Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
FARM ISSUE STAYS
ON KANSAS STAGE
Relation of Wheat to State
and to Politics to Play
Part in November.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

Washington generally interprets the
victory of Senator Allen and the 9TH
pr results in Kansas on Tuesday rs at
least an expression of willingness to
suspend Judgment about the policies OF
the administration in agriculture and
specifically the program of the Farm
Board about wheat. Republicans
make this Interpretation and Demo-
Gratis do not seriously dispute IT. II
is true that both Senator Allen and
Senator Capper deplored the Farm
Boards recommendation of reduced
acreage in wheat At the same time
both are looked upon as Senators loyal
to the administration.
The fact is that the relation of wheat
to Kansas and the relation OF both to
politics constitute an important as
pect of the campaign which will now
look to the general election in No
Vember.
Special Problem in Three Areas.
Wheat and the Farm Board consti-
tute a special and separate problem
for Western Kansas, Western Okleho-
ma and Northwestern Texas. The
Farm Boards urging of acreage reduc-
ton everywhere encounters some re-
luctance in all wheat-raising sections.
In the sections named, however, 1t en-
counters a particular kind OF reluct-
ance.
This is the territory where great in
creases in wheat growing have taken
place in recent years. This fact &C
counts for the allusion of Chairman
Legge about 1.-The bigegsS hog in the
trough" which caused some commotlon
as well as some humCr in Kansas. One
congressional district alone in Kansas
raises more wheat than any whole State
outside Of Kansas. Everywhere else
wheat growing tends on the whole TO
decline.
For the increase Of wheat growing in
Western Kansas, Western Oklahoma
and Northwestern Texas there is a
logical reason. The rev land in this
section is better adapted to wheat than
to any other crop. Also wheat can be
grown here more advantageously than
in other sections. Wheat growing in this
section is a production" opera
ton through use of recently invented
machinery which eliminates much labor.
The land is cultivated in enormous
units. Being ill-adapted to any other
crop, the land entails an annual capital
charge of only few cents an acre. The
wheat raised here is dry, hard grain
containing much protein.
Believe Areas Logical.
Under these conditions, Western Kan
eas and the nearby sections think they
are the logical place to raise, at the
lowest cost, the great mass Of wheat for
Americas food. This being so, they are
especially reluctant to reduce acreage
The natural economic tendency there
is to raise more and more. This sec
ton thinks that If acreage Is to be
reduced, let the reduction be made in
territory where wheat raising is more
expensive and less logical.
Some Thoughtful persons think that
ultimately the situation will work out
this way, and that Western Kansas and
Oklahoma and Northwestern Texas Will
In time be the country's main source
of wheat. Some wheat always viii be
raised everywhere, especially in the East,
as a rotation crop. but the raising OF 1T
will be more expensive than in western
Kansas.
From the political point Of view,
what now will ensue is brief period OF
quiet and examination of the farm
problem as it relates to Kansas. There
remain until the general election in
November three months. The question
Is whether, after reflection, Kansas will
conclude to remain Republican and
trust to working out its local problem
rs well as from accurately informed
sources in Kansas the common belief
Is that in November Kansas as whole
will go as Republican as normally.
Practically everybody expects Kansas
will re-elect its two Senators, Allen and
Capper. AS respects the House, Kansas
has seven Republicans and one Demo-
crat. This has been the usual ratio for
some time. The prevailing expectation
is that the ratio will be maintained in
the November election. At the same
time, two districts now held by Repub-
licans are doubtful. Democratic national
leaders in Washington claim very
earnestly that they will win these two
seats. A gain by the Democrats of two
seats in Kansas, if taken as a symptom,
would be decidedly significant. If the
conditions of this campaign are such as
TO produce two more Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Kansas, it would be rea-
sonable to infer that throughout the
whole country the Democrats would
gain the 81 that would give them con-
trol of the House.