Evening star., 1935-10-24
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By G.. Could Lincoln.

government CHECKS TO the 1dTIIlcTS 1OI
compliance in the restriction Of crops,
to help re-elect President Roosevelt. In
the opening paragraph Of a speech deliv-
cred over q Nationwide radio hook-up
last night by Chester c. Davis, admin
istrator of the A. A. A., he said:
"The general election of 1885 Is little
more than one year ahead OF us. Some
of the issues are already taking form.
While for one do not like to see the
agricultural policies of this Nation made
the subject Of partisan debate, it is be-
coming apparent that each party or
candidate will have to put forward
farm program. And If understand the
thinking of the agricultural producers
of the Nation, that program will have
to be reasonably definite and clear in
order to draw farm support. In other
words, when a candidate goes before the
country with his farm program he had
better take his blueprints along with
him."
The inference is plain. The Demo-
cratic administration has definite pro-
gram for the farmers. 1t will go to the
bat on that program. The only sugges-
tior regarding the farm problem to come
yet from an avowed candidate for the
Republican presidential candidate Is
that the United States adopt an export
bounty, to be paid farmers on their ex-
portable surpluses. 1t has been put Tor
ward by Col. Frank Knox, publisher OF
the Chicago Daily News. With that plan
Mr.. Davis takes direct issue. He says
that 1t cannot work. Conditions have
changed since the days when Mr.. Davis
worked for the export bounty. The
United States has become creditor in
stead of a debtor Nation. 1t no longer
pays its debts with raw materials. IN
Guiding farm crops. Trade barriers nave
been erected by foreign nations whlcn
prevent the expectation Of foodstuf1s IN
large quantities from the United States.
As Mr.. Davis sees it, and undoubtedly
as many other members OF the Demo-
cratic administration see it, the farmers
of the West are not going to change In
their allegiance to the New Deal II the
G. o. P. turns its back on the A. A. A.
and it's Government checks. The farmers
of the West are needed by the Repub-
licans if they are to have any chance
of defeating President Roosevelt. The
answer therefore, seems to be that the
administration will 60 right ahead with
its present farm program-even II the
vote on Saturday on the corn-hog pro-
gram for 1886 does not show an over
whelming vote in favor Of that program.
In concluding his address, Mr. Davis
said that the farmers who come to listen
to the candidates for Office next year will
have one thought in mind, thought
which is fundamental in the A. A. A.
program. He put that thought as follows:
"Non-agricultural industries. under
our economic system, have universally
practiced restriction Of output in order
to maintain price. Corporate industries
would no more think of running their
plants at full capacity year in and year
out throwing the output on the markets
regardless of price. and regardless OF
unsold stocks piled up. than they would
think of burning the factory building
down once year to celebrate the Fourth
of July. The farmers will want to know
why they, of all the elements Of society,
must be the only ones to hang them
selves in this manner. Now that is an
issue that will persist in challenging any
one who undertakes to drive it away"
The Federal Government has never
yet paid any manufacturer Of nom
agricultural products for failing to pro-
duce. II and when the manufacturers
have curtailed output in order to main
tain price-Mr. Davis says they have
no one handed them checks for not pro-
ducing shoes or desks or clothes up to
the capacity of their plants. Perhaps
Mr.. Davis does not see this difference be-
tween the operation of the A. A. A. and
what has been going on in industry. But
the general run of American consumers
do not like the idea Of paying any one
for not doing something productive. It
is bad psychology, so far as the men and
women are concerned who must foot
the bill for paying these farmers for
not producing. 1t seems more reasonable
to the common, ordinary man to pay for
work and production, rather than to pay
for not working and not producing.
The plethora Of Republican candidates
for Governor, Senator and other public
Office in Massachusetts,. is indicative that
the Bay State Republicans believe they
have a real chance to trim the Demo-
Gratis there next year. Joseph E. Warner,
former attorney general, and before that
Speaker of the State House of Repre-
sentatives, is one of the last to come
out for the gubernatorial nomination.
The present Speaker Of the House,
Leverett Saltonstall, Is also a candidate
for that nomination, a young man-43
years old-a veteran of the World War,
and, like State Representative Henry
Cabot Lodge, has q home in Beverly.
Lodge, grandson Of the late Senator
Lodge, has come forward for the sena-
torial nomination. Mayor Sinclair
Weeks, son of the late Senator John w.
Weeks, may hop into the senatorial race,
too. But there are those who believe
that Mr. Weeks will prefer to run for
the House, seeking to win back the ninth
congressional district, now represented
by a Democrat, Representative Russell
of Cambridge. This district is normally
Republican. Mr.. Weeks, it Is believed,
could not only win the nomination, but
could also be elected to the next Con-
gress. If he follows such a course, 1t
might prove q stepping stone to the
Senate later.
While Gov. Curley has dominated
Democratic politics in Massachusetts, in
recent months, there are plenty of Demo-
Gratis who do not love him. When it
comes time to elect delegates to the
next Democratic National Convention
Gov. Curley, James Roosevelt, son of the
President, and other Roosevelt Democrats
in prominent places in the State will