the theory
that agricultural marketing matters
ought to be within the Department
Of Commences Jurisdiction exclusive
ly. Farm leaders acknowledge that
Hoover has become a potential infiu-
ence in the administration on agri-
cultural policy. The Secretary Of
Commerce will have two close friends
on the Coolidge Farm Commission
DR.. Jardine of Kansas is one, and the
other is Ralph P. Merritt of Califor-
MIA, who was active in the manage
ment Of Hoover's presidential ambi-
tions in 1920. Mr.. Merritt Is promi-
nent in the Coast fruit industry and
in cooperative marketing work. An
ther Californian on the Farm Com
mission Is Fred II. Bixby, president
OF the American Live Stock Associa-
ton Mr.. Merritt was California food
administrator under Hoover during
the World War.
List of Candidates.
The candidates for the Secretary
ship of Agriculture, with their par
ticular claims to favor, are as fol-
lows:
DR.. William NJ. Jardine, president
OF Kansas State Agricultural College.
Former Gov. Frank o. Lowden of
Illinois who, though perhaps more
strongly backed than any other pos
sible selection. to date refuses to con-
slider appointment.
Gov. elect Howard NJ. Gore Of West
Virginia. and now acting Secretary
of Agriculture. President Coolidge
thinks highly Of Mr. Gore not only
because OF his agricultural knowl-
edge, but also because OF his help In
winning John W. Davis home State
for the G. o. P. Considered doubtful
whether Gore. even IL asked. would
renounce his gubernatorial post for
the Agricultural portfolio.
Louis J. Taber of Ohio. master Of
the National Grange and member of
the Coolidge Farm Commission.
Grange members actively supporting
his candidacy
John w. Coverdale of Iowa, now
with the Grain Marketing Company
at Chicago, formerly secretary of the
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; prac-
tical farmer.
Murray d. Lincoln OF Ohio, secreta-
ry of the Ohio Farm Bureau Fedora
tion.
DR.. John Lee Coulter, president Of
the South Dakota State Agricultural
College: author of the Norbeck Mel
son bill to loan money to the North
western farmers for diversified farm
Ing purposes.
Farm Radio Pioneer.
Herbert Myrick of Massachusetts,
proprietor of numerous farm Journals
and pioneer in radio service to farm
ers throughout the United States.
DR. Elwood Mead Of Indiana, irri-
SdllOH eng iueeT, appointed QlreClOT
of reclamation in the Department of
the Interior by President Coolidge in
April, 1924.
W. A Gilbert Of Massachusetts,,
commissioner Of State agriculture
during Mr.. Coolidge's governorship
and regarded as personal friend of
the President.
Col. c. H March Of Minnesota.
named as chairman of the Republican
State committee at instigation of
Coolidge leaders; novice in politics
and therefore appointed over heads of
Old Guard, but now held in high
esteem at White House for organizing
defeat Of Farmer-Labor party in
Minnesota Mrs. March and Mrs.
Coolidge are said to be friends.
E. II. Thompson of Massachusetts,,
formerly an official Of the Bureau of
Farm Management in the Department
of Agriculture. president of the Land
Bank at ringheld. Mass.
Tennesseean IL Suggested.
DR.. TAFT Butler of Tennessee, editor
Of Progressive Farming, widely circu-
lated throughout the agricultural
South.
c. W. Pugsley of North Dakota,
president of the State Agricultural
College, and successor OF Senator
Ladd in that post. Formerly assist
ant to Secretary Wallace at Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Raymond A. Pearson of Iowa, pres
ident of Iowa Agricultural College,
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
under David F. Houston, now presi-
dent OF the Land Grant College and
Experiment Station Association,
which recently met In washin gton.
President Coolidge thus has a wide
latitude of choice. geographically
speaking. Two candidates for the
Secretaryship of Agriculture from