Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-20
For the Fee z

For the Fee!
Gov. Smith, if elected President,
probably will approve farm-aid bill
embodying substantially the equaliza-
ton fee as it now stands, the New
York Wcrld says editorially today.
Further. the World says that while it
has opposed the mechanics of the Nc
Nary-Haugen farm bill, meaning the
equalization fee, it will stand aside and
net attempt to block "the only exist
ing program of agricultural relief"
The New York World is Gov. Smiths
intense admirer and supporter. 1t was
an editorial in the World which Gov.
Smith Endorsed a few weeks ago when
he turned his back on the equalization
fee. saying it would not do. Gov.
Smith in his speech Tuesday night in
Omaha tackling the farm problem, said
he favored the principles of the Nc
Nary-Haugen bill; that he favored the
distribution of the cost of handling sur
plus crops TO the producers of the crop.
He made nc specific mention of the
equalization fee But he drew the issue
between himself and the Republican
nominee. Mr.. Hoover. For himself, Gov.
Smith said he adhered to the principles
of the McNary- Haugcn bill Mr.. Hoover,
he said. disapproved those principles.
F. Gov. Smith is we'll able to speak for
himself. He usually does. If he is to
approve the equalization fee of the Nc
Nary-Kaugen bill. he doubtless will do
so on his Western trip. So far he has
gone no further than the Endorsement
of the principle back of the fee. He
has not Endorsed the practical method
of putting it into effect. He promised
that some plan shall be worked out to
make the principle effective.
Now comes the New York World with
q frank statement that I'VE shall make
no attempt to disguise the fact that
Gov. Smiths pledge at Omaha makes
1t highly probable that If elected he
win in the end approve the equaliza-
ton fee substantially as it is now en-
bodied in the McNary-H augen BILL We
say this because we believe that the
commission he proposes to appoint
wouN almost certainly recommend the
essential features of that bill. 1t rep
resents the conclusions of those who
have studied the problem of the sur
plus longest and most pathetically,
and there is little reason to anticipate,
though it is possible, that some one Will
between November and March invent
new. simpler and more practlcapie
method of carrying out the purpose OF
the McNary- Haugen bill"
If the New York World is correct IN
its estimate of what Gov Smith will
do if elected President, the issue is
really joined over the farm problem IN
this national campaign, not only In
the West but in the industrial States OF
the East. Gov. Smith has hung back
for two months since his nomination
In Houston, going no further in his
utterances on the farm problem than
the Democratic national platform. ex-
cept in the sole instance of the inter-
view in which he approved the attack
of the New York World on the equal
ization fee.
The single issue which the Democratic
candidate can present to disgruntled
farmers of the West with hope OF
attracting their votes is the farm issue.
1t has been apparent for weeks that
unless he was willing to go the whole
route and declare for the equalization
fee he would make little Roadway in
the Western territory. His definite
statement that he would not stand for
the equalization fee was spread broad
cast over the West, and leaders who had
hesitated, turned to Hoover. But now
Smith is invading the West. in desper-
ate effort to capture some of those
States. The New York World has grace
fully withdrawn its opposition to the
equalization fee. Doubtless Gov. Smith
will be asked If he approves this new
editorial stand of the World.
President Coolidge has twice vetoed
the McNary- Haugen farm relief bill
One of the main reasons for his veto
was that the equalization fee is unwork-
able and unconstitutional. Whatever
the Democrats may say of Mr.. Coolidge
the fact remains that his Judgment is
highly regarded in this country, ano
that many of the farmers Of the West
take the same view as the President In
regard to the equalization. 1t is FUR
tner true that to many farmers the
equalization fee" is no more than 6
name. with little meaning.
Possibly the warm reception giver
Gov. Smith by the people of Omaha
and adjacent territory, and to hi
speech. has had something to do will
the announced attitude of the World
The World declares today that the
equalization does appear not "uncon'
stitutional." and that if it is triee
out and is found not to work, it cal
be repealed Probably the Republicans
will be perfectly willing to go to the ba
election day on this issue, both in tn
West and in the East.
In several recent public addresses tn
zJz&. 49, hat Il