The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-25
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press staff Correspondent
1871. bv united Press

tCopvriRht. 1881. oy united PresSl
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Nov. 25.-All
signs indicate Kansas is preparing
TO raise less wheat and more Cain
next year.
Wheat acreage is down about IS
per cent which is just what the ad-
ministration at Washington has
been urging. The Cain raising will
be strictly political, and won't be
nearly so much to the administra-
tons liking.
Political prophets in this section
and prophet in Kansas usually
knows a tornado when he sees one
coming-say Kansas is about to 60
on a rampage again. They see only
one possibility of its being headed
off.
That would come through a real
upward shoot in farm prices. It
would have to be far greater in
crease than occurred in the last few
weeks to infuse a genuine feeling of
prosperity.
Brinkley Is Threat
Kansas already has a Democratic
Governor. A year ago it elected
Democratic senator. That hadn't
happened since the Roosevelt Prog
ressive movement split Kansas Re
publicans apart. Now some political
seers say that even Vice President
Curtis would have hard time be-
ing elected senator.
This situation, whether as bad
from a Republican standpoint as
represented or not, is credited with
causing the delay in announcement
by Curtis of his political plans.
j. r. Brinkley, the radio gland
doctor, almost was elected Gov
ernor last year when voters had to
write his name in on the ballots.
If all who wanted to vote for him
had been able to spell his name cor
rectly, many believe he would have
won. Republicans fear he will dis
rupt their plans more effectively
this year.
Farm Board Unpopular
Kansas always has taken its trou-
bles seriously. 1t apparently is do
ing so now. The federal farm
board is as popular as a grasshopper
plague. Kansas is ready to support
almost any other plan, the equaliza-
ton fee, the debenture or anything
else that might help.
The east was cheered by the rise
in the price of wheat. But the Kan
Sas farmers are far from satisfied
The rise was sensational, averag-
ing about Is cents bushel. But
half of that gain has been lost. And
the sag continues.
That rise, furthermore. started
from the lowest point in years. SO
comparatively, wheat is low and
farmers are holding as much as
they can until prices are more salts
factory.
This situation puts a somewhat
different light on the optimism so
prevalent in the east.
Believe Worst Is Over
Everywhere in industrial centers,
this correspondent was told of i'm
proved business sentiment traceable
TO the rise in wheat, cotton and oil.
1t was expected that farmers soon
would buy automobiles, radios, new
suits and other things the east has
to sell.
But 1t is clear after inquiry here
that it is easy to become over
optimistic. Here is where the rise
in commodity prices first should be
felt in general business. 1t is being
felt only slightly though business
men are encouraged and hopeful.
they say still further increases in
farm prices are necessary.
General opinion here is that a
slow climb, with inevitable dips, has
started and that next spring wheat
should climb to 80 or IS cents.
Summarizing the general opinion
here, eastern business has reason to
feel hopeful over a return of buying
power in the wheat belt but it
should not expect to see this de-
velop overnight. The most cheerful
element is that every one feels the
worst is over.