Evening star., 1928-06-09
FARM BODY DROPS
EQUALIZATION FEE
Principle Still Favored, but
Held Futile, Chicago Meet
ing Declares.
BY the Associated Press

BY the ASSoclnteQ ffeM
CHICAGO, June 9.-The American
Farm Bureau Federation yesterday
abandoned its espousal of the equaliza-
ton fee in crop surplus legislation. and,
in effect, checked up to the Republicans
prescription for the farmers ills.
The federation's recession from its
persistent fight with the equalization
fee principle, which was embodied In
the vetoed McNary- Haugen measure,
was manifest In the platform recon-
mendationS drafted by the board of d.
rectors yesterday. After a debate that
lasted late into the night Thursday, the
directors met again yesterday and APP
proved resolutions In which all mention
of the fee was omitted. Members of
the board intimated that while senti-
ment still favored the principle, the
board recognized the futility of advo-
eating it further.
Demands Remedy Be Found.
No new specific was projected in the
platform, which the federation will sub
NIT to both major political parties for
inclusion in their campaign.
Pronouncements asserting the fact to
be clearly established that the agricul-
tural population of America, compris-
ing one-third of its total, received but
per cent of the national income, the
resolution demanded that remedy be
found.
Republicans and Democrats were
asked to pledge themselves forthwith
to initiate and enact legislation that
will secure for agriculture a place of
equality along with industry, finance,
labor and other groups in our Ameri-
can protective system. thereby guaran-
teeing to the agricultural dollar pur-
chasing power equal to that of other
groups"
1T has been demonstrated that CO.
operative marketing is fundamentally
sound the proposed agricultural plank
read. "and experience has proven that
the cost OF distribution must be equita-
bly, borne by the entire volume of the
marketed product in order to insure
freedom from the need of subsidies and
to guarantee permanence and in de-
pendence In carrying on the marketing
operations. and We hereby pledge the
party to the enactment of legislation
to meet this requirement"
Silent on March 10 Convention.
Although there we're individual MUIR
murs OF approval of the proposed farm
ers trek to the Kansas City convention
next week, official expression was with
held.
Similarly the directors refrained from
any comment on candidates., at the
same time there was much speculation
privately as TO the drawing power OF the
leading Republican presidential candi-
dates, and the name of Gen. John j.
Pershing came into prominence along
with Frank o. Lowden and Vice Presi-
dent Dawes
Gen. Pershing's address at last De-
cember's annual meeting OF the fedora
tion was declared by one director to
have been the most favorably received
of any ever made before the farm Or
ganization. Copies of the address were
redistributed at the directors meeting
today. and coupled with the news OF
Pershing's departure from France for
America this led to considerable specu-
lation on his strength among the farm
ers.
Besides the proffered agricultural
plank, the federation directors will sub
init 10 the national conventions resolu-
tons pledging legislation insurirg de-
velopment OF Muscle Shoals for the pro-
duction of fertilizers for the farmers:
calling for continued development of
the income tax system and Tor debt re-
duction as a means OF ultimate TAX re.
duction: extension Of State and Federal
cooperation in road building TO a sec
ondary system Of farm -to-market high
ways, and development OF the Lakes-to-
the Gulf waterways.