Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-30
The Grain CORPORATION.

The Federal Farm Board mas not let
the grass grow under its feet. Steps
taken by the board within two weeks
after its first meeting are leading to
the organization Of a $40, 000, 900 corpo-
ration for the more orderly marketing
of grain. 1t has taken the lead In
bringing together for the first time
many farm organizations and co-opera-
tives dealing in grain. This in itself Is
an achievement of magnitude. Taking
the farm problem out Of politics
temporarily at least-and dealing with
1t from the point Of view Of economics
and industry is an innovation. 1t
promises real aid to the American
farmer. Unfortunately the new farm
relief act was delayed in Its passage
through Congress. That delay may
make it impossible for the proposed
new corporation to do a great deal this
year, since grain crops have already
been harvested and placed on the mar
ket in many sections Of the country.
But the action of the bitter enders In
Congress, resulting in holding up the
farm bill for several weeks, Is response
BILE for this. not the Farm Board.
The plan now advanced for q giant
grain corporation is praised by farm or
ganization leaders who stood out
stanchly for the passage of the old
McNary- Haugen farm bill with its
equalization principle. William H.
Settle, president of the Indiana Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation, and Sam
H. Thompson, president Of the Ma
tional Farm Bureau Federation, both
are on record not only as favoring the
plan, but rs loud in its praise and In
praise Of President Hoover as a real
friend of the farmer. These farm lead
ers have put their shoulders to the
wheel and are seeking in every way to
make q success Of the new farm law,
thereby showing their real interest In
the American farmer.
The farmers have faced no real prob
lem in the production of grains in this
country. They have the soil, the seed
and their own and other labor. 1t is true
that adverse weather conditions have
caused disaster now and then. But
their great problem has been one of or
derby marketing of the grain after it is
produced. That problem, the farm
leaders now assert, Is in a fair way to
be solved by the establishment Of the
proposed grain corporation. AS they
say, it is a great day for the American
grain farmer. In the past he has been
compelled, a. general proposition, to
take whatever price was offered him for
his grain. Unlike other producers. the
grain farmer has been unable to FIX q
price at which he would sell. But with
the new device now to be set up, prices
will be stabilized and the grain crops
placed on the market in orderly fashion.
When the Federal farm act was put
through Congress a few weeks ago, its
opponents declared that the new law
would accomplish nothing. But already
there has been q favorable psychological
effect, and the manner In which the
Farm Board has tackled its job gives
promise of tangible results.
The cooperative movement among
the farmers is receiving another boost
today in Baton Rouge, La, where rep
resentatives of 100000 farmers are
meeting to discuss plans for the estab-
lishment Of q national farmers cooper
alive organization to be known as the
National Chamber of Agricultural Co
operatives. Chairman Legge of the Fed
eral Farm Board Is to address the
American Institute Of Cooperation,
under whose auspices the Baton Rouge
meeting is being held. It is expected
that he will reveal still further the
plans Of the Federal Board for aid Of
the American farmer.