Evening star., 1932-09-14

ership, from the President down, shows
an incredible disregard Of facts, COM
bined with stubborn indifference to the
consequences of their folly.
OF some steps which should have
been taken and which should now be
taken to meet this situation have al
ready spoken and shall have more to
say. AG this moment want to speak
of other phases of the problem of
permanent farm relief. Let us pause
to take a look at the problem In the
longer perspective. We must have, !
assert with all possible emphasis, ma
tional planning in agriculture. We must
not have, as now, the scattering of
our efforts through the heterogeneous
and disassociated activities of our Gov
ernment agencies dealing with the prob
lem. On the other hand, We must avoid
the present tendency to rush from one
OF planning, conference in our admin
istration and emphasis upon cures
rather than upon drugs.
Makes Six Suggestions.
On my part, I suggest the following
permanent measures:
First. I would reorganize the United
States Department of Agriculture, look
ing toward the administrative machin-
cry needed to build a program Of ma
tional planning. I should be the last
person in the world to become harsh
and thoughtless critic of department
But know enough of government and
of the ways OF government TO know
that the growth of a department is
often irregular, illogical and haphaz-
ard. 1t is always easy to add to a de-
partment; additions mean more jobs.
But to cut away unnecessary functions,
eliminate useless jobs or redirect rout-
inc activities toward more fruitful pur-
poses Is a task that must be under
taken.
Second, I favor a definite policy look
| ing to the planned use of the land. We
already have more than enough titled
! land to meet our needs for many years
to come, since our population has ceased
| to expand so rapidly and agriculture Is
becoming from year to year more effl-
cient. We have in the l3 original
States of the East and few others
| great acres of relatively poor land
| hardly worth cultivation which provide
either actual or potential competition
with better land This lowers the quail
| ity of farm products, depresses the
prices OF better farm products. creates
: great added expense because OF the
| faulty distribution CT the population
and consumes public and private re-
sources In attempting the development
of means of living and communication
| that should not be needed. The sum
total result of all this is waste and
hardship. To provide the necessary
guidance for the correction OF this
faulty distribution of farms and OF
farming energy there is need for an
economic soil survey especially in the
Eastern States, to be carried on jointly
by the Nation and the States through
| the initiative of the Federal Govern
ment. This soil survey should be di-
rected toward the problems OF proper
utilization of the land and future dis
tribution Of population along sound eco
nomic lines. 1t should lead to mapping
and classification of land OF all kinds,
to determine which lands are best SUIT
ed for agricultural production. Whch
lands are marginal and which lanos
are suited only to growing tree crops.
BUYS Marginal Land.
Let me give you this simple example
of something I have actually dcne. Re
member, at the same time, that this
does not apply to the wheat belt or the
corn belt, but does apply to most OF the
Eastern States. We in the State OF New
YORK have approved. by vote OF the
people, the expenditure of ten millions
of dollars toward the elimination CT
marginal lands from actual farming.
This year alone we have bought over two
hundred thousand acres OF unprontaple
marginal farm lands and have turned
these acres into the growing OF trees
for lumber and pulp. I do not nave 10
point out to you the fact that this EAST
ern program is not only good Tor the
East, but is also Of value in that II re-
moves the competition OF marginal MILL
farms from your own crops in the West.
Such planning. designed primarily TO
gain a better and less waSteful dlstrlbu-
ton of agricultural productive effort,
inevitably will point the way to read
iustments in the distribution OF the
population in general. The pendulum IS
swinging back from the intense concen-
tration of population in cities We know
the possibilities for the greater ease and
comfort of modern rural and small town
living. This does not mean "back-to-
the land" movement in the ordinary
sense of a return to agriculture. 1t
means definite efforts to decentralize
industry.
1t will effect cheaper and more whole
some living for much Of our population.
To the farmer it will mean bringing
considerable part of his market closer
to his own door yard.
Urges Tax Reduction.
A third process of permanent relief
for agriculture can come through ma.
tional leadership in the reduction and
more equitable distribution OF taxes.
With respect to this propose to exert
through the presidency, as have done
through the governorship, such inf1u--
ence as I can, in favor of national
movement to reOrgan1ze local govern
ment in the direction OF eliminating
some of the tax burden which now bears
so heavily on farms. There are too
many taxing districts, too many local
units of Government, too many un-
necessary Offices and functions. The
governmental underbrush which has
sprouted for years should be cleared
away. In addition we need a clearer
separation OF field OF taxation as Pc
tween the Nation, the States and the
localities. By SO doing we can lift some
of the tax burden resting on land, and
1 mean to stress that objective by every
means at my command. These three
detectives are of the sort that will re-
ouire slow-moving development. They
constitute necessary building for the
future In meeting the immediate prob
lem of distress, however, it is neces-
Sary to adopt quick-acting remedies.
In the first place,-there is the neces-
sity for the refinancing Of farm
mortgages in order to relieve the bur-
den of excessive interest charges and
the grim threat of foreclosure. Much
was done in the last session of Congress
to extend and iquify and pass on to the
Federal Government the burden of
debt of railroads, banks, utilities and
industry in general. Something in the
nature of a gesture was made in the
direction of financing urban homes.
But practically nothing was done to-
ward removing the destructive menace
of debt from farm homes. It is my
purpose, if elected, to direct all the
energy of which I am capable to the
formulation of definite projects to re-
I;ayn @bfe Jicfracc Cpnrifira1lv I am