Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
SENATOR In DENIAL
THERE'S FARM REVOLT
Agriculturists Realize President Must Be
Unhampered in Efforts to
End Depression.
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end some other topic for the exercise
Of their undoubted oratorical powers.
But right now wheat holds the CEN
Ter Of the stage at every Democratic
rally in the great grain bin of the
Nation. Democratic politicians pri-
vately concede that no greater calamity
could befall them than to have the
price Of wheat advance substantially.
Many Of them, DESTROYS of the emolu-
ments Of Office, are almost praying
aloud for wheat to stay down."
This prayer Is founded on two as
sumptions-both false, in my estima-
ton. One Is that the farmers vote is
determined solely by the condition of
his pocketbook. The other is that the
farmer is largely, If not entirely igno-
rant Of what is going on in the world
outside his own sphere of activity.
Many o politician has made, and
again this year will make, the mistake
Of regarding the farmer as a 'yokel"
Because a mans hands are stained
from contact with the soil they assume
that by shouting long and loudly that
the Republican party Is Responsible for
grasshoppers, the drought, the Mediter-
ranean fruit fly the corn borer and 60
cent wheat, they can make Democratic
votes in great number.
The last assumption may be correct.
but I doubt 1t. know that the first
assunption-as to the farmers igno-
rance-is utterly, completely and en-
tirely wrong. Throughout the country
there Is no better informed, more in
telligent class than the farmers. The
developments Of the last 20 years have
brought increased knowledge into rural
districts. There are better schools in
farm sections than ever before; rural
mail delivery brings newspapers and
magazines into every farm home: the
radio has played O tremendous part in
the education of the farmer and his
family. It Is in the rural sections that
the serious" radio features find most
favor; the jazz programs least atten-
tion. Better roads and low-priced auto
mobiles have enabled the farmer TO
travel near and far. He has learned as
he has travelled and associated with
other farmers and with the people of
the cities. He has learned what the
agricultural colleges. farm experiment
stations and State and Federal depart
nents Of agriculture have had b
impaft.
Reasons As Others.
Basieally, the farmer is no different
IA his political reasoning from other
classes OF men and women. If he can
Improve his economic condition by Q
change In his voting afiiliation probably
he will make the change. But first he
has to be shown. And the fact that he
has had q bad year financially Is not q
sure indication that he win change his
voting habits. To believe otherwise Is
to believe that the farmer lacks ordi-
nary intelligence.
do not know Of any farmer in Kan.
eas who is happy over the situation he
IL IN, that Of having to sell for go cents
wheat that cost him q dollar or more
Q bushel to produce. But, on the other
hand. do not know Of any farmer who
considers that situation alone sufIicient
reason to change from Republican to
Democratic allegiance. This Il true Of
politician who relies mainly upon APP
peals to the farmers desire for q better
return for his labor is doomed to defeat.
For the intelligence Of farmers rises
considerably above their pocketbook
level. Assuming for the moment, how.
ever, that the pocketbook appeal 10 ef-
fective, let u see why IL u not likely to
create any great number Of Democratic
votes In normally Republican agricul-
tural States this year.
These are the facts known to practi-
cally every grower Of wheat. First, that
there Is q world surplus. Second, that
Russia IL Competing actively with us in
foreign wheat markets. Third, that
Canada and other wheat-producing
countries are In no better position than
We are In encountering ruinous wheat
prices. Fourth. that the Democrats
have no plan that would change world
wide conditions. In other words, the
farmers-and am speaking Of the in
telligent majority - realize that the
wheat surplus Is an economic and not q
political problem. They realize that II
there were any practicable present way
Of clearing the markets of the glut Of
wheat and raising prices TO the farmers
the Republicans would be only too glad
70 oblige.
They realize. furthermore, that the
whole world.wid economic depression
10 just another payment on the debt
created by the war: and they are there
fore inclined to support the man who
above al others has shown q disposition
TO outlaw war. That man Is Herbert
Hoover. President Of the United States
chief negotiator of the naval reduc-
ton treaty: tireless and ceaseless
worker for better understanding among
and peace between nations The
that they pay for war with "dedations"
a. well as with the blood and the limbs
and lives Of their sons.
Great Conservative Force.
The fact Is that farmers, as a class
are the great conservative force OF the
country. II Is 90 IN other nations also
Riots, revolt and rebellion are bred and
born In cities: revolutions come only
when the rural population is reduced to
the status Of peasantry. The farmers
Of America are Is far from peasantry
as our shores are from the shores Of the
Old World. It Is their conservatism
which gives strength TO our form Of
government: which holds fast to the
Constitution; which demands enforce
ment Of the law; which approves and
votes commentator Of officials who up
bold law and order.
The farmers have their grievances,