The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-04-20
Bv H. G. TEIGAN

oN
II goes without saying that the Nc
Nary Haugen bill holds the center of
attention as far as the farmers of the
northwest are concerned.
The McNary Haugen bill, so-called,
has been before congress for several
years. 1t was first introduced in con-
gress in February 1924. The measure
got nowhere that year. 1t continued
to be on the farm relief program in
congress until year ago when it
paseds both houses of congress and
was vetoed by the president.
The farmers of the country are, in
the main, strong for the McNary-Hau-
gen farm relief measure. Those in
the northwest have been schooled into
believing that it is the open sesame
to prosperity and success. 1t prob
ably wont do for the tillers of the soil
what some believe it will, but it will
unquestiOnably place the farmers pro-
ducts on the protected list with the
products of other Industries.
Three Million Leave Farms
That the farmer needs relief is OBJ
viOus. That he needs relief other than
that provided in the McNary- Haugen
bill is also certain. During the past
eight years there has been an annual
loss of 100000 in the farm population
making total of 100000. That is
to say the farm population of the
United States today is more than 3
million less than it was in 1920. The
figures quoted are those of Secretary
Jardine of the department of agricul.
ture.
The McNary-Haugen bill will very
likely pass both house and senate
again. 1t is almost certain, too, thai
the bill if passed by congress will be
once more vetoed by President Cool
idge.
The question arises, what will thu
farmers of the country do at the cleo
ton next November if the present ad
ministratiOn once more causes defea
of the farm relief bill. There is littit
doubt that the farmers, especial,
those of the northwest, who are NOR,
enlightened than their brothers in 9th
er part of the country, will smash tn
republican presidential candidate a
the polls, provided, of course that tn
latter has been one of the henchmel
of Pres. Coolidge.
Farmers Against Hoover
The nomination of Hoover is all bu
a certainty. During the past tw
weeks Mr.. Hoover has passed Lowde,
in the race for delegates to the repub
lican convention and political dope
sters are generally agreed that tn
former will have close to a majorit
in the convention when it convenes a
Kansas City next June.
Farmer organization leaders are q
greed that Hoover should be defeated
Secretary A. W. Kicker of the Cor
Belt committee recently stated tina
the members of this committee wer
agreed on one thing-the defeat c
Herbert Hoover for the presidency.
The thing though, that is of interes
to Farmer-Laborites and progressive
in the northwest is not what the farm
ers will do to Herbert Hoover-th
proposition rather is what will til
farm organization leaders and the fal
mers do to republican congressme
who voted for the McNary- Hauge
bill, but who will support Herbel
Hoover when the latter has been mad
the nominee of the party? Will the
support these republican congressman
Farm Relief Republicans-Fak
1t would seem the height of foil
for the farmers to support such pC
litilcal fakirs who on the one han
works for the farmers cause but, @
the other hand, do the very thin
which is bound to bring defeat to IL
farmers. 1t is NOR eobviOus that
Hoover should be elected president
will veto any genuine farm relief lie,
islation. Of what value to the farm
ers, then, will these "farm relief r
publican congressman who have a
sisted in electing an anti-farm reli
president?
1t will be interesting to see VIII
the members of the Corn Belt cor
mittee do in respect to these republ
can congressman. 1t is a certaint
that as far as the Minnesota congress
men are concerned they will be cor
PEELED to show their colors. The
farmer-labor opponents as well as Il
more intelligent of the farmers ther
selves, will put these politician CO
gressmen on record.
Farmers Plight Due to Freight Rat
Speaking of the farmers plig
brings up the question of its cause
There can be no doubt that one of t
principal causes of the deplorable co
dition of agriculture is the exorbita
freight rates now being charged
the railroad companies.
The advocacy of the Great Lake
st. Lawrence waterway and of t
barge line service on the MississiL
is the result of the exhorbitant freie
rates of the railroad companies. A
the high freight rates charged are
direct result of private ownership
railroads.
Some time ago Senator Capper
, Kansas stated in an interview W:
|. the correspondent of the st. Paul
r oneer Press at Washing. on that |
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