Evening star., 1925-12-13
COOLIDGE VIEWS AROUSE
IRE OF FARM RADICALS
Reaction to Chicago Speech Strengthens
Hands of Advocates of McNary-
'- Haugen Plan.

4 the present session. IhaE may ram
| ify into 1928. Unless Mr. Coolidge IN
| the meantime evolves ways ana
means of propitiatiug fer-.' sentiment,
! no observer could leave Chicago with
out feeling that his stock In the aGrl-
cultural community faces a falilng'
| rather than a rising, market.
More than one leader confessed 10
this writer that Arthur Capper Is 10.
day a more logical farm candidate
for President on the next RePupllcah
/ ticket than Calvin Coolidge Mr.. Gap
per has been in receptive mood on the
White House proposition for several
years. He Is a loyal administration
man, but his friends do not believe he
would dodge agricultural Endorsement
in 1928. IL 1t were voiced in convincing
terms. That he could marshal anti
Coolidge sentiment In the Midwest
and and West today cannot be
doubted in light Of recent develop
ments at Chicago
One of the significant features OF
Mr.. Thompson's defeat of Mr.. Brad
fute for the Farm Bureau Federation
presidency was that a coalition OF Mid
western, Northwestern and Southern
votes decided the deadlock on the
eighth ballot. Hitherto combination
of Eastern and Southern votes has
sufficed to overcome the more radical
groups at annual federation elections.
The backbone of the federation con-
sists of farm representatives from
Indiana. Iowa and Illinois. In these
three States so called "McNary-Hau-
gen" sentiment is said to be enor-
nous. 1t pooled it's strength, together
with that from Northwestern and
Dixie States, to put In office man
who is definitely committed to hight
the Coolidge administration on major
agricultural issues.
Party Leaders Anxious.
Republican party leaders make no
effort to disguise their anxiety over
what Is being called in Washington
the farm revolt" Ii it were con-
fined to mere remorse over the Cool
idge administrators attitude on
"price-fixing' measures, the danger
would not be regarded so acute. The
administration opposed "McNary Hau-
gen" schemes in 1922, 1923 and 1924,
even when the late Henry c. Wallace
was Secretary of Agriculture and
openly favored such legislation. 1t Is
believed that the President today, as
then, commands more than enough
support in Congress to Illustrate Me
Nary-Haugen" bills in whatever gutse
offered.
But the dissatisfied farmers have
certain "auXiliarfes" in their discon-
tent. They are found IN the irrigation
and reclamation areas of the West
and Northwest. Mr.. Coondge's re-
fusal, in support of Secretary Work,
to carry out ambitious development
projects has emhittered the affected
regions. They voted heavily for Cool
idge and Dawes in 1924, fearing the
La Toilette peril If they did anything
else. But in the sections which grow
wheat, corn and cattle. and in the sec
tions which want more reclamation
and irrigation projects carried out,
there Is now widespread dtsappoint-
ment with Coolidge policies.
Disappointment puts 1t mildly. If
the aftermath of the Chicago farm
convention is a criterion. Indignation
describes it more accurately. Until
these emotions are Gained 1t can safe
~ be foreshadowed that storms will
confront the G.. o. p. everywhere in
the great open spaces.
Copyright. 1920