Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-17
The Lowden Candidacy.

Former Gov. Frank o. Lowden Of
illinois. apostle Of farm dollar equal
ity, without making any formal an
nouncement that he is a candidate
for the Republican presidential nomi-
| nation next year. continues an effec-
tive speaking campaign before farm
organizations. Yesterday he spoke at a
big dairymen's meeting in Bingham.
ton, N. Y, and tonight he will speak
in Chicago, and thereafter many
times and at many places. but always
on the same theme, the effective mar
keting Of farm produce. There is not
the slightest doubt that Gov. Lowden
has made a deep impression on many
agricultural communities, which have
listened sympatheticaliy to his discus
sion of the farm problem, particularly
the need for better methods Of dealing
with the surplus crops. To his mind
the great issue of the day is the
proper method OF meeting the farm
problem. That he Is entirely sincere
no one who has heard Mr.. Lowden can
doubt.
Press reports from Binghamton IN
dictate that within a few weeks Mr..
Lowden may formally announce his
candidacy for the presidential nomi.
nation. Such a step seems scarcely
necessary. The former governor has
already declared that if enough Of the
agricultural States show they want
him for their candidate he will con.
slider the proposition seriously. Low
den.for- President clubs have been or
ganized in the East as we'll as the
West. 1t has been made clear that if
there is a real demand on the part of
the farmers for candidate Mr..
Lowden, like Barkis, "is willing" A
formal announcement by Mr.. Lowden
might tend only to focus attack upon
him by those who are opposed to his
candidacy.
Two factors, operating this Sum-
mer, may have decided effect upon
the Lowden candidacy. One Of these
Is the presence Of President Calvin
Coolidge in the Northwest, and the
other the farm crops themselves. If
President Coolidge. through his Sum-
mer in South Dakota, makes fast
friends with the West, and IL the crops
are good and the prices satisfactory, the
farm issue may become Of little imme.
date importance in the pre-convention
campaign. Under such conditions, lit.
tie more serious talk will be heard Of
Mr.. Lowden or any other candidate
for the Republican nomination against
President Coolidge.
During his address at Binghamton
Mr.. Lowden declared that he did not
propose price-fxing by the Govern
ment to aid the farmer to deal with
the surplus crops. At the same time.
however. he said:
We have, therefore, suggested a
Federal farm board. We have pro-
posed that such board should be vest
ed with power Of inquiring into GER
tain facts. These facts are: Is there
above domestic requirements of some
farm product? Does this surplus de-
press the price below cost Of produc.
ton with a reasonable profit? Are
the growers Of that product sufficient
ly organized as to be fairly represent.
ative of all the producers Of that prod.
uct, and do they desire this assist
ance? If the board finds that all these
questions must be answered eyes," 1t
is then empowered to authorize the
cooperative to take control of the
surplus.
When any one is empowered to de-
termine the cost Of production, plus
a reasonable profit, and to say that
the price shall not be below that fig.
ure, it comes mighty close to price
fixing. 1t is against this principle that
President Coolidge has steadfastly
turned his face.