Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
Foundation of Farm Relief Hoover Says Acceptance Speech

of farm relief Our consumers increase
! faster than our producers. the comes
/ tic market must be protected. Foreign
! products raised under lower STANDARDS
of living are today competing III our
nome markets | would Use my once
and influence to give the farmer the
full benefit of our historic tariff policy
\ large portion of the spread between
what the farmer receives for his prod
ucts and what the ultimate consumer
pays is due to increased transportation
charges, Increase In railway rates mas
been one of the penalties OF the war
These increases have been added 10 the
cost to the farmer OF reaching Seaboaru
and foreign markets and result there
fore in reduction of his prices. The
farmers of foreign countries have thus
been indirectly aided in their competi-
ton with the American farmer. Nature
has endowed us with a great system of
inland waterways. Their modernization
will comprise most substantial contri-
button to Midwest farm relief and to
the development of 20 of our interior
States This modernization includes not
only the great Mississippi system, with
It's Joining of the Great Lakes and of
the heart of Midwest agriculture to the
Gulf, but also shipway from the
Great Lakes to the Atlantic. These i'm
provements would mean so large an in
crement in farmers prices as to war
rant their construction many times
over There is no more vital method
of farm relief.
But We must not stop here
Must Reshspe Marketing.
An outstanding proposal of the
party program is the whole -hearted
pledge to undertake the reorganization
of the marketing system upon sounder
and more economical lines We have
already contributed greatly to this pur
pose by the acts supporting farm CO.
operatives, the establishment of inter-
mediate credit banks, the regulation
of stockyards. public exchanges and
the expansion of the Department of
Agriculture. The platform proposes to
go much farther II pledges the crea-
ton of Federal Fam Board of rep
reSentstive farmers to be clothed with
authority and resources with which. not
only to still further aid farmers CO.
operatives and pools and to assist gen.
orally in solution Of farm problems, but
especially to build up with Federal
finance. farmer-owned and farmer
controlled sterilization corporations
which will protect the farmer from
the depreSsions and generalization of
seasonal gluts and periodical surpluses.
Objection has been made that this
program, as laid down by the party
platform may require that several
hundred millions Of dollars of capital
be advanced by the Federal Govern
ment without obligation upon the in
oividual farmer. With that objection
7 have little patience. A nation which
is spending ninety billions a year can
well afford an expenditure of few
hundred millions for a workabl4 pro-
gram that will give to one-third OF
its population their fair share of the
Nations prosperity. Nor does this pro-
posal put the Government into business.
except so far as ii is called upon TO
furnish initial capital with which to
build up the farmer to the control Of
his own destinies.
Definite Relief.
This program adapts itself to the
variable problems or agriculture. not |
only today. but which will arise in the
future. do not balieve that any sim
gle human being or any group OF hu-
man beings can determine in advance
all questions that will arise in so vast
and complicated an industry over
term of wears The first step is to
create an effective agency directly for
these purposes and 10 give 1t authority
and resources. These are solemn
pledges and they will be fulfilled by the
Republican party. 1t is a definite plan
of relief. 1t needs only the detailed |
elaboration of legislation and appro-
priations to put IL into force.
During my term as Secretary OF
Commerce I have steadily endeavored
to build up a system of cooperation
between the Government and business.
Under these cooperative actions all
elements interested in the problem OF
a particular industry such as manufac-
turer, distributor. worker and consumer
have been called into council together
not for a single occasion. but for con-
tinuous work These efforts have been
successful beyond any expectation
They have been accomplished without
interference or regulation by the Gov
eminent. They have secured progress
in the industries. remedy for abuses,
elimination of waste. reduction OF cost
in production and distribution lower
prices to the consumer, and more stanie
employment and profit While the
problem varies with every dl1efent
cormodity and with every different
mart OF our great country. should
wish 10 apply the same metnod 10
agriculture so that the leaders OF every
phase Of each group can ADVISE ano
organize on policies and constructive
measures. l am convinced tnat tnls
form az action, as 1t has done In other
INDUSTRIES can greatly benefit farmer,
distributor and consumer.
Pledged TO Aid.
THE work Of our agricultural relief
constitutes the most important oollga-
ton of the next administration.
stand pledged to these proposals. me
object of our policies Is to establish Tor
our farmers an income equal 70 those
of other occupations, for the FARMER
wife the same comforts in her home as
women In other groups; Tor the tarn
bows and girls the same opportunities III
life as other boys and girls. So lar as
nv own abilities may be of service, ]
dedicate them to help secure prosperity
and contentment In that INDUSTRY
wherp I and my forefathers were born
and nearly all my family still obtain
their livelihood
The Republican party has ever been
the exnonent of protection to all our
people from competition with lower
Standards Of living abroad. We nave
always fought for tariffs designed 10
establish this protection from imported
goods We also have enacted restrlc-
tons upon immigration IOI tHc PtpVS1
ton of labor from the inflow oil workers
faster than We can absorb them WITHOUT
breaking down our wage levels.
THE Republican principle of an Ell
fective control Of imported goods and
Of immigration has contributed greatly
TO the prosperity OF our country, There
is no salflshness In this defense OF our
standards of living. Other countries
gain nothing If the high standards OF
America are sunk and If we are pre-
vented from building a civilization
which sets the level OF hope for the en-
tire world general reduction IN the
tariff would admit a flood Of goods from
abroad II would inture every home
II would flll our streets with idle work
cra. II would destroy the returns 81
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