The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-29

Washington. March 29 - In many respects the department of agriculture is the most signifi- cant and interesting arena in the many-ringed Washington circus. Here, to a greater extent than 1T any other branch of the New Deal, the ruling executives are distinguished by scientific frame of mind, and a dominating sense of social justice.
 Probably this is one reason it has not been dwarfed by the mushroom growth Of recovery agencies which have put the old line government departments and their cabinet chiefs so obscurely in the background.
 Probably no government agen- cy boosting men like w. G. Campbell, food and drug admin istrator; Jerome Frank, counsel of the AAA; Chester Davis, chief of the same organizations: Dr Louise Stanley, head of home economies; Nils A. Olsen, direc- tor of agricultural economies. and Fred Howe, AAA consumers counsel. could really be pushed into the background.
 RULING TRIUMVIRATE
 But topping all of these in breadth, vision and idealism are the three men charged with shaping the agricultural policies of the nation.
 Secretary Henry Agard Wal lace, Assistant Secretary RexfOrd G. TugwcIl, and Economic Ad- wiser Morlecai Ezekiel, come from widely separated sections of the country, with widely differing backgrounds and traditions. Wal lace Is an IOwaR, reared in q rural, pioneer environment. Tug we'll Is an upstate New Yorker, born on a wcIl-tO-dO farm. Eze- kiel, Virginia born, stems from an old southern family dating back to preRcvolutiOnary days.
 Despite this diversity of back ground, the three men have much in common, which is for tunate for them and the admin istration.
 PANDORA'S BOX
 For if there was ever a Pan- dora's box of heart-breaking problems handed anyone. 1t was the department of agriculture when the triumvirate took office. Even at the height of the boom years, American agriculture was suffering from manifold ailments. Surp1uses mounted constantly, la n higher and higher. The depres- sion intensified the situation to point where even Iowa farmers, among the most conservative in the world, struck and rioted.
 Hoover, casting about desper- ateIy for some stOp-gap, poured out q half billion dollars of pub lie money to stabilize prices through the farm board work. 1t was hardly noticed.
 At this ebb, Wallace became secretary of agriculture. He came in as an old equalization fee cru sader. Twice such a bill had been passed by congress, twice vetoed by republican presidents. With Wallace's incumbency, naturally equalization fee advocates looked forward to early realization of their program.
 They were partially right chiefly wrong.
 The farm relief bill- agricul- tural adjustment act-drafted by Wallace, Tugwell, Ezekiel, Pro- lessor M. l.. Wilson and others, contained the equalization fee. But that was only minor part of the measure. It authorized far more daring innovations.
 ADMINISTRATIVE BATTLE
 With the bill enacted, and George N. Peek installed as agri- cultural adjustment administra- tor, it was not long before secret but deadly struggle devel- cd among the agricultural chieftains.
 Peek, veteran champion of the equalization fee, held that this was the solution of the New Deals farm problem. He opposed all regulation of agricul- tural output, wanted the equali- zation fee to be used to finance the dumping of surpluses abroad.
 Also, Peek demanded that the AAA follow the NRA by rushing through various food industries codes-packers, canners, milk dcalers-rcgardles of conces- sions demanded by hard-boiled interests.
 EYES FRONT
 Against such q program Wal lace, backed militantly by Tug well. Ezekiel and the other young brain trusters set his face rigid ly The contest was long and wearing. A man less patient. more temperamental than Wal lace would have broken with Peek long before he did. Y NY '"