Evening star., 1942-09-25

dents request l1!ss$%:$
would in other EE$;<$E* j
countries under David Lawrence.
the parliamentary system mean a
vote Of lack of confidence in the
executive. But under the parlia-
mentary system also, some party
leadership would have to take the
responsibility for the step.
The farm bloc, on the other hand,
Is a bipartisan group. 1t always
has been drawn from the two ma
ior parties and 1t has been in exis-
tence for many years. The farm
bloc made its first appearance as a
power in Congress in 1920. The
agitation for the McNary- -Haugen
bill as a means of stabilizing farm
income resulted in a Presidential
veto on at least two occasions IN
the '2os. =
The growth of the farm bloc to
It's maximum strength under the
Roosevelt administration saw the
subsidy to farmers bigger than any
thing previously dreamed OF.
It is the irony of fate that Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who has been the
best friend the American farmer has
ever had, should now find himself at
lopeerheads with the farm bloc
leaders. But it is also significant
that the farm bloc has seen the la
Dor block get what it believes to be
greater advantages.
Lack Appeasement Formula.
The administration leaders IN
Congress are trying hard to work
out q compromise formula to ap-
p3ase the farm bloc. 1t is difncult
task, for no comprehensive formula
Is yet has been presented.
The old device Of putting In =
flexible provision enabling the Presi-
dent to take care of labor costs in
computing parity has not awakened
4 sympathetic response from the
farm bloc, whose. spokesmen say
that they don't want 1t left to the
discretion Of the EXECUTIVE but that
they want the instruction written
spscaAeally into the statute. This
means, 81 course. that the farm
Rroup doesn't trust the executive
asenc1sTto feasow the parity formula
that passed the House.
It Is regrettable that in subject
q vital to the national economy as
agriculture there is no single spokes-
man for the administration on Capt.
tol Hill who Is capable Of working
out . harmonious program. The
Secretary Of Agriculture was for a
time on the side Of the farm bloc,
but he has been compelled to switch
alleriances. In fact, as . member
Of the cabinet, he cannot do other
wise.
The Farm bloc members suspect
that the once of Price Administra-
ton would not be sympathetic In the
working out OF the parity formula,
because It's executives already have
expressed themselves pohtedly
against the present law which it is
the Presidents objective to see
amended.
On the whole, the farm problem
has drifted into the present critical
stage after months OF smolderine
hre. The inconsistency Of an in
creased farm income on the one
hand and an uncontrolled wage in
flation on the other, has not seemed
to occasion the concern that II
should have aroused many months
Unwholesome Situation.
Perhaps the President has felt
that when crisis came he could
handle the situation by an appeal
to public opinion, and it is probable
that he wrote his message threat
ening to take action by october !
rs a means OF bringing to public at
tention the fundamental issues thai
are involved.
The situation Is not wholesome
The farm bloc leaders deny thai
they are any less interested in pre-.
venting imitation than are the lead
ers OF the labor group or any othel
group. The real dificulty is tha
where blocs and groups have ire
mendous legislative strength the.
tend to insist on getting their owl
ideas into legislation which the.
think will give them economic pro
lection.
It Is quite possible the outcom
would have been different If tn
President had offered a wage-con
troll bill first and then forced tn
farm group, by means Of publ
opinion, to fall in line also. In
stead, he got an understanding wit
the labor group, the terms Of whic
are vague and which Mr.. Roose
velt has not sought to have include
in any legislation. This has mad
the farm bloc suspicious and re
calcitrant. The Presidents leader
ship Is, indeed, at stake and onl
by well-balanced program woul
1t appear possible for him to SOW
the problem and prevent any grou
from getting special advantages.
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