Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-26
The McNary- Haugen Veto.

In his message 10 Congress yes
terday vetoing the McNary- Haugen
farm relief bill. President Coolidge
utterly fiattened out the economic
theories upon which that measure
had been constructed. He marsha led
an imposing array of arguments TO
support his contention that the bill.
besides being unconstitutional, was
contrary to the public interest. was
class legisla ton, and would not per-
manently profit even the minority Of
farmers singled out to be its bene-
ficiaries. Within the compass of q
not overly long message. the Presi-
dent effectively answered every argu-
ment that supporters of the measure
have put forward in more than three
years Of almost constant agitation.
McNary Haugen advocates have
strenuously insisted that their pro-
gram did not involve Government
price-flxing for farm comm ODDITIES.
The President showed conclusively
that not only was Government price,
fixing necessarily involved If the
proposed machinery was to be effec-
tive. but that the only certain benefits
from this price fixing would flow
to the packers, millers and other
professors, whose profits would be
guaranteed under contracts with the
Government. He argued that a pro-
gram of price-fixing once started.
has no justice and no end. 1t is an
economic folly from which this coun-
try has every right to be spared"
Unwillingness to launch the Gov
eminent on a program of price-fixing
has been the keystone of opposition
to the McNary- Haugen bill. but Mr..
Coolidge pointed out other objections
almost as vital. None of these Is
moro telling than that the bill would
his crops, which is sound agriculture,
and would put a premium on the un-
sound methods of the one-crop
farmer. He got at the heart Of the
economics Of the situation when he
urged that the cure for the crop
surplus problem. is to increase con-
sumption by lowering production and
distribution costs, and thereby lower
ing prices. rather than by restricting
consumption and stimulating the pro-
duction of still larger SURPRISES by
higher prices artificially maintained.
The President makes it plain that
he has no wish to close the door of
hope to agriculture. He believes the
Government should extend help, but
that it should be along lines that
would be fair to all the people and
available to all farmers, not solely
for the benefit of favored classes who
are in part at least responsible for
their own troubles because of their
unwillingness to follow sound prac-
tices. Plans have been proposed in
Congress, he said, which offer prom
ise of sound assistance without violat
ing the Constitution or economic laws
or the spirit of fair dealing, and he
indicated that measure in which
they were embodied would meet with
his approval.
Proponents of the McNary- Haugen
bill have fought long fight and a
determined one. There is ITO occa-
aien to question that they fought
in the utmost sincerity. But they
have lost, and there is no present
prospect that they can win. Now
they have choice of two courses.
Either they can continue TO lead a
foriorn hope or they can meet in a
spirit of accommodation with others
who are equally anxious to restore
agriculture to good health and work
out a measure that can be enacted
into law. 1t is earnestly to be hoped
that they will choose the latter
course.