The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-27
The Farm Board Barrage

rre caunaion against the Federal farm board, begun
almost as soon as the federal body outlined lts pan u
coonerative action for the relief of agriculture, appears
to be letting up a bit. -
For months the press of North DAKOTA II VIC iii'u".'
mai, is a criterion. has been filled with letters calling at
tention to the evils which, SO IL Is a'eseo' "e ""e
created by farm board policies.
The failure of wheat and cotton prices to hold 10 'ngher
levels has been stressed very strongly. The claim '"a'
elevators which sign up with one OF the various coopeia-
tive marketing organizations are signing away ''eA
freedom of action has been strongly emphasized. speak
ers all Of them actual farmers, claiming to be farmers
or having some connection with agriculture, nave 'oureo
the country. They have not been very explicit III 'eli'ns
who was financing their trips. Instead they have con-
centrated on the Job of c~astigating the farm board ana
its activities.
No. tho least of the charges made against the farm
hoard nlan is that it smacks very strong OF socialism.
AS long AGO as last January one OF the leaolng "0ia"
Trade" journals said editorially:
"rhe farm board plan takes all the bargaining power
away from grain sales. That is, 1t taxes away 1c ee-
ment. which, through the medium OF human hte'Agence'
builds no and maintains price levels. When bargaining
influence is left out of the sale OF a COMMONLY 1e price
level falls flat. The farm boards sociallstac plan Oh am
relief almost entirely eliminates that great, prlce-up-
lifting factor. 1t Will bring ABOUT farm rum Al piopoA'oA
to it's success"
There was more on the same order, with the noun
.so.;,ismp and the adjective "socialistic" occurring fire.
cuently.
Some time ago, a gentleman made a series OF speecheS
in North Dakota, some of them near Bismarck. In one
Of them he onlnent that the farm board IS attempt-
ing TO do. on a nation wide scale. what the NonpaItlsan
Itaegue attempted to do in North Dakota alone, Namely 70
raise the price of farm products by means OF the power
and influence OF the government. me- too' uoeu 'e
word socialism.
And cti1 we have both branches or the RepuDuCdN
marty in this state strongly affirming their support of
and belief in the farm board and its policies. The fac
ton which cried socialism" in what almost may be called
the recent political unpleasantness in North Dakota, was
deaf to the cry when uttered from outside the state.
1t is Just as well that they were. If the farm board
plan is to work at all, 1t must have the united support
of the agricultural districts. A detection in North Da-
kota would be felt Immediately throughout the nation,
for this is the most completely agricultural state in the
union.
No answer has been made to the charge of socialism,
and that, too, is just as we'll. Quite probably 1t needs
none, in so far as the bulk of the population is concerned.
What the people in this area are looking for Is better
prices for farm products, regardless of the method by
which they are attained.
The fact that the farm board legislation is a product
of the Republican party, and bears the approval of a
Republican president, makes it still more difficult for the
charge to obtain much consideration. The Republican
party is the time honored party of the conservative forces
of the nation. President Hoover was known as a con-
~structive economist before he took office. Socialism, In
any form, just isn't in keeping with Republicanism OF
with the Hoover character as it was delineated to the
American electorate in the 1928 campaign.
That North Dakota politicians are favorable to the
farm board, regardless of the accusations made against
it, does nothing to prove Its policies right or wrong. II
does prove, however, that those individuals who make
the strongest effort to keep in touch with the popular
mind still feel that North Dakotas electorate is in favo
of the farm board and its policies-or at least in favo
of giving them a further trial.