Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-02

Fishing for the Farmers.
Both major political parties are plan
ming a fight for the farm vote. Neither
party in It's national platform prom
ised enactment into law OF the Nc
Nary Haugen bill and Its equalization
fee principle. The Republican national
convention turned down q plank con-
tanning that principle. The Democratic
platform carries a suggestion that II
the party is placed in power 1t will
give consideration and study to the
equalization fee. Beyond that 1t does
not go. The Democratic leaders pro-
fess the belief that their platform
pledge to agriculture contains more
definite promise Of farm aid. but there
is little in Il which the Republicans
would not have been willing to trans
late into law at the last session OF
Congress II the McNary- Haugenites
among the Republicans and the DEM
ocrats who we're seeking TO embarrass
the administration had been willing to
omit the equalization fee.
Already there are indications that
Republican farmers win not Be led
away from the G. o. P. Significant Is
the stand Just announced by Senator
Brookhart of Iowa. He wiz support
the Republican national ticket, Hoover
and Curtis. Democratic farmers win
vote the Democratic ticket. unless the
wet stand taken by Gov. Al Smith. who
heads the Democratic ticket, and his
Tammany affiliation turn them from
their party allegiance.
In the great farm States OF the Md
die West. the Northwest and the Far
West the great majority Of farmers
have been and are Republicans. The
only hope the Democrats may have to
carry those States lies in q political
revolt against Herbert Hoover, whom
the McNary-Haugenites have sought to
picture as an enemy of agriculture. So
far there are no signs Of such . revolt.
Naively, some Of the farm organiza-
ton leaders who were willing to fight,
bleed and die" in the interests Of the
McNary-H augen bill and the equaliza-
ton fee admitted in Houston that they
would not ask Of the Democrats the
inclusion of pledge in the party plat
form to enact such legislation. They
put their reticence on the ground that
the McNary- Haugen bin was the crea-
ture Of two Republican legislators and
that they could not ask Democrats to
20 on record for q measure Of such
parentage. The truth Of the matter
appears to be that the equalization fee
was demanded by these farm leaders
more for the purpose Of defeating Mr..
Hooyer's nomination at Kansas City
and In order to bring about the nomi-
nation Of . Midwest candidate for
President than for any other purpose.
Radical farm leaders are still threat
ening o revolt against the Republican
ticket In the Northwest. They are
planning a conference in the near fu-
ture Of the so-calIed corn belt" COM
mittee to pass upon the comparative
merits Of the Republican and Demo-
cratic platforms. But many Of them
are not and have not been members
Of the Republican party. Farmer-La-
borites and Democrats are among them.
Some Of them followed the fortunes Of
the late Senator Robert M. La Toilette
Of Wisconsin In 1924 when he ran on
an independent third ticket. The re-
suit In the general election that year
is scarcely calculated to alarm the Re-
pukecans today. II the anti-Hoover
farm agitators undertake to throw their
support to Gov. Smith, wet and Tam
many, they are not likely TO get very
far with the Republican farmers.
In the Midwest and the Northwest
the Democrats doubtless viii lay ~
much stress a. they can on the dues-
tion Of farm relief They may under
take In those sections 70 soft-pedal the
wet issue which their standard bearer
has thrust into the campaign. For the
farmers a. q general thing have been
politically dry for many years
Not so long ago 1t was the labor
vote for which the political parties
played sssldnously. But labor Is. gen
orally speaking, well satisfied and well
employed today. The farmers are tht
supposedly disgnlntled element In the
country. TO them the Democrats are
making a plea on the theory that ans
change would be for the better. The
American farmer, however, IL canny
He will wish ~ be shown" before HI
breaks with the @ .. p.