Evening star., 1932-07-03

to work, and that Is an example of
the action that we are going to have.
Now as a further aid to agricul-
ture we know perfectly well. but
have we come out and said SO clearly
and distinctly? We should repeal
Immediately those provisions of law
that compel the Federal Govern
ment to go into the markets to
purchase, to sell, to speculate in
farm products in a futile attempt to
reduce the farm suIpluses. And they
are the people that are talking of
keeping Government out of business.
Why, the practical way to help the
farmer is by an arrangement that
will, in addition to tightening some
of the impoverishing burdens from
his back, do something toward the
reduction of the surpluseS of staple
commodities that hang on the mar
ket. 1t should be our aim to add to
the world prices of staple products
the amount Of a reasonable tariff
protection, give agriculture the same
protection that industry has today.
Against World Dumping.
And in exchange for this imme-
diately increased return I am sure
that the farmers of this Nation
would agree ultimately to such plan
ming of their production as would
reduce the surpluses apd make it
unnecessary in later years to de-
pend on dumping those surpluses
abroad in order to support domestic
prices. That result has been ac-
complished in other nations, why
not in America, too?
farY1n oonnoy1aictq
generally agree that q plan based
on that principle is a desirable first
step in the reconstruction of agri-
culture. 1t does not in itself fur
nish a complete program, but it will
serve in great measure IN the long
run to remove the pail of a surplus
without the continued perpetual
fret of world dumping. Voluntary
objective, but the long continuance
and the present burden of existing
surpluseS make it necessary to re-
pair great damage of the present by
immediate emergency measures.
Such q plan as that, my friends,
does not cost the Government any
money nor does it keep the Govern
ment in business or in speculation.
Willing to Aid Farmer.
And as to the actual wording Of
a bill, I believe that the Democratic
party stands ready to be guided by
whatever the responsible farm
groups themselves agree on. That is
a principle that is sounc, and again
ask for action.
One word about the FARMER, and
I know that every delegate that lives
in the city in this hall knows why
lay emphasis ON the farmer. 1t is
because one-half of our population,
over 50,000,000 people, are dependent
on agriculture; and my friends, if
these 50000,000 people have no
money, no cash to buy what is pro-
duced in the city, the city suffers to
an equal or a greater extent.
And that Is why We are going to
make the voters understand this
year that this Nation is not merely
a nation of independence, but it is,
if we are to survive, bound to be a
nation of interdependence. town and
city, and North and South, East and
West. That is our goal, and that
goal will be understood by the peo-
pie of this country no matter where
they live.
Yes, the purchasing power of that
half of our population dependent on
agriculture is gone. Farm mortgages
reach nearly 10 billions of dollars
today and interest charges on that
alone are $3.50 .oOO, 600 a year. But
that is not all. The tax burden
caused by extravagant and ineffi-
cient local government is an addi-
tional factor. Our most immediate
concern should be to reduce the in
terest burden on these mortgages.
Rediscounting Of farm mortgages
under salutary restrictions must be
expanded and should, in the future,
be conditioned on the reduction of
interest rates Amortization pay
ments, maturities, should likewise in
this crisis be extended before redis-
count is permitted where the mort
gagor is sorely pressed. That, my
friends, is another example Of prac-
tical, immediate relief. Action.
Asks Saving of Homes.
I aim to do the same thing. and
it can be done, for the small home
owner in cur cities and villages. We
can tighten his burden and develop
lis pul ulNlAoolilS PShCAs AoNN "HNs'
my friends. that spectre of too high
an interest rate Take away that
specter of the due-date just short
homes for thousands of self-re-
specting families and drive out that
specter of insecurity from our midst.
Out Of all the tons OF printed
paper, out of all the hours of oratory,
the recriminations, the defenses, the
happy thought plans in Washington
and in every State, there emerges one
great. simple, crystal-pure fact that
during the past 10 years nation of
100, ,000.0 .0o0 has been led by the Re
publican leaders to erect an impreg-
nable b ar b d-wire ENHANCEMENT
around its borders through the in
strImentality Of tariffs which have
isolated us from all the other human
beings in all the rest of the round
world. I accept that admirable
tariff statement in the platform of
this convention. It would protect
American business and American
labor
For Friendly Relations.
Bv our acts of the past we have
invited and received the retaliation
of other nations. I propose an in
vitation to them to forget the past,
to sit at the table with us. as friends,
and to plan with us for the restora-
tion of the trade Of the world.
Go into the home of the business
man. He knows what the tariff has
done for him. Go into the home OF
the factory worker. He knows why
goods do not move. Go into the
home of the farmer. He knows how
the tariff has helped to ruin him.
Yes. at last our eyes are open; at
last the American people are ready
to g acknowledge that Republican
leadership was wrong and that the
Democracy is right NV program,
Of which I can only touch on these
points. is based upon this simple
moral principle-the welfare and the
soundness of a nation depends first
upon what the great mass OF the
people wish and need. and. sec
ondly. whether or not they are get
ting it.