Evening star., 1939-11-20
6. 0. P. Chiefs Confer
On Farm Plank for
1910 Platform
McNory Opposes Present
Trade Program as
Detrimental to West
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
News that three Republican
groups are comforting on farm and
labor planks for their 1910 platform
provided diversion today for po-
litical forecasters.
Interest in the burning topic of
whether President Roosevelt will
run again was kept alive with a
comment by Paul " McNutt that
mo possible combination or per-
mutation" could keep the nominal
ton away from the Chief EXecu-
tive if he chose to make the race.
Mr.. McNutt, Federal security ad-
n1inistrator, who spent the week end
at Hyde Park, N. Y, attending the
cornerstone laying ceremony for
the new Roosevelt library, has said
repeatedly that he would withdraw
from the 1910 convention contest
If Mr.. Roosevelt sought third
term.
The President admittedly is hav-
ing lot of fun keeping newspaper
men and politicians guessing about
his intentions. Mr.. McNutt told
reporters:
''If Mr.. Roosevelt decides to run
he will be nominated and elected.
If he doesn't run the Democratic
nominee will have to be acceptable
to him.
Farm States Held Key.
Politicians generally agree that the
farm States will be one of the major
backgrounds in the 1910 campaign.
Republicans made marked gains in
the Midwest State and congressional
races last year and are eager to
follow up those victories.
1t was learned that Senator Nc
Nary of Oregon, Senate minority
leader, has been conferring with
other party chieftains OF ideas for
strong farm and labor plankS.
Senator McNary believes that the
administration reciprocal trade
program is detrimental to Western
agriculture and should be altered
or scrapped.
What his alternative plan will be
remains to be seen, but Senator Nc
Nary is so determined to have a
voice in formulation of farm and
other planks which would attract
western voters that he was permit
ted friends to push his own candi-
dacy for the presidential nomina-
ton.
Second Group Created.
A second Republican group study
Ing the farm question has just been
created. Chairman Hope, Repub-
Ican, of Kansas, of the House Re-
publican Agricultural Study Com
mlttee named a subcommittee head
ed by Representative Horton, Re-
publican, of Wyoming, with Repre-
sentatives Allen, Republican, of
Illinois, and DWorshak,' Republican,
OF Idaho, as members, to hold hear
ings at Salt Lake City December /
and 2 on problems confronting pro-
ducers in that area.
The group will give special at
tention to effects of the reciprocal
trade agreements on livestock and
sugar beet producers, dairymen and
wool growers from Utah, Nevada,
Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
The agricultural group is one of
several committees established by
Representative Martin of Massa-
chusetts, House Republican leader,
to study various subjects in prepa-
ration of policies with which to go
to the country next year.
A third Republican group giving
attention to the farm problem is a
subcommittee of the general pro-
gram committee headed by DR..
Glenn Frank of Chicago. The sub
committee is in charge of w. j.
Goodwin, Des Moines banker.
The Executive Committee of the
Republican National Committee will
meet here December 7 to plan for
the opening of the 1910 campaign,
but 1t will not consider convention
site or take up platform issues.
Democrats Not Very Active.
Democrats have shown little evi-
dence of tool-gathering for plat
form-making. Leaders who have
talked at all on the subject have
expressed a belief that the Demo-
cratic platform would be largely an
Endorsement of the Roosevelt record.
However, the Agriculture Depart
ment has shown indications of at
least revamping its 1910 program to
SHIFT emphasis from crop production
control to measures providing greater
protection to the soil. Larger shares
In the SITS 100000 of benefits for
complying with acreage allotments
will be offered as inducements to
farmers to prevent wind and water
erosion.
The control program faces tomor-
row the first of two tests.
Approximately 100000 growers of
hurley tobacco in 16 Southern and
Midwestern States will vote on a
proposal of the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration for marketing
quotas on this years crop.
This referendum will be followed
by another on December 9, in which
more than 2,5000OO farmers in 10
Southern and far-Western States
will ballot on a similar proposal
affecting the cotton crop.
In each referendum, the favorable
votes of two-thirds of the farmers
voting will be required if the quotas
are to be invoked.