Evening star., 1928-04-13
.JARD|NE DEFENDS
HOOVER ACTIVITIES
Secretary Cites Instances
Where Commerce Head Has
Befriended Farmers.

BY the Associated Press
A strong defense Of Secretary Hoover
against charges that he has usurped
some of the powers Of the Agriculture
Department and otherwise has worked
to injure the farmer was made today
by Secretary Jardine.
In letter dated April IL and made
public today. the Agriculture Secretary
told Charles S. Wilson. former COM
missioner Of agriculture of New York
State and now farmer at Hail. N. Y.
that there is not the slightest essence
Of truth In these charges, and would
resent them II they we're made with
honest intentions"
Mr.. Wilson, under date Of April 10,
had written Jardlne saying he had
heard the charge made that Mr. Hoov-
er. as Secretary Of Commerce, has en-
croacfed upon the work Of the De-
partment of Agriculture and In other
ways has hindered the operation Of your
department. In the interest Of the
farmers.
Ulterior Motives Blamed.
1T has been my feeling" Wilson said,
that these charges were made for ui-
terror motives. but have come 10 the
conclusion that the farmers Of New
York State and of the country at large
are deserving of frank statement from
YOU. for these charges involve that
branch Of the Federal Government de-
signed to render service to American
agriculture"
Replying. Secretary Jardine said that
he had consistently refused to be drawn
into controversy on the unfounded
charges. because he fully understood
the motives of the small group that
has been responsible for making them !"
Under normal circumstances" he
wrote, II would not dignity these at
tacks, but have come 10 the conclusion
that the farmers Of this country are
entitled to know the facts because these
charges seriously reflect upon the work
of this department and the 10000
splendid people who are listed on its
rolls.
Gets Hoover's support.
During the three years in which I
have been Secretary of Agriculture
have enjoyed the whole-hearted and
sympathetic support OF Secretary
Hoover In all matters pertaining To the
administration Of the Department OF
Agriculture. and his actions always have
been In the interest of the departments
work and OF the American farmer. In
fact. the records show that In many In
stances In which the work Of the two
departments was involved he was
actually partial to the Department Of
Agriculture"
Calling attention that much has been
made of a statement that Hoover de-
sired TO absorb the foreign service work
OF the Agriculture Department. Jardtne
said the Commerce Secretary had signed
q Joint letter with him TO the agricul-
tural committees of Congress indorSing
companion bills clearly defining" the
foreign service activities OF the two de-
partr1ents. He challenged any body 10
"flnd single fault" with this bill as It
stands today.
Joint Interest Cited.
Other examples OF Joint interest
cited by Jardine were the cooperative
project now being carried ON by the
two departments TO ind new uses for
cotton and Hoovsr's support OF his pro-
posal To take the annual agricultural
census November / instead of April /, as
some persons had suggested. Agrlcul-
tural representatives, Jardine said, ia
vored the later date,
During my administration" he add
ed, "the Departments OF Agriculture
and Commerce have been closely co..
operating. and there has not been the
slightest evidence of friction or misun.
derstanding. The fun significance of
such a happy state OF affairs can only
be appreciated when II Is understood
that In some lines of work there Is
great similarity, and II IL difilcult TO
prevent some duplication OF effort"