The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-23
The Presidents Agricultural
Plan
minneapolis Tribune)

He would indeed be q rash and
reckless prophet who undertook to
forecast the final complete effect on
American agriculture and American
business Of the presidents farm relief
bill. 1t is . bill both comprehensive
and complex and perhaps the safest
generalization OF its merits Is that
they will rest with the administration
should the bill become the law.
The bill Is frankly an omnibus
measure, in that it includes many
varying and some conflicting ideas as
to the quickest and sureSt method Of
bringing about the desired increase
in the price Of farm products. It was
offered by the president with no guar
antee that 1t would have this result,
but rather In the nature OF an expert
ment, which the president is willing
to modify or to end II the results do
not substantiate the expectations.
The bill grants to the secretary of
agriculture powers that may rightly
be termed dictatorial and it is upon
his use Of these extraordinary powers
that we must depend for success or
failure. Powers so great and varied
can be used for veal or woe. The
president and the secretary OF agri-
culture will assume responsibilities as
great as their powers and there is no
telling what the result will be until
the plan is given fair trial.
The temper of the American people
just now IS to give the president
power to act and the president is
willing to assume the burdens that
these grants Of power create. The
public will recall without any great
difficulty the various efforts that
have been made In the past to better
the agricultural situation and no
doubt there Is q general recognition
Of the fact that these efforts were
hampered by the lack Of flexibility in
the laws under which they were made.
The present bill avoids these hamper
ing restrictions, and while the power
1t confers on the secretary Of agricul-
ture may seem ominous to some, these
dangers are counterbalanced by the
opportunity the secretary will have to
meet the changing and varying con-
ditions that face agriculture. He will
be able quickly to meet whatever sit
uations may arise, recourse that was
denied to his predecessors by the linn
itations of the acts under which they
functioned.
To the Tribune the acreage with
drawal feature of the bill is particu-
larly heartening. We feel that this
Is the quickest and most effective
method Of solving the surplus prob
lem and bringing about, to the north
west at least, relief from the present
disastrous situation.
No appraisement Of the presidents
plan will approach accuracy without
q remembrance Of president Roose-
velt's brief message which accompan.
led It In which he said:
Deep study and the Joint counsel
Of many points Of view have produced
. measure which o1Se3 great promise
Of good results. tell you frankly
that II = . new and untrod path. but
] VIII tell you with equal frankness
that m unprecedented condition calls
for the trial Of new means to rescue
agriculture. II . fair administrative
trial Of It n made and It does not
produce the hoped for results, I shall
b the first to acknowledge 1t and
advise you"
The Tribune believes that Ameri-
can agriculture viii accept this plan
with thu came opon. minded hope that
inspired the president when he wrote
the above. It = IN experiment that
should b given . fair trial. For this
reason ~ can ~ no reason for any
SUBSTANTIAL amendment TO Il.
What the country wants y results.
We have the presideut's word Tor Il,
that II We DO not ct the desired re-
suits he Win be the first to recognise
the fact. That should Be enough for
e0r1NreSa