Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
SEES BLOODSHED
. IF FARM ACT FAILS
Secretary of Farm Board De-
tends Efforts to Solve Agri-
cultural Problems.
BY THOMAS r.. HENRY,
Stan Correspondent Of The star.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. Au-
gust 8.-"Battle and sudden bloodshed
in America" was declared to be one of
the possibilities of failure of the agri-
secretary of the Federal Farm Board,
speaking before the Institute of Public
Affairs here last night.
He concluded a vigorous defense of
the efforts OF the Farm Board to solve
the agricultural situation, which have
been attacked by other speakers before
the institute, by saying:
IF this law fails either infinitely
more radical laws or no laws at all will
result. If more radical legislation is
passed. who knows what will happen?
II there are no laws either the American
farmer Will go down and down to the
level of the European peasant or there
will be battle and sudden bloodshed."
Mr.. Williams said the board had been
called upon to solve a problem bigger
than any which ever before has faced
the American Nation in peacetime, a
problem which has remained unsolved
throughout the history of civilization"
Announcing the plans of the board
for emergency drought relief, he said
that approximately $90,000,000 of the
originally appropriated revolving fund
is available for the operation of the
plan announced yesterday to supply
stock feed to farmers on two-year notes,
providing the communities will guaran-
tee the loans.
Blames Business Government.
The agricultural depression was
blamed directly on "the business mans
government" before the institute by
DR.. H. G. Taylor, former head of the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics of
the Department Of Agriculture, yester-
day.
Taking issue with the policies Of the
Federal Farm Board, he insisted that
the farmer would come into his own
again only by return to the vigorous
antitrust enforcement of the days Of
Theodore Roosevelt.
DR.. Taylor, introduced as one Of the
foremost agricultural economists in the
world, proposed four measures for agri-
cultural relief as follows:
Restoring competitive prices in the
so-called competitive industries by max
ing the Sherman antitrust law eff
fective, by revivifying the Federal Trade
Commission and by Suspending that
part of the work of the Department of
Commerce which promotes the organi-
zation of manufacturing and trade
groups for the more effective limitation
OF competition.
Fixing reasonable prices in fields
where monopolistic control is inevitable
by making public utility commissions
effective in establishing fair rates on a
basis equally fair to stockholders and
consuming public.
Reducing to its proper sphere special
privilege legislation and particularly the
protective tariff which has been used
so excessively as a means of elevating
prices in the interest of inordinate
profits Of certain industries at the ex-
pense of the consuming public"
Removing the obstacles hampering
the present agencies for collecting and
disseminating information available
alike to all producers, buyers, sellers
and investors.
Hits Trade Organizations.
The agricultural situation, he said,
| results from the placid acceptance of
| the false philosophy that "if business
! prospers all will prosper" Thus, he
| said, the Department of Commerce has
actually gone out of its way to pro-
| mote trade organizations limiting price
slashing competition within trades as
bad business" The farmers, unor-
gained and probably unorganizable
have gone down in the face of an or
ganized industry which dictates the
prices they shall pay while the prices
| they receive are regulated by the law
OF supply and demand
IF those laws which relate to COM
petition and price we're administered in
an effective manner" he said, land
certain special privilege legislation re-
pealed. little more could be asked by
American farmers. But these basic con-
ditions of our economic ife have not
been administered effectively in the
interest of general welfare in recent
| years. The administration has abandoned
the old policies without legislative pro-
vision for so doing 1t would appear
| that we have today no well thought out
plan for ordering the economic life of
| the people as whole, but rather an
extra legal plan which provides for
limitation of competition, presumably
in the interest of efficiency of produc-
ton, but more often in the interest of
| efficiency in acquisition. Business men
often fail to discriminate between them
THE ease with which some industries
can limit competition and thus enhance
prices. and the practical impossibility of
doing the same in other industries
makes this policy of freedom tc limit
competition and adjust production ruin
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