Evening star., 1939-12-24
Political Setup Held
Fovorinq Wallace
By ODen L. Scott.

Events appear at this stage to be forc-
ing Henry Wallace back into the ma
tional political picture.
At one time, not so long ago, the Sec
retary Of Agriculture was classed with
that>small group Of high officials who
might aspire to the 1910 Democratic
presidential nomination.
Then President Roosevelt. in q conver-
sation with Senator Gillette Of Iowa.
had dropped the suggestion that Mr..
Wallace lacked sufficient ut" to become
the type of glamour boy" needed-in
the Presidents opinion-to pull In the
votes on election day.
So it seemed that another name had
been stricken from the list Of those who
might get 1910 consideration.
But much water has gone over the
dam since that remark by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Many other names have been crossed
of the list in somewhat similar style.
The President appears not to be i'm
pressed by the political attractiveness of
Secretary Hull, or Postmaster General
Farley. or Vice President Garner, and
there is beginning to be some doubt
about the ranking of Security Admins
traitor McNutt.
But suddenly there are developments
that can revive the political fortunes of
Mr.. Wallace.
For one thing, the most serious drought
in history is fastening itself on the
Southwest and Middle West.
For another thing, there is brewing
what promises to become q real knock
down fight over this countrys program
OF reciprocal trade agreements-agree-
ments for lowering tariffs.
For third thing, owing to a combi-
nation of circumstances-war, drought
and Government controls-prices Of
many farm products are rising.
In each of these instances, the man
who can provide answers and who can
command credit also can get the atten-
ton of the politicians who must have the
votes Of the Middle Vests farmers to
pears to be that man, In case Mr.. Roose.
velt retires.
Drought again in 1940-as in 1884 and
1936-will find the A. A. A. with plans
that now are modernized. Those stores
of corn and of wheat, which have been
viewed with grave misgivings and that
have drawn down rather violent criti-
cism on the Secretary of Agriculture,
now will assure that, even in the face of
drought. there will be adequate supply
of grain.
The reciprocal trade program fight will
find Mr.. Wallace on the fence-where he
has stayed rather consistently.
Rising farm income will automatically
enhance the prestige of Secretary Wal
lace in the farm regions.
y
AS matter Of fact, the Secretary of
Agriculture and his aides have built q
piece of Government machinery that
probably is more deeply entrenched than
any other part Of the New Deal. That
control machinery-providing overall
management for millions of farms-was
put in operating order back in 1885
by Chester Davis, now q member of the
Federal Reserve Board, and it has func-
toned with amazing efficiency ever since
This machine fits every purpose. 1t
conserves soil, controls production, in
sures against complete disaster from
ports. provides outlets for surpluses
among the unemployed and performs
other services.
But what the country doesn't know is
that Mr.. Wallace and those who have
worked with him were given what looked
like an impossible job.
They were asked to solve the farm
problem-which really is result rather
than the cause of the overall industrial
problem-Without having any authority
to tackle the broad problem itself The
rather astonishing thing is that, by in
genuity and planning, this group of Off
cials has produced results that will be
permanent. These results have involved
the use of cash and credit, but they also
have called for an unusual degree OF
coordination and cooperation between
farmers and the Government.
Now the thought is beginning to occur
that, if Mr.. Wallace is able, under what
really is an impossible handicap. to get
results for farmers, maybe, with broader
powers, he might be able to produce re-
suits in dealing with the Nations broad
industrial problem.
The trouble is that there appear to be
several catches.
One catch grows from the fact thai
the Secretary does lack political "it," ano
that would be handicap if the country
wants cit" Some politicians think il
doesn't.
Another catch is that the little group
around the President thinks that Mr.
Wallace isn't radical enough. In order
to convince them that he may be radica
enough, the Secretary may have offend
ed some of his most important friends
X X
The third catch is that Secretary
Wallace is strongly sold on the idea that
what this country needs is third term
for President Roosevelt. He Is among
the first of the high officials who openly
expressed themselves in favor of third
term.
But, if farmers are going to hold the
deciding vote in 1910, and If Mr.. Wal.
lace is the man who can command the
farm vote, then politicians are going te
| he ipferacted