Evening star., 1924-03-23
u. S. FARMERS TO FIGHT
TO MEET THEIR NEEDS
Political Groups Will Feel Pressure From
Agriculturists, Who Desire
Equality of Dollar

| dollar shall be on a parity with that
OF other producers, are the passage Of
, the McNary-Haugen bill, the develop
ment of the hydro-electric power al
Muscle Shoals, so as to obtain cheaner
fertilizer and cheaper power; reduc-
tion OF freight rates, the so-called
truth-in-fabric bill and the enactment
or measure that will give the farm
ers fair break" when il comes To
credit-in fact, what amounts to
national usury law
Hope Congress VIII Act.
The farmers are still hopefui OF
getting something out of the present
Congress, although they find the law
makers with their minds all intent
upon "oil" and the scandals of Wash
ington, 1924" as developed in the va
rious senatorial Investigations which
have startled the country since last
December. The failure of the So
called Norbeck -Burtness bill to aid IN
the diversification of crops in the
Senate is not regarded seriously by
the farmers. They had lost faith in
the bill because it limited the govern
ment aid to $1,000, which they claim
is far too little to be of real assist
snce in diversifying crops, etc. Fur
thermore, what the farmer wants Is
not to get further into debt, but to
get out of debt.
The McNary-Haugen bill. which has
now been favorably reported to the
Senate, seeks to set up an equality
between the purchasing power of the
farmers dollar and that of the indus
trialists and others. It provides for
the creation of a government corpo
ration, with 5000, 100000 as a working
fund, which shall purchase the vari-
Gus farm products at price today
bearing the same ratio to the prices
of other commodities which the price
Of farm products bore to such other
commodities during the prewar period
1905-1914. There is a provision au-
thorizing tariffs which shall prevent
the flooding of the country by agri-
cultural products from outside ma
tions to receive the higher prices
made here.
Three Congress Groups.
to obtaining legislation from Con
gress today lies in the fact that there
are three groups, representing diff
ferent schools of thought, none OF
which has a controlling vote-the
conservatives, the progressives and
the radicals. This is the discourag-
ing feature of the situation to the
farmer, Mr.. Silver said, as it must be
to other citizens desiring remedial
legislation. There must come some
readjustment so that Congress will
be able to function.
Many of the farmers are looking to
the progressive group-such group
as made possible the creation of the
So-called farm bIoc"-to take com
mand. But the situation is still fur
ther involved because the political
parties-the republican and the demo
cratic-have within their ranks men
belonging to each of the three groups.
A third party, if it is clear cut, and
clearly progressive and not radical.
will appeal, therefore, to many of the
farmers. This last statement is not
to be attributed to Mr.. Silver.
When it comes to presidential can
didates-and this, too, is not a quo
tation from Mr.. Silver-the farmers
in many instances are anxious to cast
their votes for a progressive leader
The word comes from the west thai
while the farmers have not passed
judgment yet on President Coolidge,
they wish him to make his record OIL
progressive issues as speedily and as
clearly as possible. Hiram Johnson.
irreconcilable isolationist, is not de
sired by the farmers, II is said. II
the democrats nominate a candidate
not looked upon as progressive and
the republicans choose President Cool
idge without his having shown the
farmers he is definitely committed to
progressive measures, then they prob
ably will flock to third party stand
ard, headed perhaps by Senator LIZ
Toilette In this connection it may
be Of interest to remember that about
As per cent of the entire population OF
the country is to be found on the
farms.
Undoubtedly the farmers are golnE
20 the national conventions of the bis
political parties with very serious
demands that they be cared for in the
party platforms. The great farm or
ganizations of the country will be
represented before the platform COM
mittees, and the work of those com
mittees will be carefully scanned BY
the agriculturalists.