Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-24
PRESIDENT VEERS
TOWARD FARM AID
Jardine and Hoover Utter
ances Seen as Hints of Ac-
ton at Next Session.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Enough strawS have appeared to
show that the wind is blowing in the
direction Of action by the administra.
| ton on the agricultural problem.
For the advisers of President Cool
idge have convinced him that the time
has come for the administration to
offer and get back of practical plan
for the adjustment of the farmers un-
balanced position with reference to
industry. The significant announce
melt by Secretary Jardine of the De,
partment Of Agriculture that the
farmers of the West want tariff revi
sion and the declaration by Secretary
Hoover that he has in mind plan for
the private financing of farm oper-
ations may be coupled together as the
beginning of a new policy.
The elections of 1928 are coming
soon and the administration is being
threatened in the congressional cleo
lions by all kinds of talk of political
| revolt from the West. Entirely apart
from the political aspect, there has
been abundant evidence that the eX-
port surplus problem of the America II
farmer can no longer be ignored any
| more than his demand for a lower
tariff on the articles which he is COM
PEELED to buy.
Would Back Sound Plan.
Broadly speaking, the McNary-
Haugen plan has no objection to it
from the administration viewpoint if
| it is handled with private funds in
stead of public money. In other words,
if the principle in it is sound and
there is no great risk of financial
loss. then private capital may he in
duced to organize the farmers into
one huge corporation to market the
surplus. The administration would do
all in it's power to encourage private
capital, even to the point of inviting
keymen in finance to meet the Presi-
dent and members of his cabinet and
discuss the whole plan.
The proponents of the McNarN-
Haugen plan have always felt that
Government authority had to be
back of any arrangement that is set
up so that the farmer will he COM
PEELED to accept certain receipts in
stead Of cash in part payment for his
product at the mill, but it is believed
some other device may be found to
overcome this difficulty and make it
workable even though privately man.
aged.
Effect of Private Appraisal.
The point is that in the face of per-
SiStent argument from the West about
an equalization-f~e IN the marketing
of surplus agricultural products, the
administration is compelled to offer
an alternative, and if private capital
should finally reject the McNary-
Haugen plan. giving it's reasons for
refusing the risk. it then is believed
the case for Government financing
will ,be Weakened and the Western
leaders will he in a better mood to ac-
cept a compromise plan.
The evident willingness of Mr.. Jar
dine to consider tariff revision and the
frequent utterances from visitors at
Paul Smiths concerning the need for
tariff revision to satisfy the West is
considered significant. for it may
mean that the administration will not
oppose efforts to revise the tariff If
proposed at the next session of Con
greSS. 1t is to he "A short session any
how and the tariff problem. like the
McNary Haugen bill, may benefit by
continued debate.
Copyright 19261