Evening star., 1926-11-17
ASKS NON-PARTISAN BLOC
TO PUT MEASURE OVER
Both Parties Hit for Alleged Re-
pudiation of Pledges to Re-
lieve Agriculture.
By the Associated Press.

today. It Is g. document Of 5000 words
and 21 sections. It's outstanding item
is hearty Endorsement of the plan
sponsored by Frank o. Lowden, for.
mer governor Of Illinois.
The Lowden plan, advocated In
previous addresses and magazine ar
ticles, was outlined again in an ad-
dress yesterday by the former Illinois
governor, himself a farmer on 4,5OO
acres near Oregon, Ill.
In its general principles it agrees
with the new version OF the McNary-
Haugen bill, the first two editions OF
which failed to muster suffic1ent
strength in Congress.
Surplus Control Proposed.
The new McNa1y. .Haugen bill is
known as a farm surplus control
instrument. The 1924 bill was a
price.ratio bill, seeking to fix prices
of. agricultural products Of that day
upon a proper ratio with pre-War
prices. The McNary-Haugen bill OF
last year embodied the export corpora
ton idea as its chief provision.
The new idea was expressed in Mr..
Lowden's speech yesterday In these
words:
"A Federal farm board should be
vested with power of inquirlng into
certain facts. Is there surplus OF
some basic farm product? Does TINS
surplus depress the price below COST
of production with a reasonable pront !!
Are the growers Of that product suf-
ficiently organized comparatively as
to be fairly representative Of all the
producers Of that product?
"If the board finds that all or these
questions must be answered yes, 1t Is
then empowered to authorize the CO.
operative to take control OF the sur
plus. The only aid from the Govern.
ment would be that the Government
would distribute among all the pro-
ducers Of the particular commodlty
the cost to the cooperative OF ham
ding the surplus.
Question of Price-Fixing.
"Neither the governor nor Govern
mont hoard would determine the price.
The co-operative, like any other In
dustry, would study all the conditions
affecting the particular commodity
and from time to time decide upon a
price which conditions would seem TO
warrant" -.
The Lowden plan has as one OF It's
chief points the collection OF an
Equalization fee." which has formed
a section Of other proposed measures.
being covered in his reference to tine
cost to the cooperative" The equal
i1ation fee would be collected from
ali PRODUCERS of the particular COM
modify involved at the processing
noint." such as the mill or gin.
Under the terms of the new NC.
Nary-Haugen bill the Government
might anticipate collection of the Zee
merely as a banking preparation, the
money to be returned when aVa1lable.
The agricultural committees of both
Senate and House were urged by Mr.
Iowden to meet Immediately to con-
slider such farm legislation as might
be presented to the December session
Of Congress.
Unity i'm Conference.
Tho declaration Of principles, term
ed by some 1.-The farmers declaration
of independence," stressed that q
spirit of unity and harmony had
marked the two-day progress OF the
first meeting between Southern cot.
ton planters and rice growers and
the North Central grain and cattle
such cooperation was termed
highly significant" and another
nara rraph commended members OF
Congress, regardless Of party, who
worked and voted for agricultural
relief legislation and pledged them
active support.
A permanent program for cotton
was demanded, and the plan OF Presi-
dent Coolidge's cotton commission for
the removal Of 100000 bales from
the immediate market was con-
demned as a temporary expedient."
Both Republican and Democratic
parties were criticized for what was
termed reputation of pledges in 1924
In platforms and by candidates.
Congress BIOcs Defended.
Blocs in Congress were defended
and Senators and Representatives
from agricultural regions were re.
uuested to "organize themselves into
an aggressive and effective unit, re-
gardless Of party, to express and work
for the economic interests of agricul.
ture."
The tariff was touched upon in a
section favoring removal or modifica-
tion of unfair and excessive tariff
duties that now afford shelter for
price-fxing monopolies." Immediate
reduction on such basic materials as
aluminium, steel and chemicals was
urged.
The constructive aid Of thoughtful
men was welcomed, but 1.-The spirit Of
criticism and fault finding, which Is
barren Of workable proposals." was
deprecated. 1t also was stated that it
was the belief that ideas for farmer
relief should be originated by agricul-
tural leadership.
Warning to Labor.
Labor was warned that the contin-
ued exodus from the farms may soon
er or later produce a demoralizing
oversupply of labor"
The status of cotton was termed not
due to reckless overproduction, but to
lack Of adequate means for handling
the temporarily unneeded part Of the
crop.
Consumers were told that stabiliza.
ton Of crop prices would mean an ul-
innate saving to them, as development
Of co-operatives would lessen the
spread between farmer and consumer.
PRONUNCIATION of the declaration Of
principles was the only item Of bust.
Continued on Pege { Column s)