Evening star., 1932-09-24

While there has been much discus
sion of various methods of aiding the
farmers that were touched upon by Gov.
Roosevelt in his speech at Topeka, it Is
held that his attitude on the tariff is
outstanding. In the resulting debate by
the public. his proposals and the Re
publican tariff position are emphasized
as based on differing theories.
Gov Roosevelt's tariff position IS dis
cussed by the Baltimore Sun (nde-
pendent Democratic) with the state
ment that he stressed not only the de-
STABILITY of scaling down our calami-
tously high-tariff wall, which stands as
the principal barrier to practicable
farm relief within the framework of our
present economic system: he also
stressed the method of doing 1t pro-
posed in the Democratic platform.
The Sun makes the comment that Mr..
Roosevelt and his party would 'nego-
tiate agreements with individual coun-
tries, permitting them to sell goods to
us, in return for which they will let us
sell to them goods and crops which we
produce" The statement continues:
Such a policy stands in sharp contrast
to that at present followed by the ma
tional administration. The proposed
policy is variously known as a bargain
Ing or trade-building policy OF tariff
adjustment, as opposed to the present
policy of having, with but few minor
exceptions, a single schedule OF tariff
To no uyQ
tries alike. As the present system
is actually working out, it is isoiating
the United States from the flow OF
world trade. All about us Is being
woven a vast network of tariff treaties
between countries which make mutual
concessions from which the rest OF the
world is barred. While holding to the
policy of according the same tariff rates
to ali the world, the United States can
not participate in such treaties because
it has nothing to offer by way OF quld
pro quo for tariff concessions. Being SO
barred, its chances of finding outlets 1or
the ever-increasing pressure OF gooos
available for export are steadily dlmln.
ishing while countries all over the world
are swapping tariff concessions back
and forth among themselves.
1.-THE sharpest discernible difference
between the Roosevelt and the Hoover
positions" according to the Springneio
(Mass.) Republican independently. rs
the tariff, if we are thinking IN Terms
of immediate remedies. Gov. HooseVel'
would make tariff readjuStments to re-
store international trade. ana 81 such dawp re.
ward. Our foreign trade has collapsed
under the present tariff for which Mr
Hoover stands without hint OF modln'
cation. No economic recovery Is pos
sible in any complete sense with the
world bristling and frowning with mgr
tariff walls: and at this point at IeaS!
Gov. Roosevelt opens the door OF nope.
Summarizing the Roosevelt idea OF
"ouick-acting remedies" for farm con-
ditions. the Omaha World Herald Tin
dependent Democratic) refers to con.
certed action to secure lower interest
rates on farm mortgages" and "a re-
duction of the gap between the farm
ers' selling and buying prices by nego.
tiating tariff readjustments that VII
reopen markets for farm surpluses." or
the matter of tariff reform the World
Herald says: HE proposes to bring
about an agreement upon the detalE
of a distinct policy to restore agricul-
ture to economic equality with otnel
countries by giving to that portion o.
the crop consumed in the United State:
benefit equivalent to a tarin sufncien'
to give farmers an adequate price.
Right there he holds out to agriculture
definite support for the principle ano
policy its leaders have been urging fol
the past decade. It is the same pr1n'
ciple and policy which now has wor
the support Of prominent industrial arl<
h1sine1s, leadeU u tn No&aA - 0el