Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-06

desire for legislation which would
permit him to act during coal strikes.
Defends Nicaragua Policy
Although the message was devoted
almost exclusively to domestic af-
fairs. the president did inform con
gress again that American interven-
ton in fcreign lands was merely for
the purpose Of protecting the lives
and property of this eountry's ma
tionals. He defended the administra-
tons policy in China and Nicaragua
and expressed the belief that
the controversy with Mex ! c o
w oil and land laws, by "a firm
adherence to our rights and a serup-
ulous respect for the sovereignty Of
Mexico" would be solved without
impairment Of friendly feeling.
While the presidents adherence to
his former policy regarding agricul-
ture did not come as a surprise, 10
was noticeable because neither politi-
cal rep~ercussions nor his summer
in the West seemed 10 have affected
ais viewpoint.
Any sound and workable proposal
TO help the farmer, he said, would
have his earnest support but he laid
down the principle that il should aim
to assist the farmer ito work out his
own salvation, socially and economi-
cally." Taking the position that the
farmer already has been assisted BY
a reduction Of federal taxes, and that
agriculture was showing signs Of
improving, Mr.. Coolidge said:
Would Cut Crop Acreage
at is useless to propose a tenn
porary- ~expedient. What is needed is
permanence and stability. Govern
ment price fixing is known to be I'M
sound and bound TO result in dis
aster. A government subsidy would
work out the same way. '"~
These expedients would lead
logically TO telling the farmer BY
law what and how much he should
plant and where he should plant 1t,
and what and how much he should
sell and where he should sell it.
"The most efficient Of deal
ing with surplus crops Is to reduce
the surplus acreage. While this can
not be done by the individual farmer,
il can be done through the organiza-
tions already in existence, through
the information published by the
department Of agriculture. and especi-
ally through banks and others who
supply credit refusing % finance an
acreage ~manifestly too large.
at is impossible TO provide by law
for an assured success and prosperity
for all those who engage in farming.
II acreage becomes overextended. the
government cannot respon-
sibility for il. The government can.
however, assist cooperative associa-
tons and other organizations in
orderly marketing and handling a
surplus clearly que TO weather and
seasonal conditions, in order to save
the producer from preventable loss.
Would Maintain Budget
while il is probably impos Abel to
secure this result al a single step.
and much will have to be worked out
by trial and rejection. a beginning
could be made by setting Up a federal
board or commission OF able and ex-
perienced men in marketing, grant
ing equal advantages under this
commodities and sections of the
country, giving encouragement to the
cooperative movement in agriculture,
and providing a revolving loan fund
az a moderate Of interest for the nee
essary financing. Such legislation
would lay the foundation for a per-
manent solution Of the surplus pro-
blem."
Any attempt 10 revise laws AZ
fecting the federal revenues. Mn
Coolidge declared. should be ap-