The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-15
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

~ really cannot imagine how
complicated this farm relief problem
is until you get a lot of experts to-
gether and hear them argue about
both causes and cures.
That is what is happening here
at the University of Virginia Insti-
tute on Public Affairs, where agri-
cultural specialists are so thick they
fall over each other.
One has heard so much about
farm relief as a political football
and the sincerity and ability of poll
ticians is in such bad odor, it had
been generally supposed that if we
could take the problem out cf poll
tics the scientists could find the
solution. This in effect is what AL
Smith has promised to do if elected
President, and is also what Hoover
in different way has in mind
Put Hoover and Smith and the
country are in for a Jolt if they
expect the expert commissions and
agricultural economists to agree. At
least that is the conclusion after
listening to the arguments here Of
such noted specialists as Or. John
D. Black of Harvard, DR.. Oscar G.
Slime and DR.. William j. Spillman
Of the United States Department Of
Agriculture, and DR.. James A. Dick
ey Of Arkansas University, to name
only few.
To add to the merriment Of battle
we also have here plenty Of bankers,
business men and farm politicians
who profess to know what's what
differently.
n
EOR instance, take the Woollen-
Il Dickinson debate. Evans Wool
len is the Indianapolis banker who
ran against Smith for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination, and
is chairman Of the economic policy
commission of the American Bank
ers' Association. Dickinson of Iowa
is farm leader in Congress.
Dickinson, former Lowden sup
porter, has now accepted Hoover
enthusiastically, said that Smith
could not win the middle west farm
States in the election even by sup
porting the demanded equalization
fee which Hoover opposes.
The farmer is compelled to buy
in a protected (American) market
and sell in a world market" saws
Dickinson. He is compelled to sell
in a general market but compelled
to buy in highly centralized mar
ket.' The cure, according to this
Congressman, is high protective
tariff on farm products proposed by
Hoover, and the so-called eoualiza-
ton fee opposed by Hoover. He
continues.
our Government must assume
responsibility Of enacting leqisla-
ton giving, as is now given to in
dustry, similar tariff protection to
food products, The equalization fee
would provide against loss on the
SAFE OF crop SURPRISES by collect
ing from the unit Of the commodity
a market fund to guard against sale
OF such commodity at a lower price
This would channelize the cornn1od.
lty under one control and give bar
gaining power"
MO" says Woollen. mot much
L help for agriculture as now
conducted or under any practicable
TeadJustment can be expected from
tarlt1s on agricultural commodities.
lhree-quarters in value of our out
put because Of SURPRISES, being be-
yono the reach of tariff influence
and the influence not being verv
eTectlVe as to the remaining
quarter"
Woollen objects to the McNarv-
Haugen equalization fee as too
cumbersome and, as Coolidge holds
OF doubtful conStitutionallty."
There are three or causes OF
farm distress, Woollen links.
l. Transportation rates favor in
dustrial centers against farm areas.
q "TaXation has borne unduly on
the farmer" va
3. The protective tariff has borne
unduly on the farmer"
AS Tor cures, Woollen points out
There remains the proposal to in-
crease agricultural income not bv
raising the prices Of the things the
farmer sells, but by lowering the
prices Of the things the farmer
buys and by expanding markets
abroad for his products. That means
tariff revision on non-agricultural
commodities"
This, however, is a campaign
year in which the Democratic party
has thrown over its low tariff policy
and is frankly appealing to big
business and high protectionists.
Woollen said he did not have time
to discuss lower tariff on manu-
tactured goods as a farm solution.
DR.. Black of Harvard and most
other economists here ioin with
Woollen in refuting the Hoover idea
that high tariff on farm products
is a solution.
But Black emphasizes that mo
important country of the world has
gone to the extreme that we have
IN stimulating industry at the ex-
pense of agriculture by means Of
protective duties"
Furthermore, agriculture can
take advantage only to a limited
extent Of the powers and inmunities
of corporate type of industrial
organization"
q
IN another debate today, DR.. Slime
4 argued:
THE present rate of urbanization
OF the Nation is leaving the rural
districts with an inferior popula-
ton. Those with most ability and