Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-12
BEL|TTLES GLOOMY
CORN BELT CRISIS
Head of Corn Growers SAYS
Farmers Need Help of
Government.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.


President Coolidge was told today
that the corn growers. about whom
he has been receiving such gloomy
and disconcerting reports recently,
can work out their own problem in
a satisfactory manner, principally
through cooperative marketing
c. l.. Richeson of Iowa president Of
the National Corn Growers Associa-
ton. who today so advised the Execu-
tive at the White House. added, how
ever, that their cooperative move
ment must have assistance from the
Federal Government. He informed
the President that the corn growers
could meet the situation through their
own efforts II the Government VIII
provide holding corporation.
The corn producers do not need Gov.
eminent control in the sense advocated
by the farm bloc in Congress and by the
radical asriculturists. nor do they want
Government price hiking. Mr. Richeson
said. He told the President there was
no occa sion for any uueaSiness on the
part OF the administre ton a result
OF the recent so-called uprising among
the corn growers in the Middle West
because Of their inability to find a mar
ket FOR their surplus crop and the pre-
vafling low price OF their commodity.
That uproar was started and famed
into prominence principally by polifi-
clans and radicals. Mr.. RiCheson de-
clared. These agi'ators speak for only
a small percentage Of the corn grow
taken seriously
SCOTS at Tariff Attack.
As for the reports that the up
hea val in the corn belt was going 70
result in an attack on the Republican
tariff. as one Of the WAYS To bring aid
TO the American agriculturists. Mr..
Richardson stated that that. too. vas
the outgrowth OF political maneuver-
ing. He said there was no occasion
for anv fear from that quarter. He
intimated that the American agricul-
turist has far too much common
sense 10 act 10 his own disadvantage,
which would he the case II they at
tempted to break down the present
tariff system.
Although the corn growers have had
a rough time Of it this year and many
have lost money. their condition j. by
no means as desperate and pit!able
as some OF the alarmists would have
Washington believe. according To Mr..
RicheSon. lie expressed the opinion
that conditions are improving. that
the corn grower is knuckHng down to
business to meet his problems.
Already they are LAYING the fnunda-
tiun for a practicable method OF co.
operative marketing. and Mr.. Richie
son assured the President there Is
every reas son TO feel hopeful. He - ii
their plans consist of getting sulidty
behind their commodity. SutsSta ntlailf
az the citrus growers and tobacco
growers and others have done with
their individual commodities. OF
course their ultimate success in meet
ing the export surplus problem d.
ponds to a large extent upon holding
corpora tons. and in this connection
he believes the Federal Government
can be of great help.
Backs Dickinson Bill.
The agricultural hill recently intro
duced by Representative Dickinson
of Iowa and the principle of which
has since received the approval Of
Secretary Jardine, which. among other
things provides for this form of
Federal aid. is approved by Mr. Rich
eson. He told the President that this
mea sure IS the most constructive az
ricultural legislation Yet introduced
and should be passed.
Mr. Richeson stated that credits in
the corn belt have been greatly i'm
proved. He attributed much Of this
to the establishment within the past
in Fort Dodge and the other In Dies
Moines. Iowa.
Mr.. Richeson was accompanied h.
half dozen members of the National
Corn Growers Association. The little
delegation explained to the President
that they came TO Washington 20 at
tend the sessions of the National Co
Operative Association. being held in
this city.
Report Pleases Coolidge.
II is known that Mr. RicheSou's Yer
sion of the situation in the corn helt,
and his report as TO the determination
on the part Of the corn grower to help
himself instead OF leaning desperately
upon the Government to lift him from
his predicament. was Very pleasing
to President Coolidge.
Because of the Importance and
prominence attached to the reports
that the Republican tariff would l,a
made the object Of an assault as a
means of bringing the adminiStra-
ton to its knees in the matter of
Government control and price fixing.
he President was more than nrdITar-
lily interested In what Mr.. Eicheson
had to say about this phase Of the
situation. The President had been
pre- viously advised Fl ON several quar-
tiers that the tariff threat was merely
a political movement, but he vas
nevertheless happy TO hear II from
Mr. Rfcheson, who. heCause Of his po-
.sition as head of the National Assoc
citation of Corn c. Gwers. was Spea king
for a large numprr of men directly
interested in the subject. and who
comes from the scene of the Su-called
upheaval.