Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-08
Farm Board Head Receives
Much Public Commentator

IT don't believe the American farmer
wants charity or a handout. We
are trying to handle this money with
reasonable measure of safety. AS long
as I am a member of the board that
will be my purpose. I do not want to
be confirmed under any impression that
any other policy will be followed"
These words, spoken by Mr.. Alexander
Legge, chairman Of the Federal Farm
Board, before the Senate agriculture
committee, questioning him as to Farm
Board accomplishments and procedure,
prior to confirming his appointment as
head of that body, have aroused coun-
try-wide approval and some impatience
is expressed with the senatorial quizzing
Of Mr.. Legge.
OF this frank statement, the Newark
Evening News says: This is q policy
that will appeal to the country. It Is
the policy that will make Federal farm
relief effective. It is the policy all
sound farming interests will approve"
The Rockford Morning Star considers
the stand taken by Mr.. Legge sis SEN
sible and logical, and probably will point
the way to real and sufficiently prompt
relief for agriculture without the ex-
penditure of thousands OF dollars IN
a needless way" In the opinion Of the
Muncie Morning Star, this refusal OF
the Farm Board to engage in feverish
activity of ill-considered loans out OF
funds raised from the taxpayers Of the
country will win widespread approval"
Although recognizing the merit Of the
system by which presidential appointees
must be confirmed by the Senate, the
Sioux City Tribune believes that "tn
the absence of formal charges against
appointees, or the absence Of serious
implications against their fitness, per-
sons under consideration should be
treated with ordinary courtesy" This
paper contends that mo sound reasons
existed, whatever, for subjecttng the
Farm Board members to q schoolroom
quiz by the Senate agricultural COM
mittee."
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
cit is wise, no doubt, to have the way
open for a dignif1ed inquiry into the
abilities or the possible diSqualif1ca
of nominees to posts Of honor and I'M
portance. But it is outrageous to turn
such inquiries into inquisitions," to put
the appointee under a barrage OF
vicious cross-examination and innuendo
and generally make a Roman holiday
of the proceedings" declares this paper,
as it points out the serious injury done
the Nation, since "the men who shrink
from such a needless ordeal are the
very type of men the public service
needs"
In similar vein speaks the Saginaw
Daily News, which regrets that reports
would seem to indicate the committee
INDUCED in "nagging tactics" in its
questioning Of Mr.. Legge, rather than
making "a fair and reasonable attempt
to arrive at just estimate of his quail.
flcations." That the country will not
be impressed by this show of senatorial
ostentation" is the statement OF the
Green Bay Press-Gazette, while the
Grand Rapids Press asserts, that "be-
tween the objects of this group Of SEN
ators and the purposes of Mr.. Legge Is
all the difference between politics and
progress" The Sioux Falls Daily Argus
Leader thinks that eff these Senators
were capable and honest in their de-
liberations, they would cooperate with
the board instead Of fighting It," and
the Martinsburg, w. Va, Evening Jour-
nal afiirms its confidence that the
Farm Board is composed Of men Ca
pable Of formulating and carrying out
policies of their own. II left alone, It
should be able to accomplish some
thing. If it is to be constantly ham,
pered and harassed by congressional
interference, however, little can be ex-
pected Of it," predicts this paper. The
Fargo Forum thinks ut does not be-
come these few Senator's to bait the
Farm Board members" and views them
as acting m-advisedly. showing poor
Judgment and otherwise complicating
an already complicated and difficult
Approval of the acts Of the Farm