Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
Farm Legislation.

President Hoover, 1t has been made
clear at the White House, is to observe
with meticulous care the constitutional
provisions which assign to Congress the
duty of drafting and passing legislation
and to the Executive the duty of recon-
mending and finally approving legisla-
ton. He will not undertake to draft a
bill for the relief of the American
farmers. That task belongs to the con-
gressional leaders and congressional
committees.
The President is entirely correct in
his attitude in this matter. There is a
distinction, however, between leadership
in cause that demands attention from
the Federal Government and the ma
chinery which translates principles into
law. Today there is great group Of
American farmers who look to Mr..
Hoover for leadership, who regard him
as Moses to lead them out Of the
wilderness. And in the end it is likely
that Mr.. Hoover will have to assume
this leadership. Indeed, he is expected
to make his own views clear regarding
the farm program which should be
adopted In his message to Congress when
it opens its session the middle of April.
Because the President is making no
public statement with regard to his
views on farm legislation at this time
is no reason to assume that he has
no farm program. His recommendations
to Congress with regard to farm legis-
lation may be expected to deal with
the subject fully. It is somewhat un-
fortunate, perhaps, that the Senate and
House committees should be in the dark
with regard to the text of these rec
concentrations when they begin and
continue work for two weeks on farm
aid bill, as they will begin next week.
But it is fact that members of these
committees have conferred with the
President both during the campaign
and since then on the subject Of farm
legislation. Also the Presidents cam
paign addresses, particularly that In
ST. Louis, and the platform Of the Re-
publican party are available to the COM
mittee members II they are at loss
as to the policy of the administration.
In the end there must be a measure
Of leadership In dealing with the farm
problem. To throw the matter of farm
legislation into the Congress and to
leave it until, like Topsy. 1t has "just
growed," might lead to considerable
confusion. The preceding administra-
TONS attitude toward the farm prob
lem was one of negation rather than
affirmation. Therein lay its weakness.
The result was the passage of Nc
Nary-Haugen bill which President Cool
idge was twice felt called upon to veto.
In the final session of the last Congress
a bill was introduced by Senator Nc
Nary which had the stamp Of approval
Of the Coolidge administration. But
then it was too late. The election had
been held. There was a demand that
the newly elected Congress and Presi-
dent Hoover should deal with the whole
matter.
In the end, too, the farm bill which
passes In the coming Congress must
bear the Hoover stamp Of approval, and
upon 1t President Hoover and his party
must stand. Any attempt to avoid Lead
ership in this matter might be inter-
preted, and doubtless would be inter-
preted in some quarters, as an effort to
pass the buck" to leave the RESPONSE
bility entirely to Congress. President
Hoover will never assume such an at
titude. He has his constitutional duties
in regard to legislation as well as has
Congress and he will perform them.