Evening star., 1928-06-15

and sentiment. His understanding of
economic questions Is as thorough, I
dare say. Ms any man in the Nation.
Under his leadership he would bring to
agriculture the vast fund of experience
he has secured In the organization of
great commercial and social enterprises.
Through his veins courses the blood of
farmers, for was he not born and reared
to young manhood on an Iowa farm?
His keen sympathy with agriculture has
been repeatedly expressed and demon
strated.
Called War Measure.
TN saying this I am fully aware that
there are those who would have the
farmer believe that Mr. Hoover was
their enemy during the war. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The
fixing OF prices on certain agricultural
products was war measure. The wheat
price was flxed by committee mostly
OF farmers or their direct representa-
tives appointed by President Wilson.
I'm accepting the recommendations
OF that committee, the President issued
a statement August 80. 1917, In which
he said The price now recommended
Ny lllAL GBAAulALtEEs 4&.GU HEE Ql60Ek AL
Chicago for the basic grade, will be
rigidly adhered 10 by the food admins
tration. Mr.. Hoover at his expressed
wish has taken no part In the deliber-
ations Of the committee on whose rec
ommendation / determined the Govern
ment's fair price. nor has he In any way
intimated an opinion regarding that
price
mo one has said that this price was
not remunerative to the farmer, and
the probable fact LIS that but for such a
fixed price pool OF allied buyers would
have purchased the American wheat
crops OF 1917 and 1918 at q much lower
price.
TN respect of the fixed price on pork,
for which Mr.. Hoover is held RESPONSE
BILE. 1t Is an outstanding fact that the
ratio of corn to pork as applied In de-
termining the cost of production in
sured swine growers substantial profit
upon their operations. And 1t was Mr.
Hoover who, after the war was closed
and the allied countries were determined
to cancel their contracts, held them to
their agreement and prevented for sew
eral months a disastrous slump In pork
prices.
II have said that Mr.. Hoover under
stands the agricultural situation and is
In sympathy with 1t. Recognizing the
domestic market as the most important
Hoover who In 1921 called a nation
wide conference to provide ways and
means for finding employment for the
then nearly 100000 unemployed men.
The success of this undertaking was
outstanding, and shortly thereafter the
prices OF agricultural products appreci-
ated substantially.
Favors Marketing Board.
When requested by the Presidents
agricultural conference for his view as
to policies for obtaining larger mar
gin Of profit for the farmer, Secretary
Hoover favored cooperative marketing
the creation of strong independent
federal marketing board, chosen from
farmers, and the removal Of present
legal restraint upon farmers market
Ing and producing organizations as
methods to be pursued. He favored
also an effective protective tariff on
agricultural products. so that the
American farmer might have the job
OF profitably producing as large a part
as possible of the $500. 900 900 of wool
flax, dairy products vegetable oils, etc,
that we now import. He not only
recognizes the tariff as a tremendous
asset to farmers. but would resort to
every practical means for making IL
more effective.
One Of the greatest barriers To the
progress OF agriculture In the Central
West is the cost of transportation to
seaboard points. MFR. Hoover would
overcome this through the development
Of inland waterways. Today. he lis the
outstanding exponent OF this movement,
and has done more To promote IL than
any other individual In the land
II cite these things as but q few of
the facts underlying the assurance I
have In the great Leadership that Her
bert Hoover will bring to agriculture
when he becomes President of the
United States. Were I not convinced
Of his ability and his sincerity Of pur-
pose. could not support him, for I
am OF the agricultural region. and
would not cast my vote for any man
whom / did not believe to be In COM
plete sympathy with the cause OF the
American farmer"