Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
Chairman of Farm Board Will
Rejoin Harvester Firm
After Congress Quits.
TOOK JOB INTENDING
TO LEAVE 1T IN YEAR
Threw Off Cloak of Taciturnity
When Bitter Criticism Was Made
of U. S. Agriculture Policy.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 14.-Alexander
Lagge will retire from the craftsmanship
of the Federal Farm Board shortly
after March to re-enter the Interna-
tional Harvester Co.
It had been reported that Mr.. Legge
would resign before many months, but
this action was not generally expected
to occur so soon after the end of the
present term. Of Congress.
Mr.. Legge became chairman of the
board July /, 1929. At that time 1t was
stated he probably would not retain the
post more than year, as the Interna-
tional Harvester Co., which lent him
to the Government, desired his return
year was all he could devote to the
Craftsmanship.
Target Of Frequent Attacks.
Frequent attacks on Mr.. Lsgge's han
ding of the wheat situation have been
made by representatives Of farm groups
and others.
To all critics he has replied vigor-
ouSly. But many of his associates be-
lieved the attacks influenced his de-
cision to retire from public service,
which, in his opinion, does not always
receive merited popular support.
Until Mr.. Legge accepted the Farm
Board craftsmanship, which threw him
into sometimes violent controversy with
former close associates of the grain
trade, his native taciturnity had
shrouded him almost completely from
the public eye. He was averse to in
rvla 10
ers, but nkelier to question than be
questioned. To photographers he said
a firm mo-"
Took Front Page Place.
A new Alexander Legge came 70
existence as guiding genius OF the
United States Governments first ven-
ture into buying and selling on the
commodity markets. His position
Stripped from him the mask of silence,
drove him to the front pages OF the
press and forced him to swing around
the great American farm community
in a speaking campaign to enunciate
the policies and solicit cooperation for
the Farm Board.
The boards market activities under
his leadership engaged him IL sharp
conflict with the private grain trade,
and its advocacy of diversiflcation OF
crops and smaller wheat acreage en-
countered mingled opposition and CO.
operation of agriculture. His utterances
were incorporating, fortnight, de-
termined.
During his stumping through Kan
Sas, the principal wheat State. he in
CURED the hostility of Max and Louis
Levand, publishers of the Wichita
Beacon, who demanded his resignation
and asserted he had insulted Kansas
with the statement: THE biggest hog
lies in the trough; Kansas is now in the
trough" Mr.. Legge. replying to their
charge, said he had merely questioned
us Kansas in the trough?" and added:
You may tell Max and Louis to 60 to
he'll"
Gave Up 100000 a Year.
When Mr.. Leggc gave up the presi-
dency of the International Harvester
Co. for the Farm Board post that might
last a year, he foreswore 100000
yearly salary for $4,000 from the
Government.
1t was not his first public service.
It has been related that Bernard Ba-
rush, chairman of the War Industries
Board, had never heard of Legge when
his name was suggested during the war
to head the Allied Purchasing Commits
sion. An associate of Mr.. Baruch is
said to have pointed to Legge's name
on the roster of eligibles and said:
There's your man. but you can't
get him. He knows Europe. He knows
human nature, he is very shrewd
trader, he is as straight as a die and
an unbeatable fighter. His is the best
head in the International Harvester Co.
He is rare combination of talent for
leadership and gentleness" He became
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