San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-08
P ROSPE R |TY.
SUbMERGES
FARM BLOC
Group That Ruled Senate
Practically Wrecked,
Say Leaders.
BY Universal Service.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-Gencrai
prosperity among the farmers prac-
tically has wrecked the famous Farm
Bloc which, by holding the balance
of power. has exerted great influence
in shaping legislation during the past
several sessions of Congress, 1t was
stated by Senate leaders.
Senator Arthur Capper Of Kansas,
chairman of the bloc in the upper
branch. and Representative L. j.
Dickinson of Iowa, who assumed that
role in the House, both candidly admit
their followers are lukewarm and are
disposed to break from the alliance.
NEW COOP PLAN.
Little effort will be made at the
next session TO enact relief measures
for farmers except to extend the CO.
operative marketing movement, as they
appear as n class to be we'll satisfied
with conditions rs they are, according
TO Capper. Dickinson is reported as
holding similar views.
In his annual message President
Coolidge will likely espouse a new CO.
operative marketing bill. which has
the backing of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Jardine.
That measure represents the delib-
crate conclusions of 20 leaders Of the
farm co-operatives of the country who
recently held an extended conference
here in an endeavor to reconcile con-
90 xssa 90 -hoA IL
government should take to foster co.
operative marketing.
The proposed measure provides for
the establishment of a division of co..
operative marketing inside the Depart
ment of Agriculture in which all the
federal agencies concerned with that
problem will be conferred.
All suggestions for the supervision
of the co-operatives, as advanced By
the last Congress, have been aban-
doned.
FUNCTIONS OF AGENCY.
One Of the main functions of the
new agency will be to put at the serv-
ice of the co-operatives all of the mass
of information the government now
gathers as to crops, markets and the
methods of organization and finance
of co-operatives.
The President will not suggest
farm relief along the lines proposed
by the Farm Commission, which
made an exhaustive study of the
farmers needs. Its recommended
tins were rejected by the last Con-
gress.
Senator Borah. of Idaho, however.
is outspoken in his declarations that
the Congress should enact additional
legislation in favor of the farmers.
He doc not agree with the com
mon belief in administration circles
that the farmers are now so far on
the road to prosperity that they do
not need a helping hand.
Reports reaching him are to the
effect that farmers in many sec
tons are in dire distress. Borah.
however, has no definite legislation
in mind.
Senator Norris, Of Nebraska, will
not attempt to revive his bill, held
up by the committee on agriculture
last year, which provided a revolv-
ing fund of $200,000,000 to stabilize
the price of export grain.
Norris was unable to have his
measure enacted when wheat was
little more than 81 per bushel. With
the price now around S1.50 Norris
fears he would get even less sup
port.
WEAKNESS OF BLOC.
Despite its potential power, the
weakness of the Farm Bloc lies in
the fact that at no time were the
members wholly in unison regarding
legislation desired to aid their con-
stituents.