Evening star., 1927-10-19
NYE URGES STUDY
OF FARM PROBLEM
Price Fixing Under Hoover
and DefIation to Blame,
Chamber Told.

A strong plea for a better under
standing by the people of the East OF
the problems of the agricultural West
was made last night by Senator Ger
aid p. Nye of North Dakota, address
ing the Chamber of Commerce at its
meeting in the Willard Hotel.
Senator Nye denied that the people
of the West were radicals" He in.
sisted they were seeking no more than
equality Of opportunity and equality
nder the Government OF the United
States. He gave concrete details OF
the economic Inequalities under which
they labor today.
Discussing the newly organized
movement of Senate Progressive Re-
publicans from the West, Senator Nye
said that it's purpose was to unity the
interests of the West behind "a solid
legislative program and behind a
presidential candidate" He denied
that the movement was intended to
eliminate former Gov. Frank o. Low
den of Illinois as a presidential pos
sibility. But he said that the pro.
gressive group looked upon Senator
Norris of Nebraska as more accept
able presidential timber than Mr..
Lowden.
Says Lowden May Be Best.
"I object" continued Senator Nye,
"to being placed in the light of one
who would at this early stage attempt
TO eliminate him (Mr. Lowden) from
the race. Developments might easily
prove Gov. Lowden to be altogether
deserving of the united support OF the
West The first essential is to hnd
the man who best person!fies the In
terests of the West and under whose
leadership those things could be done
which would restore to that section or
the United States the measure of eco
nomic equality to which 1t is justly
entitled.
"In the winning of that equality
there is much more required than the
mere enactment into law Of the
McNary- -Haugen bill or any other
single bill which has been suggested
There are such problems as those In
volving freight rates, determinations
in freight rates, inland waterway i'm
provements. permanent improvements
growing out of any flood control pro-
gram, the conduct of the Federal re-
serve banking system, the adm'nistra-
tion of the Federal Farm Land Banks
all of these problems bearing di-
rectly upon the measure OF prosperity
which may accrue to the agricultural
States. Then, too. there are great ma
tional problems in which the West Is
vastly interested.
Upon these problems the whole
West knows well the position OF one
like Senator Norris, but 1t does not
yet fully know the position Of Gov.
Lowden, except that he is believer
in and an advocate Of farm relief leg
islation such as is involved in the
McNary. .Haugen bill. Mr.. Lowden
might soon see fit to clarity his posi-
Lion on these various other issues and,
in doing so, demonstrate himself as
being as acceptabl to the West as
would another and win the united
backing of that great section of these
United States. But until he does so
clarity his position he leaves much
room for doubt. The mere enactment
of a McNary- -Haugen bill into law is
not of itself going to save agriculture
and thus save the West. but much
more than that is required of Govern |
ment."
Urges Solution of Problem.
Senator Nye urged that the mem.
bers Of the Chamber Of Commerce of
the United States apply themselves
diligently to the solution of the farm
problem. Describing the situation of
agriculture, he said:
"Agriculture's situation today isl
most alarming, I think there is not
an industry in America that would
have carried on as far in the face
of adverse circumstances as agricul.
ture has done these last number Of
years. The solution Of their problem
is one deserving of the whole-hearted
cooperation of every individual who
hopes for a pleasant and prosperous
future for America. 1t is insisted that
America has never known such pros
perity as she enjoys today. but it
ought to be known that since 1920
bankruptcies among farm people have
increased 1900 per cent.
Last year 20 per cent Of the people
of the United States were living upon
and dependent upon the farms and
yet were enjoying but per cent
of the current income of the people
of the Nation.
rs it not alarming that the ex.
change value of farm lands has de-
creased since 1924 four billions Of dol.
lars?
Can you be content and satisfied
with the knowledge that in the last
15 years farm Indebtedness has in
creased from $4,000, ,000,000 to $12 2,00O..
900 1000?
do you believe there is justifica-
ton for the fact that last year the