The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-27
GOVERNORS WANT
FLOOD AND FARM
RELIEF MEASURES
Coolidge's DO Nothing
Policy Criticized

Eo.-PreSldent Coolidge should call |
an extra session of congress this fall |
to deal with the problems of flood re- I
lief and control, farm relief and tax |
reduction, in the opinion of major
ity of the governors Of states here
attending the nineteenth annual con-
ference of state executives.
Some of the governors are pro-
nounced in their views that existing |
conditions demand an extra session. !
O&lers, without having strong con-
vsctions one way or the other be !
lieve it would be good thing" and
still others are willing to "leave 1t to
the president" None of the execu-
tives, however, expressed any opposi-
ton to an extra session if the presi-
dent sees fit to call one.
Sacrifice Farmers.
Gov. John Hammill, of Iowa, and
Gov. Adam McMullen, of Nebraska,
the corn belt representatives, who
served notice on their colleagues yes
terday of an impending political
storm unless the administration pro-
duces some farm relief formula this
winter, both declared that farm re-
lief could await the more pressing
need of relieving the sufferers in the
flood district.
Government Should Pay.
The problem of flood relief and
control was put squarely up to the
Federal government today by Gov.
John F. Martineau (Dem.), Governor
of Arkansas.
"This is not a local problem" he
declared, in an impassioned address
to his colleagues from the north and
east.
"The Mississippi floods can be and
should be controlled and this is ma
tional responsibility, the expense of
which should be borne entirely by the
Federal government.
eff foreign foe should enter our
country and kill single American
the whole nation would be aroused
Yet three quarters of a million citi-
zens have actually been driven from
their homes, and their savings of a
lifetime taken from them by this COM
mon enemy, the Mississippi flood. Will
Congress and the president, after
such appalling calamity, delay longer
the discharge of their duty to these
people?"
The flood situation occupied the at
tention of the governors at the morn
ing session to- the exclusion of all
other business. No definite action
was taken, however, as the conference
of governors has refrained from pass
ing resolutions ever since the prohi-
bition question almost wrecked the
annual conference several years ago
Purity of Ballot.
In the afternoon session, Gov. San
A. Baker, of Missouri, spoke upor
"the purity of the ballot" and advo
Gated legislation which would punish
the vote sellers as we'll as the vote
y buyer.
g This subject was expected to bring
~ possible fireworks in the conference
T. Clifford Pinchot, of Pennsylvania, de
feated by William S. Ware in the now
!, famous Pennsylvania primary, il
n here, and is said to be thirsting fol
- an opportunity to tell his gubernat
70 orial colleagues of what he considers
Vi the iniquities of Keystone politics
10 The managers of the conference
! however, have no intention of letting
10 it get out of hand.
10 Engineer IncOmpeteRcy.
O. Blame for most of the havoc
,,..,o,...L4 L., 4Lo AT;se;cciny,i flood was
/ laid squarely upon the United States
! army engineering corps by ex-Gov-
ernor Clifford Pinchot of Pennsylvania,
:. who followed Gov. Martineau in dis
- cussion of the problem.
d. "For years." said Pinchot, "the
in army engineers have followed a pol
,e icy of levees only in dealing with the
,e control of the Mississippi River
W Levees are indispensable but they are
IS not enough, and in my opinion the
m levees-only policy of the engineers
At constitutes the most colossal engi-
ID neering blunder in the history of this
r country.
ID "An effort will be made in the next
IS congress to keep this Mississippi
J. problem off the hands of the army
N engineers 1t should not be allowed.
IS They have no program and don't
II know what to do.
If "The president should appoint a
u commission composed of the best en-
cheering, economic and financial
brains in the country to draft a con-
structive and permanent policy in
IN dealing with this matter"