Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-05

coincidenta1 they appear when taken
that way-in Congressi No wonder
some statesmen view them with
alarni
And there is Senator King-who. IN
spite Of his royal cognomen. is the
noblest Democrat Of them all--utterly, !.
and eternaliy opposed to the social
ISM of the McNary- Haugen plan TO
have the Government undertake TO
dispose of surplus farm products-not ,
to mention cotton unmentionables-at )
the expense of the taxpayers and CON
sumers. True, the farmers propose
to asses themselves per bushei to
reimburse the Government for its def
icit in selling their SURPRISES abroad
at the world market rates, but that .
Is in consideration OF their gaining a
monopoly of the home markell mar .
ket 10 times as great as our average
export markell monopoly which
will enable them to raise their prices
to Americans. The point Is that We =
do not need so many farmers nor so
much acreage, now that we have I'm
proved farm machinery We can
raise enough upon what acres are still
cultivated without any Government
price fixing. Support measures to in
crease farm acreage like the Colorado
River dam plan to irrigate? No
never! We don't want more farm
land
So It appears that the McNary-
Haugen bill will be opposed by some
manufacturers, but supported by wage
earners? Why?
The wage earners want wages, rath-
er than more competitors for indus.
trial employment. When, about 1912,
England adopted free trade on food
products imported, she destroyed her
agriculture in order to drive farmers
into the factories, so wages would be-
come so low that manufacturers could
compete against foreign producers.
That built UP England's factories.
crushed wages and crushed agri-
culture. When the submarines cut
off her food supplies in 1918, SO
that England was living literally
upon the plan OF daily mamma"
as Senator Walsh finds in Paris, even
today, there was fear and trem-
bling at the prospect of famine
and surrender and the catastrophio
end of the World War. For without
England the allies we're helpless. The
American Federation of Labor is cons
cerned In protecting high wages
against the influx of farmers seeking
jobs in competition with the unions,
hence its willingness to stand the
threatened increase in cost of foods. if
that will maintain our agriculture.
y X X X
The supporters of the McNary.
Haugen bill expect it to pass I'm both
House and Senate next week, but
whether it will receive the approval
Of President Coolidge or not is not
assured. The President opposed It a
year ago, and the Secretary OF Agri.
culture, Mr.. Jardine, is outspoken I'm
his opposition. They have found mo-
other form OF legislation to offer for
farm aid. and Senator Capper. chair.
man OF the agricultural bloc, points To
statistics showing that the prices OF
farm products are falling and reduc-
ing the purchasing power of the
people In agricultural districts, while
taxes on farm wealth, as shown bv
the National Industrial Conference
Board. averaged per year, 1909 to
l9l4, $265. 900, while in 1924 and
1923 they were 1891, 00O, 900. I Land
values are decreasing, so that. while
formerly farmer who took CHEAP
land could raise enough from year To
year to support his family, and de.
pend upon the ultimate increase in
the value OF the land to give him
profit on his life labor. 1t is not SO
now. Failing land values only add 10
the farmers overhead" The prob
lem Is not to help a farmer; It il
how to save agriculture In America
our basic industry, greater than rail.
roads, banking. manufacturing and
combined
The new bill under consideration
differs in details from the one defeat
ed in the last Congress, but the es.
sential principles are the same. It
would establish a Federal board of IL.
men In addition to the Secretary of
Agriculture. The board is given now
ers to assist all producers of aR1i.
cultural commodities. The board can
neither buy nor sell. It will help other
agencies, set up by farmers, to do the
trading, storing and selling what
Of surplus are necessary to
stabilize home markets. A revolving
fund" OF $250.000,000 is to be loaned
the Farm Board, from the United
States Treasury, as working capital.
This unified control of all supplies.
It Is assumed, will enable the farmers
to feed the supplies into the world
according to market condi- -.
tons, and have just enough left for.
home consumption. The exports will
have to sell at world prices, but the
home market then will be protected
from the influence of world condi,e
lions. and better prices viii be- main,
tanned in the protected" United
States.