The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-09-06
BUREAU
TO WORK FOR SMITH
J. F. Reed, Reported to Be
Head of Rural Drive for
Democrats
CONDEMNS REPUBLICAN
Attacks Hoover, Ignoring His
Fight to Prevent Drop
in Crop Prices

Minneapolis, Sept. 81. F. Reed
announced his resignation today as
president of the Minnesota Farm
Bureau Federation in a statement
declaring himself an active sup
porter of Alfred E. Smith for pres
ident. The Farm Bureau head,
who says he has been a republican
for 40 years, is boiling his party
and will campaign for the demo-
cratic nominee for president.
A farmers organization which
will seek to mobilize rural voters
of all parties in the interests of
Governor Smith is being formed
and is to be headed by Mr.. Reed
it was reported today.
The Reed statement was hailed
with joy by democratic leaders,
who are making strong claims for
Smith in Minnesota. 1t is expect
ed Frank w. Murphy and Mr..
Reed will be leading orators in the
democratic campaign in the state
this fall.
MIR. Reed presented his resigna-
tion to the directors of the farm
bureau organization at their meet
ing today and it was accepted. A.
]. Olson of Renville, first vice pres
ident, automatically becomes presi-
dent, and Hagbarth Bue of North
field moves up from second to first
vice president, until the annual
meeting in January.
Elected seven years ago to head
the farm organization, Mr.. Reed
left his home in Lac qui Parle
county and has been living in the
Twin Cities. He leaves his salar-
led position to enter the democrat
ic campaign. .-.a
After attending both party ma
tional conventions as champion
of the McNary-Haugen bill, Mr..
Reed declared the democratic posi-
ton was more satisfactory. He
was somewhat stumped by Cover
nor Smiths statement declaring
the McNary-Haugen bill, mot ac-
ceptable," but says he is satisfied
now that the candidates declara-
tons embrace principles held Wit
al to any adequate farm relief
plan." 49,, <..- b.. .>....,
There have been complaints from
Within the organization against Mr..
Reeds partisan stand. He once is
sued statement denying he had
declared for Smith, but continued
with speeches clearly pointing that
way. Members of the farm bu-
reau directorate came to the meet
ing today to meet rumors of an
impending coup by President Reed
and some of them declared before.
the meeting their intention to de-
mand Mr.. Reeds resignation or a.
cessation of his political speeches.
The resignation offer forestalled
such a move.
MI. Reeds statement condemns
republican statements on farm re-
lief as "Nague generalities" and
devotes attention to Herbert Hoov-
er, who is accused of Indifference
to the needs of agriculture.
Mr.. Reed repeats the exploded
charges against Mr.. Hoover's rec
ord as food administrator during
the war, accusing him of prevent
ing the farmer from obtaining for
his products price commensurate
with those demanded from him for
the commodities of other indus
tries" Thus the farm leader ig-
nores the record of Mr.. Hoover's
fight to keep faith with the farm
ers and prevent a drop in prices
on farm products, and blames him
for the price fixing acts of the Will
son administration, performed by
a board composed mainly of farm
leaders.