Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-11

Continued From First Page)
shat there is no reason, none on earth
why you should not be believed"
Mr.. Tugwell said he believed in
proceeding on a voluntary basis, but
in permitting the setting up of ma
chinery which would let the majority
of the people do what they want.
Il believe in voluntary cooperation
and III the Government making it pos
Sible to carry such cooperation" Mr..
Tugwell said that he thought If rs to
80 per cent of the people engaged in
agriculture or cooperate and do a
certain thing, they should be permitted
to do it and that the Department of
Agriculture, of which he is now Assist
ant Secretary, has been operating on
that principle. That meets my def
milton of economic democracy" he
said.
Minority Rights.
Senator Bailey asked what would
happen to the other rs per cent and
whether Mr.. Tugwell believed they
should absolutely be overridden.
The reply was that Mr.. Tugwell pre-
ferred that there should be 80 to 95
per cent of the people cooperating,
and he added:
IF IS per cent of the American
people wanted to do something they
would do it. I would not stop any
thing that 95 per cent of the people
wanted. | am a Democrat"
Even If they wanted to go to the
Russian system" suggested Senator
Bailey. you recognize no rights in
America Tor the minority"
Finally, in exasperated tones, Mr.
Tugwell said:
What you are trying to get me to
say is that I believe in the Russian
system, and I do not. I am opposed
to the Russian system for US"
Senator Smith began his hearing by
questioning Mr.. Tugwell to see how
closely he met qualifications as dirt
farmer.
Managed Fruit Farm.
Mr.. Tugwell said he was born in a
small town in New York State and
as young man had managed his
fathers farm, fruit farm on which
they grew apples, peaches, plums
and pears. He said that at one time
he had become interested in the
question whether p9AE should be a
public utility and ii q as such. He
said that he thong NEthat milk was
as much public utility as the water
supply.
Tugwell gave in some detail his ex-
perience at college at the University
of Pennsylvania and the University
of Washington. During the war he
went to France and when he cane
back he again ran a farm. He was
interested in teaching as well as in
farming and became a teacher at Co.
lumbia University.
Senator Smith asked if Mr. Tugwell
believed he had the proper qualifica-
tons to hold Office as Undersecretary
of Agriculture. Senator Smith at the
same time expressed the opinion that
agriculture differs from all other &C.
equations because of the impoSsibiiity
OF reducing it to an exact science, due
to the fluctuation of weather condi-
tons He said that conditions de-
mand "one who has had varied expe-
rience in farming and one who must
know by experience how to meet the
problems of agriculture"
"Super Men" Needed.
THAT is rather an embarrassing
question you ask me-" replied Mr..
Tugwell. The position as you de-
scribe it would take a super man to
fill Neither I nor any one else seems
to measure up"
Not a super man." said Senator
Smith, but an experienced man"
Senator Smith said he thought scho-
laStic training was not enough, but
actual delving in the soil and wide
experience on a farm was needed in
an Undersecretary of Agriculture.
Mr.. Tugwell said that he had had
experience with fruit, berry and wheat
farming, although he had not had
experience in the problems of farm
ing in the South and in the West
But 1 have written about them
and studied about them for years"
added Mr.. Tugwell.
That is not enough" said Senator
Smith; fortunes have been made over
night, written down on paper"
Claims ELIGIBILITY.
Mr.. Tugwell at this point said
modestly that he had thought he
could qualify for the office.
I'm insisting" said Senator Smith,
'ton one whose lifelong occupation has
been in the actual performance of
farm duties. OF course, your age and
experience may be all that is neces-
sary to carry out this work. At
this point Senator Smith referred to
certain passages" between Senator
Byrd of Virginia, a Tugwell critic, and
Mr. Tugwell
IT shall ask Senator Byrd to ask
you any questions he may desire, y
said Senator Smith
Il shall be very glad to answer
Them" Mr.. Tugwell shot back at the
chairman.
Senator Byrd. who had been sitting
back of the chairman, took the chair
mans seat.
Questioned on Speech.
'Your attitude on fundamental
principles of Government is what I
wish to inquire into" began Senator
Byrd. al do not doubt for a moment