Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23

and unquestionable public interest.
! The country Is an economic whole. If
| the buying power of agriculture is i'm
paired the farmer makes fewer trips
| to Main street The shop owner suf-
| fers because he has lost a large part of
| his trade. The manufacturer who sup
| plies him likewise suffers, as does the
Wage-earner, because the manufacturer
| Is compelled TO curtail his production.
| And the banker cannot collect his debts
or safely extend further credit. This
! country cannot be a healthy. strong,
| economic body If one of its members,
| so fundamentally important as agriCul-
| ture, is sick almost 10 the point Of eco
nomic death
| The normal market among the
farmers of this country for the products
of industry is $4,000. 100000, Our ex-
| port market, according TO latest avail
able figures, is, exclusive of agricul-
| tural products, approximately 81 ,600,-
| 100000. These large figures furnish
| striking indication Of the serious blow
| to national prosperity as whole which
/ is struck when the buying power of the
| farmer is paralyzed
| When, therefore, l say that / am in
! accord with our platform declaration
| that the solution OF this problem must
| be a prime and immediate concern OF
| the Democratic administration l make
| no class appeal. / am stating a /propo-
| sition as vital TO the welfare of bust
ness as Of agriculture
| With the exception of the admins
| trations of Cleveland and Wilson, the
| Government Of this country has been
| in Republican hands for half a CEN
| fury, For nearly eight years the Presi-
dent and Congress have been Republi-
can What has been done to solve this
| problem? Many promises we're made
| which have never been fulfilled. Ger
tainly the promise Of relief by tariff
has not been fulfilled.
The tariff is ineffective on commo-
| dlties of which there Is exportable sur
! plus without controlled sale Of the sur
plus. Our platform points the way to
make the tariff effective for crops Of
! which We produce a surplus. There
| has been Government interference with
| laws of supply and demand to benefit
industry. commerce and finance. 1t
| has been one-sided. because business
| industry and finance would have been
| helped more II proper attention had
! been given TO the condition of agriCul-
| ture. Nothing of substance has been
| done TO bring this basic part OF our
| national life into conformity with the
| economic system that has been set up
| by law. Government should interfere
as little as possible with business. But
/ If 1t does interfere with one phase of
1 economic life, be it by tariff. by as
| siStance 10 merchant marine, by control
| OF the flow of money and capital
| through the banking system, it Is bad
| logic, bad economics and an abandon
ment OF Government responsibility TO
| say that as to agriculture alone the
| Government should not aid
Holds Administration
| Presents No Substitute.
Twice Republican Congress has
| passed legislation only To have 1t We
| toed by President of their own party
and whether the veto of that specific
| measure was right or wrong it is UNI
disputed that no adequate substitute
was ever recommended to the Congress
by the President and that no construc-
tive plan of relief was ever formulated
by any leader of the Republican party
III place OF the plan which its Congress
passed and its President vetoed. Only
cauStic criticism and bitter denuncia-
ton were provoked in the minds of the
Republican leaders in answer to the
Nationwide appeal for sane endeavor
TO meet this crisis
"Co-operatlve, eo-ordinated market
Ing and warehousing OF surplus farm
products Is essential, just as co-ordi-
mated, cooperative control of the flow
of capital was found necessary to the
regulation of our country's finances. To
accomplish financial stability the Fed
eral Reserve system was called into be-
ing by Democratic administration.
The question for agriculture is complex.
Any plan devised must also be Co-ordi-
mated with the other phases of our
business institutions Our platform de-
clares for the development OF co-opera-
tive marketing and an earnest endeavor
To solve the problem of the distribution
Of the cost Of dealing with crop sur
pulses over the marketed unit OF the
crop whose producers are benefited by
such assistance Only the mechanics
remain to be devised, | propose to sub
stitute action Tor inactiou and friendh-
ness for hostility, In my admiustra-
ton OF the government OF my State
whenever ! Was confronted with prob
lem OF this character | called into con-
terence those best equipped on the par
tcular subject III hand, | shall follow
that course with regard 10 agriculture
Farmers and farm leaders with such
constructive aid AS will come from sound
economists and talr-ininded leaders of
finance and business must work out the
detail There are varying plans for
the attainment Of the end which is 10
be accomplished, Such plans should
be subjected AT once 10 searching, able
and falr~minded analysis. because the
interests Of all require that the solution
shall be economically sound
III | am elected. l shall Immediately
after election ask leaders OF the type
have named. irrespective OF party. To
enter upon this task, | shall Join with
them III the discharge of their duties
during the coming Winter and present
Ia Congress immediately upon It's con-
venting The solution recommended by
The body nt men best titted tn render
this signal service 10 the Nation. /
shuli support the activities OF this body
nntil satisfactory law Is placed upon
the atatute hooks
Distribution Held
Outstanding Problem.
"Adeauaks, distribution Is necessary 10
BRING phhst return 10 production.
Increased Rileieney ei railroad trans