Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-13
Politics at Large
By G.. Gould Lincoln.

The embattled McNary- Haugenites In
st. Paul, meeting at the call of the,
American Council of Agriculture, in
sist upon the repassage by Congress
Of the farm-relief bill which bears the
names of Senator McNary of Oregon
and Representative Haugen of Iowa.
It is not unnatural they should. Both
houses of Congress passed the bin at
the last session of Congress, after the
administration had allowed the matter
Of surplus crop legislation go by de-
fault. Only the veto by President
Coolidge prevented the bill from be-,
coming law. The administration forces
called merely for q defeat of the
McNary- Haugen bill on the ground
that it was unavoidable and unsound
economically. The administration Of
fered no measure of it's own. 1t under
took to back no bill which was intro
duced. The President had indicated
in his message to Congress at the
opening of the last session that he
would let that body frame bill. 1t
did. But the bill was not one he
could sign.
If the farm problem Is to be solved
and taken out Of politics, it is clear
that some measure must be put
through the new Congress which will
satisfy the farmers. There have been
indications that the administra ton
would put forward a plan somewhat
similar to the Curtis bill of the last
Congress, which puts the burden of
loss upon the Federal Government to
the tune of $250,0O0,000 If there be
such a loss, in dealing with the sur
plus crops, and ignores the equaliZa-
ton fee principle, which would i'm
pose that burden upon the farmers
themselves. Both the President and
the Secretary Of Agriculture are now
in the West. It is to be supposed
that before Congress opens they will
have reached some conclusion re-
garding legislation. 1t Is perfectly
clear from what is happening in st.
Paul that the same organizations
which favored the McNary- Haugen
bill are prepared to go the limit for
similar measure next Winter.
The failure of the McNary-Hauge
bill and any other surplus crop legisla-
ton Is to be used as the vehicle of at
tack upon President Coolidge and his
next year. Addresses de-
livered at st. Paul in the last two days
have been attacks upon Mr.. Coolidge
as we'll as defense of the principle of
the McNary- Haugen bill. One of the
utterances was that in
which the farm organizations We're
urged to keep up the fight for the bill
until "some President" signs the
measure. The next step. of course,
would be to find President who
would sign it.
X X n X
The Democrats may take satisfac-
ton because Of the attitude of these
farm organizations and their repre-.
sentatives in opposition to President
Coolidge. But they can scarcely take
great credit to themselves for support
Of the McNary-Haugen bill. Indeed,
some of the leading Democrats in both
House and Senate opposed that meas
IRE as strenuously as did the President
himself. One of them, by the way was
Senator Jim" Reed of Missouri, who
Is likely to be a real contender for the
Democratic nomination for President
next year.
The ST Paul meeting, at which
delegates Of farm organizations Of the
northwestern States are gathered, is
the first organized effort to align the
farmers once again in support of the
Haugen bill since it's veto by
the President. Lowden of Illinois and
Dawes of Illinois, both sympathetic
With the bill, are being talked about
at the conference as possible candi-
dates for the presidential nomination
ON the Republican ticket. No promi-
nent Democrat, a candidate for the
presidential nomination. has yet come
out Fundamentally for the bill.
though both Smith of New York and
Richie of Maryland have indicated
they might be for it.
X e
William Randolph Hearst has dug
up the war Ratchet again. He is out
to beat Gov. AL Smith. his old and
particular enemy, for the Democratic
nomination for President. Rather Mr..
Hearst prefers Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,. This is not surprising. for Mr..
Hearst's admiration for the fighting
Missouri Senator has been demon
strated in the past. 1t remains to be
seen, however, whether the Hearst
support will help or hinder Senator
Reed. Hearst candidates have not
oeen particularly fortunate in the past.
notably Senator Hiram Johnson. when
ne was struggling for the Republican
nomination for President in 1920. and
John f. Hylan in his fight for renomi.
nation for mayor of New York two
years ago.
Mr.. Hearst has given his views not
alone on the candidates for the
democratic nomination for President.
put has also picked his ''best bet" for
the Republican nomination. 1t is not
president Coolidge, but Secretary
Mellon of the Treasury Department.
Mr., Mellon doubtless would please
many others in this country as a
presidential nominee. He has made
q great record as Secretary of the
treasury. But one may suspect that
IN mentioning Mr.. Mellon for the Re-
nomination MIR. Hearst has
&C heart the interests of his friend
senator Reed, who may head the
democratic ticket. 1t is easy to
imagine the outcry that would be
raised against Mr.. Mellon if he were
a candidate for President, based on
me fact that he is one of the coun-
try's wealthiest men. He has been
too, by many bone.dry Re-
publicans with being too friendly
with the anti-prohibition forces. al.
though as Secretary of the Treasury
prohibition enforcement has come
under his jurisdiction.
Mr.. Mellon, it appears at this
will have a good.sized ;ob
cut out for him when it comes TO
tealing with the political situation in
His friend, Senator
David A. Reed. comes up for re.elec-
lion next year. Furthermore. It il
that for harmony's sake the
Melons will join with the Ware forces
20 seat William S. Ware in the Sem
ate. Indeed. this was forecast a week
lgo when Senator David A. Reed de- |
ivered an address, regarded as the |
opening of his campaign for renomi.
nation, indicating that he would make |