Evening star., 1936-06-10
SUPPORT SOUGHT
FOR LITTLE
Western Delegates Deadlock
Informal Conference in
Surprise Move.
ey the Associated Press.

Ey tht ASSociateo PreSS
CLEVELAND, June l0.-A farm
plank sufficiently attractive financially
to offset monetary advantages Of New
Deal" policies was urged upon Repub-
lican platform builders today as they
wrestled with the party's agricultural
program.
The lead was taken by some Western
States delegates. They disclaimed any
attempt to "out deal the New Deal"
but insisted that If the Republicans
hoped to win support of the rural pop
ulation in the presidential election
they would have to match every aid
offered by the present administration.
Suggestions to the committee en-
oraced a tariff equivalent subsidy plan
plus soil conservation payments un-
officially estimated to place $400,000,-
900 annually in farmers pockets.
Informal Conference Deadlocked.
In surprise move Western delegates
deadlocked an informal conference un-
til Eastern delegates attending agreed
to back a suggestion for State control
of agricultural production and dis
tribution through a little A. A. A"
program.
The agreement, which has yet to be
acted upon by the Platform Commit
tee itself, is a compromise between
those who advocated national control
and those who opposed even the in
ferred regulation of land use through
operation of the present soil conserva-
ton act. 1t was reached after hasty
meeting with Senator Capper, Repub-
lican of Kansas. and Representative
Hope, Republican of Kansas. These
legislators, friends of Gov Alf Landon
of Kansas, declined to predict the Plat
form Committees attitude toward the
battle-scarred philosophy Of production
control.
Capper, friend of certain A. A. A.
features, said many farm States SYM
pathized with some form Of control to
prevent pyramiding surpluses and
glutted markets.
Support Of the powerful American
Farm Bureau Federation was swung to
the production control plan by Presi-
dent Edward A. O'Neal and Vice
President Earl c. Smith, both of whom
appeared before the Platform Commit
tee.
Adjustment Program Favored.
They testified that Government sub
sides, either upon farm exports or
upon the domestically consumed por-
nf 70
permanently maintain fair prices for
farmers unless coupled with an effec-
tive production adjustment program.
This program, they held. should bal
ance the supply with effective demand.
The Little A. A. A" contemplateS
adoption by States of master law
under which those desiring it may CO.
operate with the Federal Government
on te-administered program of
production control benefits for farmers.
Majority opinion submitted TO the
committee was unalterably opposed to
the mostfaVored- nations clause of the
1884 trade agreements act The party
was asked to pledge itself to repeal of
the provision. Bilateral foreign trade
PdCIo "GlG dONOCdlSO WlUQ LQe
Senate having veto power over them.
Louis j. Taber, master Of the Ma
tional Grange. led the fight before the
Platform Committee to re-write recip-
rocal treaty legislation He said the
American market should be guaran-
teed to the American farmer He sug-
gestcd that agricultural imports be
controlled through permits, which
would be issued only If imports we're
needed and did not compete with
products.
Other Suggestions.
Other suggestions to the committee
Included:
A permanent system of commodity
loans to prevent seasonal surpluses
from unduly affecting prices.
Expansion of domestic and foreign
outlets for farm products
Further development of a farmer
owned credit system to provide ample
loans at interest commensurate with
rates available to other industries.
Efficient and low-cost transporta-
ton.
Encouragement of cooperative
marketing.
Promotion of industrial uses for
farm products.
A national land-use policy.
A declaration against further
reclamation projects until foreign
markets have been regained sufficient
ly to absorb present crop surpluses.