Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-08-09
by William Bruckart

are thinking about is abandonment Of
the contracts for curtailment of crops
because the extreme drouth has made
the reduction plans unavoidable and
even dangerous to the country's food
stocks.
So 1t begins to appear that there
will have to be revision of the agricul-
tural program upon which the admin
istration has worked so desperately
and upon which it has expended so
much money.
The Agricultural department is au-
thority for the statement that the
drouth already has removed any prob
ability of a wheat surplus. To this
shortage has been added unfavorable
conditions abroad that have resulted
in general world total Of wheat prob
ably as much as 400,000,O00 bushels
below what is held to be an average
yield. This is happening just when
many Of the wheat-growing nations OF
the world were approaching the point
Of a binding agreement that would
hold down the quantity Of wheat en-
tering into export trade and thereby
force crop reduction. But the authori-
ties tell me the movement for an in
ternational agreement naturally is go
ing to die. There being no dire neces-
sity for it, the interest behind it will
lag. I suppose there will be few, If
any, further moves made on it until
years of bumper crops again are upon
US and a gigantic surplus of world
wheat stares farmers in the face.
That is usually the case.
It likely will be some weeks before
the Agricultural department can
formulate a definite course of action
as to revision of the crop reduction
plans.
President Roosevelt's return Is
eagerly awaited among some of the
"brain trust" who
Brain Trusts are variously re-
Little War ported in Washing
ton as desiring the
Chief Executive to intervene in their
own little war. There are number Of
minor disputes taking shape among
the professors and the so-called young
liberals, and am informed in what
believe to be authentic quarters that
anti-administration agents are foment-
ing more trouble among the group that
has served as such important advisers
to the President during his term. OBJ
viously, none will admit it, but there
is every reason to believe that some
keen individuals who are not in SYM
pathy with the New Deal are spread
ing poison among the brain trusters
about each other. The natural result
of this, of course, is to cause the
young liberals to be suspicious of each
other and that kind of suspicion near
ly always is followed by an open
break.
The stories in current circulation in
Washington are that some of the brain
trusters are at outs with Raymond
Moley, for a time the No. 1 brain
trust man with the President but now
the editor Of a magazine, and that
several of those still in the administra-
ton are saying unkind things about
others who still are serving here. It
is a situation not without its humor-
Gus side, and from having seen such
factions develop before in the govern
ment, imagine this one will turn out
to be a real comedy.
The economic events of the last few
weeks Indicate to some Washington OBJ
servers that a new
See NelD Crisis crisis is approach
Nearing ing in the de p
ways a dull month. September is lit.
tie better from business standpoint.
After that things usually pick up. To
get through the next six weeks with
drouth devastating millions of acres
and strikes and riots and military rule
and uncertainties among business in
terests as to what the New Deal Of
the future holds, there necessarily
must be steady hand and calm judy
ment. On top of this, Of course, is
the disturbed international situation,
and it is not helping the weary old
world to settle down.
Since the kind of government man
agement of business that we have had
has not taken us out of the depression,
the course Immediately becomes prob
lematical. Shall we have more of the
same, or expand it beyond its present
scope, or shall we retrace our steps
and go back to the old days?
In the midst of this turbulent condi.
ton, the Shiny head of imitation of the
currency again is arising. Strangely
enough, there are many men now talk
ing about imitation seriously when all
of their knowledge and all of their
training ordinarily would make Of
them the bitterest Of antagonists to
such a course on the part of the fed
eral government. Some of them have
been in Washington In recent weeks
and l gathered from the arguments
they advanced that they sincerely be-
lieved imitation would do good for the
country as a whole, and for them
selves in particular. That is the sad
part of it: they seem to think that
thav can nav off their debts and that