Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
A Law at Last.

President Hoover signed the farm Dill
yesterday. With stroke of his pen
he brought to conclusion contest over
farn-reliet legislation which has run
for years The new law is in the form
advocated by the President 1t repre-
se1ts q distinct and very tangible VIC
tory for the Chief Executive. He had to
face the same kind of coalition in the
Senate which prevented farm legislation
all during the Coolidge administration.
Mr.. Hoover was fortunate in tfat he
had strong support in the House for
his farm-relief plan-support which Mr..
Coolidge lacked. But the Chief Execu-
tive has met the first big test to which
he has been subjected IN his dealings
with Congress and has come through
It successfully. 1t is one thing to defy
Congress and another TO obtain from
that body legislation approved by the
administration and at the same tire
carrying out the pledges Of the cam
paign.
The farm bill which, by the way, has
had as its sponsors in Congress Senator
NcNary Of Oregon and Representative
Hausen Of Iowa, who fathered the old
-Haugen bill twice vetoed by
former President Coolidge, is tsFward
looking, constructive measure, calcoiated
70 aid the American farmer materially
and to make it possible for him E fake
his place on an equality with the indus
triaiists. It sets up Federal Farm
Board with very wide powers. It pro-
vides q revolving fund Of $500, 00o,0 900
to aid in more orderly marketing of
crops. If there Is one thing that the
farmer needs more than anything else
It is a better system Of marketing his
wares. His great difficulty has lain m
the fact that he was compelled to take
the price which is offered him whether
he liked it or not, while he has been
compelled to pay the price asked him
for commodities he must purchase
whether he could afford to pay or not.
President Hoover has the satisfaction
Of seeing on the statute books the kind
OF q farm law which he has recon-
fnended. It is his task now, as Chief
Executive, to put this law to work in
aid Of the farmer. Not little viii de-
pead upon the character and ability Of
the Federal Farm Board, which, under
the law, Is to be appointed BY the
President. This board will have direct
charge Of the administration Of the new
law, along with the Secretary Of Agri-
culture, who is ex-ofdcio Q member
Of the board. But to Mr.. Hoover will
10 the credit or blame, according to the
success Of the administration of the
farm law. The President has studied
this farm problem thoroughly. He has
shown himself in the past possessed
of great executive ability. Millions Of
farmers look to him today to help
them, through the administration Of
the law which has now been placed on
the statute books. Many Of them be-
heve that Mr. Hoover viii succeed.
The President has never shut the door
20 future and further legislation In the
interest of agriculture. He has realized
that the effort to benefit the farmer
through law is an experiment. Any such
experiment may show the way to new
courses which may be adopted with
good results. But the final enactment Of
the new farm law Is milestone. It
marks real beginning. It is begin
ming that has been too long delayed.
But the farm question has been made
the foot ball of politics for years. Presi-
Dental candidates. have been tied into
it. But at last measure has been put
through minus unsound and unecenornic
nostrums, with real possibilities of bene-
ut to the farmer. Upon that the Presi-
dent is to be congratulated.