Evening star., 1928-05-10
i. S. CHAMBER GETS
) FARM POLICY PLEA
Proposal for Business Aid in
Marketing Problems Sub
iect to Referendum.

Recommendation looking to business
cooperation in the establishment o
q national agricultural policy which
would include Federal farm boart
we're made TO the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States yesterda,
after two years of study of the farm
problem. The recommendations viii
be submitted To referendum vote OF the
chambers membership before they be-
come part of the organizations policy
The meeting OF the agriculture grouI
yesterday afternoon. at which tho
recommendations we're announced, wa'
marked also by an attack on ths
McNsry -Haugen bill and other futile
panaceas" for the farmer by Julius H
Barnes, former president OF the cham
Der.
Sees Future Advantage.
Mr.. Barnes said rising living stand
ards. stimulated by prosperous industry
at home and q recovery OF any earn
ing power in Europe. are creating mot
only an equitable adjustment between
the farm and industry but hold out the
promise of relative advantage In term-
ing for the future"
Reviewing the rise of prices for sgri-
cultural products since the first McNary-
Haugen bill was proposed, Mr.. Barnes
declared that today the average farm
price is in the neighborhood of 1853 per
cent of the pre-war level. while the
average price OF all commodities is only
about IA per cent.
Suppose So-called farm leadel ship
had succeeded in righting the principle
of index relationship into law IN 1874
in a country where 10 per cent of the
voters are consumers. That Is the kind
of Sllort-sighted panacea proposed,
which will break down like the British
rubber effort and leave the farm ex-
posed to distress worse than before
THE votes In Congress which passed
this futile panacea, both those OF hon.
est-Yninded wellwishers and those OF
selfish political purpose. will thank a
President of courage and business un-
derstaniinS. who refuses to allow the
farm revival now under way and the
superior marketing advantage which Is
now in sight for the farmer, TO be de-
stroyed by the destruction OF a mar
ketinr system which has achieved mark
eo recovery.
Rap Haugen Plan.
mo authority in the business world
has dared TO say the McNary- -Haugen
plan would work. On the contrary, men
of wide experience in the organization
Of great industries have repeatedly
warned the country. and emphasized
again today that this plan. in law, viii
injure radically the American farm and
break down with a confusion that VIII
bring back farm distress from which
we are SO steadily recovering.
The farm policy submitted by the
committee recommended:
Intelligent control and distribution
Of seasonal or annual surplus produc-
ton. thus stabilizing prices and avoid
ing flooded markets.
Improved methods of orderly, en-
Gent, commodity marketing through Co
operative action.
Increased unit production.
utilization Of land resources for the
greatest benefit to the Nation, both In
the immediate and distant future.
Development and maintenance OF
favorable facilities for production and
marketing credit"
Specific recommendation incldaeo es-
tahiiShment Of Federal farm board.
business support of cooperative mar
keting: tariff protection Tor agriculture;
adaptation OF existing agricultural cred
II facilities 10 local and commodity
needs. and delay in cultiysting new lano
az public expense.