Evening star., 1928-05-26

thetic chlIrn. Science is changing con-
ditions in agriculture as well as in all
industry. and intelligent men recognize
that new conditions require new meth
ods. but what those methods should Be
is a reasonable problem for men 70
study with open minds. Greater indus
try solves it with greater organization
and mass production" under central
control.
Now. the McNary- Haugen theory was
that the way to bring general prosperity
20 Americans is TO increase the cost OF
food. They call It an 'e1ualizing
process. TO multiply the middlemen and
bureaucrats and dump Surpluses upon
hungry foreigners, SO that We Americans
will have to scramble for what Is left at
home The foreigners are enthusiastic
over that idea. 1t will Offset protective
tariffs on manufactures and lessen for
eign handlcapS here.
All this increase of efficiency in crop
production has made IL evident that
something must be done TO stop the
oveTproduction, especially overproduc-
ton without more even distribution
where needed. One thing done has
been To entice 100000 surplus farm
workers to accept big wages in indus
and added 100000 custumefSs 90. the
consumers Of farm products. II the
country will only remain sane enough 10
stop adding to the acres through re-
claiming swamps and deserts until the
. increased acreage is needed. that will
help some. This is what Secretary OF
Agriculture Jardine argued recently in a
speech.
On the other hand. MeSsrS. McNary
AF,.-
ket prices. although they devote that IN
creased gross revenue not to farmers.
but to inspectors" and bureaucrats-
President Coolidge-farmer himself
says. This is bureaucracy gone mad"
whom the gods would destroy they
first make mad - He pictures tbs
Swarming of inspectors, auditors. dis
burSerS. accountants and regulatory on
GERS who would be let loose throughout
the land TO enforce these contracts BY
farmers With millerS and elevator COM
panieS and 10 curb the inevitable at
temptS at evasion OF the equalization
fee" We have heard complaints
against enforcement officers concerning
merely drink, What then must We
look for when Government inspectors
get after evaSioDS Of law affecting uot
alone liquid Gavin" but corn on ;ne
cob and ali other forms Of food SIS well
as drink2
Furthermore. while the direct ard lul-
mediate effect of the much-vetOsd Nc
Nary -Haggen scheme would be 10 puy
an artificial increase of cost OH the con-
SumerS, to be required 20 hire bureau
Gratis. there is no defense against natural
Increase Of production whenever there
shows up an added profit 70 farmers.
a shsN
production never knew farmers,
The "equahzing fee" is denounced hv
President Coolidge and the Attorney
General rs tax not fiXed BY any les,S-
Iative act. hence unconstitutional Ii Is
tax which the farmer vainly hopes
either 20 eyade payment of or 10 pass m
TO the consumer. II does not~-cannOt~,
add one mouthful Of actual food 10 the
world supply, except by stimulating
oFerproduction, but merely. through cor
neFlng the visible supply in the home
maSSe. To initiate coStS Co consumers. and
Seuaoder that sxtortion as csacial op-
preSSoIS
The one most important phase ~
farm marketing which the McNayv-
haugen plan ignores, says one w the
highest authorities In the land. IS shag
go per cent of the farm crops OF sN
kinds are dumped upon the market i'm
mediately after harvest, with resultant
depression of market prices 81 producer
sellers So long ~ the farmer owns the
crop, After the farmer has lost p,NSScS~
sion uor he Is compelled hy his creditors
TO sell On the heels of harveStA then tAe
BUYERS dealers aad SPECTATORS -hN,d
the crop for the inevitable rise
ENF IA kAf1N lime / has NsAAls
stood that a measure Was IN preparation
which, II Is claimed Will establish =
Federal farm board. controlling ware
houses all over The country. eoutnyed
to buy Up directly from farmers staple
farm crops, not merely at cuvEent prizes.
hut at prices near the average yearlv
prospective market rates, AS Judged ey
the board of experienced experts ap-
pointed eS The President with the eOns
sent and approval of the Senate tt Vii
stabilize farm markets. as che Federal
Reserve Board StahillseS gold and dis
counts There Viii also hS an advisory
board OF dnt farmers g. cooperate Wtta
the central managvnaent, No SpSclllatogS
could control such machinery foy gath
ertng world-InaFket data aS would thAS
Government h0agd. In conjunction vita
the Department ~ Agriculture,
This nation-w enterprise would ~
set 0n IN business by Government
capital of $500. 900 900, 10 b. repaid
nom The annual profits II would pro~
tevt producers tFem speculative 0ppgSSe
sion, eliminate UNNECESSARY natddlenSn
and limit the rapaelty cf pg0ceSSCTS,
but IL would not ny prices mar give
sorVign consumers pganI1lm over dVe
mestle industrial consumers Ut fcOd
Wtu that measure see daylight before
the end OF this CangreSSe
t0AaAyssNt tA8s ~ ksa4s Y C0lAAs