Evening star., 1925-01-14
Politics at Large
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

still contendlng for an extraordinary
session of Congress for the purpose
OF afording relief to farmers and to
the agricultural situation. He is vir-
tually alone in this contention, for
his colleagues do not agree with him
as to the necessity for the calling of
the next Congress in advance OF the
constitutional date. Senator Borah
is used to standing alone, however,
when. his mind Is made up on a
as shown by his independent
record in politics and legislation. The
judgment of the great majority in
Congress Is that there is no necessity
now existing or in prospect for the
calling Of an extra session.
\ 4;
Senator Borah, with a trace of fine
sarcasm, contrasts the solicitude
which was showered upon the farmer
vote in the last campaign by the
for public Office "I do not
recall any time in the history of our
country such a deep-seated affection
to any particular class OF voters as
seem to be manifested toward the
farmers In this last campaign" he
says. "All candidates paid particular
attention to their needs and to the
conditions which seemed to environ
them, and the most specific pledges
after the election was over. Large
amounts of money were sent into ag-
rtcultural States from the manufac-
turing States for the purpose of ad-
vising the farmers as to their Ills and
as to what should and would be done
Immediately after those who were
candidates were placed in power
Indeed, the campaign turned in a
large measure upon this question of
l. Il, 4 =
ceded that had the agricultural States
taken any particular view other than
that which they did take the result
would have been entirely different.
Now, it is said conditions have who'll
ly changed, that there is no longer
need for considering agricultural
problems. A very we'll organized and
widespread campaign is going on to
convince the farmer that his condi-
ton is entirely satisfactory. He is
now advised that his troubles are
either imaginary or such as are
rem edying themselves. How different
to the anxious promises OF a few
weeks ago."
Senator Bruce of Maryland is one
of those who think that some Of the
farmers woes are in part imaginary
or exaggerated, although there are
many of his colleagues who take is-
sue with him on that attitude and
believe they are equipped with mate
rial to sustain their own position.
Senator Bruce. who is regarded as
one of the deep thinkers of the Sen
ate, calls attention to one feature Of
economic life which is a subject of
frequent discussion in the current
treaties upon economic questions. He
cites the growing disposition of the
farmers in the Wetsern sections OF
the country to lay all of their trou-
bles upon the Government and to
rush to Uncle Sam for RELIEF with all
kinds of fantastic remedies. Sena-
tor Bruce thinks that this disposi-
ton is local and claims that New
England. the Central States and the
South do not share in this propen-
sity.
In the Senate the other day Senator
Bruce said II was charged over and
over again that the Ills of the West
ern farmers was due to oppressive
railway rates. Bill after bill was in
troduced last session, some of the
most grossly arbitrary character, to
reduce railway rates in the farmers
interest. He recalled that Daniel
willard, president Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railway Co., had testified be-
fore the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce that IL the entire net
revenue, s132, 100000, derived by all
the railways in this country in 1928
from the carriage of agricultural
products of every description were
turned over exclusively to the corn
and wheat farmers of this country 1t
would signify an increase of only 4
cents a bushel on what they had re-
csiyed for their corn and wheat. he
picked out another economic fact by
stating that railway rates have gone
up less than anything else in this
country since the World War, due en-
tirely to the fact Of economy, eff
cheney and sagacity in the manage
ment OF the great railway systems,
headed by the ablest men in the land.
Senator Bruce contends that as the
farmers are not only the most nu-
merous, but the most powerful, ele-
ment of our voting population, their
fate, so far as II Is controlled by po-
litioal agencies. is largely in their
own hands. Senator Borah has con-
tended that the tax bill of the farmer
has gone up from six hundred million
dollars to one billion, whereupon
Senator Bruce pointed out that the
general expenses OF the Government
=
to upward of three billion dollars. A
reduction Of taxes can only be brought
about, Senator Bruce insisted, by the
exercise of q political power and in
sistence which the farmer is in bet
ter condition to exercise than any
other man in the land.
X X Y n
Senator Borah in his plea for aid
to the farmers pointed out that when
the railroads get into trouble, as
they did at the close of the war, they
come to the Government for aid and
they receive material benefit. Sup
porting his plea for an extra session
of Congress to take up the farmers
problems, he pointed out that II
action is postponed until the begin
ming of 1926 the country will be
again facing an election
influence of another vote getting
program" he said, I'VE shall be leg
islating from standpoint of ex-
pediency. We shall deal with 1t as
men are wont to deal with a situa-
tion where political exigencies con-
front them. There is just one time
to deal with these problems which
require scientific Investigations.
which call for study and care and
some courage ana some ueleFhiha-
tion, and that is just as soon as we
can do so after we have been given
the power to do So"
X X X
In the current and impending
changes In the diplomatic posts,
President Coolidge Is recognized as
exercising the spirit Of civil service
rather than purely political consid-
erations in his appointments up to
date. That is to say, he is making
transfers of Ambassadors for the
good of the service and the strength
ening of the American diplomatic
body rather than for political pre-
ferment. Politicians are wondering
if thia ia 70 rnarL q naw era in the