The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-11
DAVIS SOUNDS A NEW NOTE

Although MT. John w. Davls, Tn ms address last Friday at Omaha, in the heart of the agricultural unrest, dis claimed that he was either "dirt farmer or even a pictorial farmer" it is evil dent that he carried his audience of more than six thousand with him. He carried it with him, because, in spite of his modest disclaimers as to agricultural experience, he discusses the intimate and vexing problems of agriculture in the most enlightened manner. Among the keenest of his observations is that, whereas in the past the department of agriculture has successfully directed its attention to the problems of production, it must now pay more attention to the problems of distribution of farm prod ucts. The farmer does not yet produce as much per acre as his land is capable of producing. Far from it. But he is producing more than he can by undi- rected effort profitably dispose of. It is tf department of agriculture which is in part responsible for this condition of agricultural unbalance, and it is the de- partment of agriculture which is best or ganized and equipped to restore the bal ance by bringing marketing methods up to parity with producing methods. AL ready the department has done much to organize farm co-operatives, the sue cess of which where properly adminls- tered has been extremely gratifying to the membership. MT. Davis would de- velop this process further and have it ap- piled more widely.
 It is not by the enactment of more laws that the Democratic nominee would seek to extend benefit to the farmer. There is already law enough, some of no more use to the farmer than the modern machinery which he might by chance al low to rust out behind his barn. There
 fore MT. Davis says: +'No law, however beneficial in it's purposes, can accom- plish good results if it is badly admin istered. It is quite as important to the farmers of the United States that exist ing agencies should be administered to their interest as it is that new laws should be passed for their aid and bene- fit" So many presidential candidates and presidents emphasize the one side of their public responsibility which has to do with the recommendation of leg islation to congress, but forget the far more important side of putting these laws into effect after their enactment. As a result, our codes are loaded down with a mass of laws that are not invoked, many of which have been in the main duplicated by later laws likewise allowed to become dead letters, although ire quently needed by the situations to which they are designed to apply.
 When good laws lie neglected on the statute books of this nation there is nc other reason except executive failure to have them applied. To be sure, pres ident cannot give personal attention to every law, nor can he search through the records to discover what laws already existent should be applied to the respec- tive situations needing them. But the chief executive can establish a policy for the executive branch of the govern ment which will bring the desired result. On this point MT. Davis declares, with reference to the farmer, that the depart ment of agriculture should be rid of po- Iitical influence and "presided over by a secretary competent, courageous and loyal to the best interests of agricul- ture, and care should be taken to see that it's entire personnel is of the same character" Then the nominee cites the fact that the farmers interests are af fected by the acts of the interstate com merce commission, the federal reserve board, the federal tariff commission, the department of justice and the federal trade commission. All these bodies have it within their power to give primary consideration to the welfare of agricul- ture when making their decisions. In the past it is evident that such considera- tion has too often not only been ob- scured, but even sternly repressed. Not more laws are needed, but more judi cous administration of executive func- tions prescribed by law.
 And in the ultimate analysis the Dem- ocratic leader says: "The responsibility for providing such an administration rests upon the shoulders of him who is chosen ts- be president of the United States. He may share with others the burdens of the task; his responsibility he cannot divide. It is his business to select men fit for office, and when mis- takes in selection are made to be prompt in their correction" It is firmly be- lieved that such a view of the president tial function is unassailable. The habit of presidential stress on projected legis- Iation and of presidential ignorance and neglect of existing legislation has caused