Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-07

Farm
Outlook
BY ARTHUR III. JENKINS
Editor The farm Journal

PTeoiC6nJ 0 lEE IL p6 kAlOVl1
that his choice Of a man to be sec
rotary of agriculture would be a sur
prise, and a surprise it certainly
was.
The guessing as to who would get
the appointment had been high.
wide and handsome, but as far as I
know. the name OF Ex-Governor Ar
thur NJ. Hyde of Missouri had not
been SO much as mentioned.
That will not. I think, have any
important bearing on Secretary
Hyde's success or failure as the head
Of this difficult branch of the adj
ministration.
Very likely it may be a favorable
circumstance. since less may be eX-
pected Of an unknown, and real
achievements may consequently bulk
bigger.
Not meaning to imply, Of course,
that Secretary Hyde lacks distinc-
ton in his own state and the ada
cent regions. But to the rest Of the
country an unknown he certainly
was.
Probably one qualification which
the president had in mind was q
large measure of freedom from the
bitterness Of the disputes Of recent
years. groured Under the name Of
McNary-Haugeni5m.
Hyde vas governor Of Missouri
from 1921 ID 1925. before the Nc
Nary-Haugcn campaign had split
the farm world into hostile camps.
Leaving the governorship, he re-
turned to the practice Of law. and
has since taken no active part IN
the vigorous efforts to write 2
McN2ry-Faugen Law in the statute
books.
Such q record puts the neV secre-
tary into the cabinet without any Of
the ready-made enmities mo
farm leaders that would handicap
his efforts from the beginning.
It is known, Of course. that he
does not believe in the famous
equalization fee. the heart of the
nfcNarv-Eaugen plan. Otherwise
he could not have taken 2 chair in
~ IlJCNS4 , C6Jll-GL-
The McNary Haugen faction hold
that against him, naturally. Their
attitude toward the secretary Is a
suspension of Judgment. Just as
their guns are temporarily silent.
awaiting the new farm Lew that Mr..
Eocver's srecial session of congress
will bring forth.
IT will be Secretary HYDE. most
likely. who will announce the ad-
miristration's plan for legislation,
or at least will assist in getting an
acceptable law through congress.
Whatever its form. the bitter-enders
among the McNary-Haugen leaders
will find it unsatisfactory, and they
will attack the secretary for be
traving the interests of agriculture"
Just as they fought Secretary jar
dine, his predecessor.
I may be too pessimistic as II this.
The crushing victory Of Mr.. Hoover
last November. over the most bitter
opposition that certain farm leaders
could put up, may have softened
this opposition more than I think.
For the sage Of harmony and the
good Of agriculture. I hope I am
mistaken.
Aside from the stormy zone that
thus surrounds the passage and adj
n1inistrstion Of the new farm Law.
there Is no reason why Secretary
HYDE should not make good.
He starts with no entanglenents,
as I have said. His record as gov
ernor of Missouri was generally
good. and was marked by special
sympathy for farming and 1iber-
atty TO the agricultural schools and
agencies of the state.
He has executive ability and ex-
perience. a Uell-halsnced mind. ard
? disposition to DO the best nos=ihIe
thing for agriculture. That Is ell he
will reed in the department. where
his chief duties ere to oversee the
work nf this huge ORGANIZATION Of
chemists and administrators. and
keen reace in the family.
Dirt farming" ~ex-erience Is de-
zirable. Of course; it is by no means
indispensable.