Evening star., 1928-06-10
FARM RELIEF BIC
CONVENTION ISSUE
Seven-Yea Fight Comes to
Focus Next Week in
Defining Stand.
BY RAYMOND ". HENLE.

KANSAS CITY. June 9.-Seven years
OF controversy over question which
has stirred the Republican partv as
few issues have will come TO a focus
next week when the national conven-
ton undertakes 10 decide Its position
on farm relief.
A determined group of Middle Western
farm leaders are here to press their
demands for q declaration in the party
platform for relief along lines Of that
bugaboo of politics-the McNary- Hau-
gen bill On the other side Is the ad
ministration with It's more moderate
proposal for solution OF the problem.
Two special committees to work for
the equality of agriculture in the Re-
publican platform declarations were
appointed today at a meeting of farmers
and their representatives called by
George N. Peek. a supporter OF the Nc
Nary-Haugen bill, and Mark Wood OF
Nebraska.
Committees Named.
The executive committee, of which
Wood Is chairman, Is officially called
the committee for agricultural equality,
and will seek to organize the farmers
from all over he country who, Wood
says, are "on their way"
The committee consists OF Jesse A.
Barrett. former assistant attorney gen.
eral OF Missouri. j. r. Reed. Minnesota;
s. X. Way. South Dakota Frank M.
Hoyt. Wisconsin. and Mrs. C. Fl. Tye.
an alternate -at-large from Iowa and
member of the Iowa State central
committee.
The program committee, which is
headed by George A. Barr of Ohio will
formulate a working program for the
farmers. The members are: F. J. Ora
ham. North Dakota; C.. l.. Stealy Ok
lahoma: Clyde l.. Deeds, Ohio and l..
J. Dickinson, Iowa.
Beginning in the postwar days in
the rural sections OF the corn belt. when
land values tumbled and the cost OF
living scared, the question how the
farmer could be aided in producing and
marketing his crops with profit found
natural expression In politics and
there 1t has remained until this day
to play dominant part in selection OF
a nominee for the Presidency.
Support Coolidge Views.
The problem presented by two presi-
Dental vetoes Of bill designed by farm
organizations and pushed through Con-
gress twice by their influence. along
with the failure of the administration
to produce any relief acceptable to
those interests, thus is handed down to
this convention In which the forces
supporting the position of President
Coolidge still are determined to oppose
what they regard as radical and un-
constitutional demands.
The presidential candidacy Of at
least one man is directly concerned
with the farm disturbance. He is Frank
o. Lowden. who several months be-
fore President Coolidge issued his do
not choose" statement received Middle
Western delegations who we're incensed
over the first veto OF the McNary-
Haugen bill and who asked him to lead
their cause
OF all the candidates In the conven-
ton. Herbert Hoover has come to mean
the leader of administration farm views,
although one other candidate Con of
West Virginia, voted against the Nc
Nary-Haugen bill. Watson Of Indiana
and Curtis OF Kansas voted for the bill,
but Curtis SUPPORTED the President on
the motion to override the veto.
Stand by Coolidge.
TO meet the impasse between the ad-
ministration and the Middle Western
farm leaders. the latter group have
capltulated In the form although not
In the substance of their demands. The
administration strength on the farm
question. represented to a degree by
those who will vote for Hoover. are
standing on the ground plotted out In
the views OF Mr.. Coolidge.
The decision Of the corn belt wing
Of farm leaders not 10 uncompromis-
fAM IL As~Sn nteAtx
the Inflated McNaryH Haugen bill. nor
tn even whisper the words "euualiza-
tion fee" is expected to be their first
big concession. but the essential pro-
visions of that measure the convention
win be asked to indorse. Their views
will be hitched up with the tariff and
what they consider the right OF the
farmer to participate in whatever bene-
Ats can be given TO him under 1t.
1.-The benefits OF the protective tariff
must be extended to agriculture" will
In substance read the heart of the corn
belt plank. land by national legislation
device provided in order that the
farmer may secure the dement's OF the
protective tariff system"
The administration plank. on the
other hand, will emphatically support
the veto and annual messages OF the
President. It has been drawn to de-
clare for equality for agriculture by
reasonable means" and 1t includes the
frequently stated position Of the Presi-
dent for relief through the strengthen
ing of cooperative marketing asso-
Citations.
Fed Up on Promises.
Although the administration forces
might be expected To go for farm
plank declaring for equal DEMENT'S In
the tariff system. both sides expect the
old trouble to arise from the leaders
demand for an exposition In the plank
OF their views on the most practical
way TO bring those benefits about. That
exposition will so closely approximate
the MeNary- -Haugen bill that only Its
name will be lacking TO identify II,
Farm leaders declare they are fed up
on promises" and will demand a plank
much stronger than was written In
1924
Thus the old fight OF whether the
farmer shall have price representing
the amount of the tariff above world
prices, and himself pay for the cost OF
bringing this abount--~as the view OF
the farm leaders Is set forth--or
whether he should be permitted 10 i'm
prove his position along natural lines