The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-13
PUZZLE faced
BY Indiana 5
farm VOTERS
Federation Document May
Be Interpreted in Diff
ferent Ways.
0. K. GIVEN DEMOCRATS
LoophOIe Also Left Open
for Casting Ballot for
Hoover.

farmers and residents of the rural
districts today faced the dilemma
of abiding by the pledge which they
signed at the behest of the In
diana Farm Bureau Federation and
voting the Democratic ticket, or ig-
noring the pledge and sticking with
the party, providing they are Repub-
licans.
Directors of the bureau spent
three days in session in the new
quarters in the Lemcke Bldg. to
draw a platform that would indi-
cate to the membership what to do.
Late Thursday they isseud a docu-
ment regarding their stand, which
lends itself to various interpreta-
ton
Stick by Equalization Fee
The one certain piece of advice
contained in the proclamation is to
stick to the bureau and it's leader
ship and continue to fight for the
equalization fee.
The pledge signed by the farmers
and their friends before the ma
tional political conventions we're
held read:
I'VE subscribe our names and
pledge our sacred honor that we will
not vote for any man for President
or Vice President of the United
States, Senator, or Representative,
who will not pledge his whole
hearted support to the enactment Of
Federal law that will contain the
fundamental principles embodied in
the McNary- Haugen bill"
The dictatorship program, as
handed down Thursday, begins by
pointing out that the bureau is a
non-partisan organization and in
terested in politics only as it per-
tains to the economic situation Of
tie farmer.
Deny Farm Pleas
1t then recites the passage of
the McNary-H augen bill in Congress
and its veto by President Coolidge
and continues:
Because this farm measure was
vetoed by the President, his party
felt unable to approve this plan in
its platform. Thus, it not Only re-
pudiates the actions of a large ma
jority of its own party in Congress,
but lso denied the request of agri-
culture. BY so doing, the body de-
finitely has denied to the farmer
the kind of law that he believes
would bring relief to his business.
THE other party received and
adopted into its platform, as one Of
its most important declarations, an
agricultural plank as suggested by
the farmers themselves. This decla-
ration has been Endorsed heartily
by its candidate for President.
"a party is honor-bound to carry
out its platform pledges. We have
the right to believe and demand that
after a vote of approval by the
people it will do So"
The reference to the Democratic
candidates Endorsement was the
telegram received by President Will
liam H. Settle of the bureau from
Governor Alfred E. Smith, saying
if elected he at once would call a
conference of farm leaders to frame
a practical program of farm relief
for recommendation to Congress.
Fee Plan Approved
The party platform approved the
equalization fee plan, the feature of
the McNary- Haugen bill objected to
by Coolidge.
The directors document declared
that the equalization fee merely
was an extension of tariff protec-
ton to the farmer and pointed out
that it was supported by the Indiana
delegation in both houses of Con-
gress. 1t closed with the following
recommendations:
"Our forward thinking farmers
will give grateful consideration to
those men and women, both Repub-
licanS and Democrats, who Loyalty
and faithfully supported our gro
gram of farm relief when they came
to vote.
For sanity, common sense, and
achievement, the Indiana Farm
Bureau has a record of which every
member justly may be proud.
Under its driving force, our hopes
for place among the most favored
industries almost has been won. It's
future usefulness and greatness de
ponds upon the loyalty and earnest
support Of its membership.
Stand Made Plain
During the coming months every
form of fraud, deception and mis-
representation will be resorted to by
our enemies to discredit our leader
ship and our organization. Every
form of villainy known to corrurF
politics will be used to encompass
our destruction.
THUS far our Farm Bureau, with
the loyal support of its memoirs,
has fought the battle for equality
for agriculture. The fight now is
transferred to the doorsteps of the
farmers own homes.
we stand now as we have stood
for seven years, for farm legislation
and equality for agricul1lre, 80 ex-
pressed in the principles of the Nc
Nary Haugen bill, including the
equalization fee, and shall continue
so until further thought, study, and
experience develops a better plan.
I'VE recognize and respect the
sacredness with which the farmer
regards his free aad uncontrolled
right to vote as he pleases. Guided
by facts and experience, we have
the utmost faith that in the great
battle now raging for human rights