Evening star., 1928-06-07
Threat of March by Farmers
Stirs Hope of Big Spectacle

Visions OF a spectacular demonstra-
ton have been created III the minds
oil American citizens by the proposal
from Gov Adam McMullen OF Ne
braska that 100000 farmers march on
the Kansas City convention to pro-
test against the failure of the MeNary-
Haugen farm-relief bill. The invita-
ton from Jesse II. Jones that rhe
marchers turn toward Houston and
join the Democrats adds interest. But
comment il the agricultural States
appears to fary as TO the success OF
the enterprise.
A bit of political philosophy is de-
rived from the affair by the Omaha
World Herald independently. which
says as TO the possibilities: The
leaders OF organized agriculture, who
have set out TO defeat Hoover at any
cost. have victory within their reach
provided only that their own following
is loyal and that loyalty can be DEM
onstrated. II is to furnish that evi-
dence that the ch-derided pill
grimage OF farmers 10 Kansas City IS
called for. Can the farmers terribly
the Republican leaders into SuhmiS-
sion to their will? Or will the leaders
spank the farmers and send them
home with orders TO turn III and sup
port the ticket rs usual. notWith-
standing and nevertheless The an
Swer depends. probably upon how
many farmers march on Kansas City.
and what spirit they show after they
get there
"When the embattlcd farmers OF
many Western States march on Kansas
City as they are likely 10 do, unless
headed OFF by some reinsurance more
definite than fair words" declares the
New York World independently there
will be- lot of joking, eeca0Se they
do their marching in good automu-
bileS, equipped with adequate camping
outfits and bearing none of the aspects
of trampS and starvelingS Such lokinE
reacts Ii exposes. raw and bare, the
notion which the Eastern manufacturer
has OF the Western farmer that lie
ought not 10 complain since manltCStlN
he Is NOT starving or clad In rags
What big business fails 70 grasp IS
that the farmer is in big business,
also, but that il is big business so
Subdlvided aS to make concerted action
ditficult~~though the diillculty may ce
surmOunted They would bet
ter not make too many Jokes because
he marches in a comfortable car II
he marches at all. ii viii be protest
requiring most respectful attention.
81
The invitation from Jesse IL Jones TO
the farmers To march on the Houston
convention and give attention 10 the
Democrats rather than to the Republic
ans inspires the statement from The
Minneapolis Tribune Republican, +;
Competition between the two cities
may start the go-getterS' into action
In Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota and
other States there Is the beginning of
an organized movement 10 concentrate
regiments or hattalionS of farmers for
the march ON Kansas CITY, Mr Jones
who rendered veoman service for HouS-
ton III landing Tor 1t the Democratic
convention has been making note oi
the proposed trek 10 Kansas CITY, Why
NOT turn the course Of the pilgrims he
thought, 10 Houston lnSteadf
The difference between having 100 600
farmers mobilize in Kansas City and
in having them mobilize IN Houston IS
n very considerable difference "a HouS-
ton. Kansas CITY boosters are
not likely To let that money so by with
out making struggle to get IL, i"
But anybody Who is expecting GOV.
McMuNen'S program IN pam out IN ac~
ulalitN." advises the Fort Worth star
Telegram ttnuependent pcmOCrattEf, Is
displaying q gullihilits totally uowar~
ranted by the circumstances. Certainty
Mt Jones invitation was not extended
With any expectation That IL would ht
accepted The farm States OF the Mid
Gle West are not likely to turn bemo"
cratic because oi the defeat ot the Nc
Nary Haugen bill, especially since q
turning to Democratic leadership would
tnd nothing ~ che party'S proHram even
as promising as continuation of tSe ti8ht
to enact that bill Farm rcltet u not
hot iSsuv In the Canp0tHn because
there h no opposition to thunder
against Everybody Concedes the need
tor tarm rrliet, bat nobody has been
able 10 formulate u prNsgam THAT Viii
command enough support to w'n,
Rejecting the idea that the march
would affect the action at the convene
ton. the New York Evening Past ttndee
pendenN recalls that "I'oNeSS march ON
Washington VAS "A ridiculous failure,
and that Sin recent months We have
seen similar futile fates dealt cut 80 the
marches Of the Welsh miners and the
Rumantan peasants That paper eon~
entlcS "Ctev, LaWden max we'll have
signed the death Warrant Of hlS nomi-