Evening star., 1935-05-16
SENATE T0DEBATE
INQUIRY OF MARCH
Remaining A. A. A. Pilgrims
Vehement in Insisting
1t Was Spontaneous.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.


The farmers pilgrimage had turned
into political holiday today with
the Senate prepared to debate res
olution calling for investigation of the
part allegedly played by Secretary
Wallace and the A. A. A. in the COM
ing to Washington of 4,500 planters
to sing the praises of the adjust
ment program.
The few remaining visitors, who
hocked here from 80 States for a mass
demonstration last Tuesday, vehe-
mently denied the insinuation of the
resolution fathered by Senator Hast
ings, Republican, of Delaware, that
the march was inspired and not
spontaneous
Secretary Wallace, at a press confer
ence yesterday, declared he would
welcome an investigation of the
farmers trip to Washington"
President Hurls Lie.
The meeting and a statement by
President Roosevelt in his speech to
the farmers that "specious les we're
told by A. A. A. opponents precipitated
Hastings action, and brought a furry
of charges and countercharges late
yesterday on the floor of the House
as we'll
Hastings accused the President Of
acting the part of a small town
bully" and Representative Fish, Re-
publican, of New York restrained
himself with the comment that the
President lost his head-and that Is
the mildest term that can be applied"
Meanwhile, Edward E. Kennedy,
secretary Of the Farmers Union, long
time A. A. A. opponent, which claims
100000 members, charged in a state
ment that A. A. A heads planned
and bought and paid for the march"
General protests, lacking any spe-
cific information, came to the Offices
Of the National Grange here against
injection of politics into the whole
problem Of farm relief in connection
with the march. Correspondents from
rural areas expressed their fear the
demonstration might be looked on as
political move.
Galleries Are Crowded.
The tanned farmers crowded the
galleries of both House and Senate
while the legislators worked themselves
into a fury over the political sig
nificance of the demonstration. The
visitors were almost as demonsrative
in the Capitol chambers as they were
when the President spoke to them
and during their own Constitution
Hall meeting They called loud "yip-
pees' when Senator Connally and
Representative Blanton, both Texas
Democrats, took on the burden Of
the defense.
With dozens of his plow-following
constituents looking on approvingly,
Connally charged the Hastings reso-
luton was an insult to farmers"
But among the pilgrim onlookers
were many county agents who had
joined the march after arousing the
farmers to move on the Capitol to
insure continuation Of their benefit
payments.
terday lamented that these county
agents. whose salary comes from Fed
eral. State and county funds, came
with the pilgrims, and said:
I'VE expected something like this
would happen if they did," referring
to the resolution.
Wallace said the first thing he knew
"abou. the pilgrimage was in the press
from Texas"
Immediate Vote Averted.
Immediate vote IN the resolution
yesterday was narrowly averted by
Senator McNary, minority leader, who
bounded from the cloak room 10 fore
stall the action when Senator Con-
nally sought the test.
Hastings expressed himself In
statement before he took the floor in
a denunciation of the White House
talk. The statement drew an imme-
diate reply on the floor from Senator
Lewis, Democrat, of Illinois, majority
whip, who demanded proof of init
nations the President was in con-
spiracy to bring the farmers here"
It have no knowledge" Hastings re-
torted. except the general attitude OF
the administration upon that and like
subjects.
Il am satisfied the administration in
the past has used money appropriated
for public purposes to produce an ef-
/ feet on the country that the admins
tratior was doing greater things than
it actually was doing"
THAT confesses the resolutions
weakness" Lewis said, and demanded
! its withdrawal as IAN affront" to the
/ President and Wallace.