The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1936-01-09
The AAA Decision

-HE ECONOMIC and political conse-
quences Of the supreme court decision
4 Monday which swept away the AAA
so completely that there apparently is
nothing left to patch or mend can only be
vaguely imagined
Even the AAA officials who, anticipat-
ing their brain child might be badly cut and
bruised had prepared gauze and tape Tor
quick repairs, were left amazed at the des-
truction of high hopes and promises given
farmers under the New Deal wrought by
the six elderly men who held the law invalid.
One fact is apparent to everyone inter-
ested in rural difficulties. The farm prob
lem is back on political party doorsteps and
the specter of over-supplies, low prices for
farm products and farm lands which the
AAA and the drouth relegated to the back
ground once more threatens national pros
perity.
Had the national election been held last
week, the Democrats would have leaned
heavily on their farm program for rural
support, forcing some suggestion of sub
stitute or revision of the AAA from the Re-
publicans. Today both parties face the
same problem and must, to interest rural
voters, offer farm plan that sounds prac-
tical and has some assurance of standing up
in the courts.
What features such plans may contain
is still very much guess work. With the
COP farm board plan dismal failure and
the AAA illegal, the field of possibilities is
reduced. Some practical knowledge and
perhaps a framework of organization may
be salvaged. Little else appears to be left
The position of unexpired contracts is
of most immediate interest. Undoubtedly
every legal stone will be turned in an effort
to find way to make payments earned by
complying farmer up to January 6. Should
this be impossible, any substitute farm pro-
gram will start under great handicap. Farm
ers will be slow to agree to any new pro-
gram until all that is due them under the
old is paid.
The question arises also as to the status
of processing taxes collected and paid to the
government and those held by companies in
volved in the legal proceedings which
brought ruin to the AAA. Certainly pro-
money so collected. Insofar as contracts
have been complied with this money belongs
to the farmers. Any excess rightfully
should be returned to the consumer, an i'm
possibility for who knows exactly how
much processing tax each consumer has
paid in the life Of the AAA.
The decision once more brings home
the fact that while the president and sena-
tors and congressman are elected as guard
ians of the nations destiny, the nine
supreme court justices who serve for life
after being appointed by president hold
an all-powerful position in their privilege of
judging the legality Of legislative and exc
cutive acts on the basis of constitutional
limitations. 1t is doubtful, if the authors of
the constitution intended granting such wide
powers to body not subject to election by
the people.
The practically or necessity of laws of
congress are no concern of theirs. Neither
are they privileged or expected to say where
the constitution might be changed to the
benefit of the nation. This is unfortunate
The fact that their opinions are so frequent
ly not unanimous indicates the technical
points on which decisions are reached. The