White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-05-31
STATE GRANGE MASTER
TALKS ON FARM RELIEF

In Yakima, Monday, the editor OF this
newspaper attended the regular lunch
con of the Yakima Chamber OF Com
merce and with about 200 growers
and business men listened to a very
able discussion of tile so-called farm
relief measure, now pending in Con-
gross, by A. S. Goss, Master of the
| Washington State Grange.
Mr.. Goss presented his argument
in clear cut, understandable language,
devoid ef passion and sentiment, that
carried the conviction to his hearers
that he possessed rather thorough
knowledge Of his subject, to which
I he seemed to have given considerable
study including discussions and in
terviews with various authorities,
among them being President Hoover,
both while he was Secretary of Conn
merce and since he has been elected
| President; with the secretary of ag-
lriculture; Congressman and Senators
financial and many other authorities,
who are interested in and who have
given considerable thought to, farm
legislation.
He was fortified with facts and fig
ures which he used TO show that
farming was about the only one OF
the larger industries in the nation
that had not been fostered and pro-
tected by legislation. He pictured the
farmers as facing grave situation
that might develop into a catastrophe
unless checked. He did not blame
any one or anything in particular for
this condition, saying that It was q
natural outgrowth Of business practi-
ces Of long standing by both CONNER
cial and farming interests. The pos
sibilities of the present situation, he
said, Have been present since the for
nation of the government, because
at that time the farming industry was
not SURROUNDED by the protective leg
islation that was provided for other
industries. The passage OF the home
stead law, the large land grants to the
railroads, the comparative high pro-
ductivity Of the soil and other things,
he said, only postponed the acute
stage that exists today.
He pointed out weaknesses in both
the farm bill that has been passed
by the House and the one passed by
the Senate, but said some of these
might be corrected before the bill is
finally enacted into law. He said,
however, that in the final analysis the
farm problem could be only partially
solved. by legislation; that the econ
omic features Of the situation would
have to be worked out largely by the
farmers themselves through improved
business and farming methods.
In sympathy with the National
Grange, Mr.. Goss said he favored the
debenture which is included in the
J; Senate bill, but which is not incor-
porated in the House bill. He ex-
paainsd la detail just what. is meant
by the debentllre and just how it
would work out if it is in the bill that
is finally enacted.
He said, however, in response to
questions, that he doubted very much
that the farm bill in its present form
would be of much benefit to the ap-
pie growers and said they might be
better off if they could be excluded
from it's provisions.
e Although he spoke for more than
AN hour, Mr.. Goss' address was lis
tened to with close attention by his
audience and at the close many
stopped to talk to him and congratu-
late him on the able way he had pre-
! scented his subject.
Through microplaone placed in
front of his table, Mr.. Goss' speech
was broadcast over Yakima station