Evening star., 1932-12-09
FARMERS PRESENT
PLEA TO CONGRESS.
Garner and Curtis Cordially
Receive Delegations Bear
ing Petitions.

lief Conference for immediate relief of
oppressed agriculture.
Curtis and Garner received the
roughly groups with cordiality
and promised to bring their demands
to the attention of Congress. A request
allowed to read the petition on the
floor of the House and Senate was
declined. however
Marching to the Capitol in body
from conference headquarters in the
Typographical Temple, the determined
farmers were halted temporarily by a
squad of policemen who objected to
the parade" Inspector Albert j.
Headley was sent for and he agreed
to allow the marchers to proceed into
the Senate and House Office Buildings
In small groups. arranged by. States,
after the farmers had shown they had
appointments with various Senators
and Representatives
Immediately after visiting the Cap
itol a small committee of the farmers,
headed by Phillip Smith, went to the
White House, where President Hoover
received them in his Office. Smith said
the President accepted their petition
with the comment that he was not
familiar with its contents, but would
examine It,
In compliance with his promise, Curtis
presented the petition to the Senate as
soon as that body convened.
In his Office the Vice President told
his visitors that he was sympathetic
with the farmers and cognizant of their
troubles.
"Over two years ago." he said, II tried
to prevent any more foreclosures on
farms. know your farm problem and
know 1t Is vital one. stated in all
my speeches recently that mortgages
should be extended"
The Vice President listened attentive
ly to the pleas Of the farm group and
read carefully the list of demands,
which included a $500 100000 direct re-
lief appropriation, Federal price regula-
ton, farm debt moratorium and other
drastic reforms.
The group, headed by Lewis C. Bentz-
ley of Idaho, included one woman, Ms,
Elba Chase of New Hampshire. ynose
husband led the delegation to Speaker
Gamers Office. One Of the farmers
wore heavy red sweater over a gray
shirt and gray trousers tucked into
high, red-topped leather boots. Another
wore blue overalls and khaki shirt
BENTLEY was dressed in business clothes
Cites Amelia Earhart.
When the Vice President advised his
visitors of the rule against presentation
of petitions from the floor, except
through members of Congress, Mrs,
Chase inquired if Amelia Earhart Put
nam had not been admitted to the
floor.
"Oh, no." Curtis said. eve ad-
Journed for 10 minutes on that oc-
casion so we could shake hands with
her. We did the same thing. believe,
for Wiley Post and some others. I think
you will make mistake to ask for ad-
mission to the floor. for that is never
done for the purpose you want"
He suggested the farmers take their
problems and demands to the Commit
tee on Agriculture. This plan, how
ever, already had been adopted Lem
visited Senator McNary's office to make
arrangements for a hearing next Mon
day or Tuesday. .-,
At the White House President Hoover
received the farm delegation cordially,
shaking hands with each member
These farmers also wore their field
clothes, one being attired in blue denim.
One of the delegates was colored.
The various committees delegated to
present petitions will report to the full
conference at a meeting tonight in
Plasterers' Hall, 1924 New Jersey
avenue. Motion pictures of farming
operations in Soviet Russia will be
shown, 1t was announced. The con-
ference will adjourn tomorrow.
Demands Drafted.
The farmers last night finished their
task of adopting legislative program
to present to Congress. The conference
voiced approval of the following de-
mands:
"A moratorium on mortgages, inter-
est and rents for all farmers whose
volume of production has until recently
sustained the farm family at decent
standard of living.
Cancellation Of mortgages, interest
and feed and seed loans and debts for
supplies and furnishing for farmers
whose volume Of production and eco
nomic unit has always been too small
to carry the debt loan and support the
family at minimum health standard.
Marginal farmers, share croppers and
others)
Cancellation of back farm taxes and
moratorium on future farm taxes dur
ing the crisis.
During this national crisis Congress
must declare all foreclosures. seizures
of property and evictiohs illegal"
I'VE farmers have no collateral" the
resolution concluded, "but We repre-
sent the majority Of the farm popula-
ton. We have at last been forced to
organize and present to this Congress
our final demands.
Pledge United Action.
'If our duly elected national Repre-
sentatives and Senators fail, as did the
local, county and State authorities, then
we pledge ourselves to protect our fell
low farmers from suffering and their
families from social disintegration, by
our united action"
Another resolution adopted de-
manded:
The enactment Of legislation which
Will provide production credit for all
farm families so as to insure q basis for
national consumption at normal levels.
The defeat of all proposals and the
repeal OF all legislation now in force
which provides credit only for well-to-
do farmers and corporations with COL
lateral"
Resolutions demanding Government
price fixing for agricultural products
and "s500,000,000 appropriation to
aid distressed farm population were
vociferously approved late yesterday by
the conference
The convention advocated defeat of
any legislation based on the theory OF
surplus production.
While millions of our population are
undernourished through loss of purchas-
ing power the resolution said, the
acceptance of the surplus theory is a
crime against society"
Some OF the speakers interpreted the
resolution as expressing opposition to
the export debenture, equalization fee
and the various domestic allotment
farm relief proposals awaiting consider |
alton by Congress. Others. however, |
contended that these proposals might |
have some merit and were worth |
trial.