FARMER AND HIS WOES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 367, 30 May 1928, Page 1

FARMER AND HIS WOES

Pivot of American Election SUDDEN LEAP TO PROMINENCE Corruption Issue Overshadowed (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Reed. 9.28 a.m. NEW YORK, Tuesday. WITH a suddenness not at all uncharacteristic of American politics, one old, very old issue hasi suddenly leaped into prominence and promises to overshadow all other issues. As preparations are being made for the opening of the Republican National Convention a fortnight hence, President Coolidge’s veto of the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill has had the effect of concentrating all political attention on the American farmer and his woes.

Two months ago, corruption in high places promised to be the pivotal issue in the November elections, but to-day this seems to be completely forgotten, and the prediction that corruption “will not change a single vote in November,” seems unanswerable now. The interesting thing, however, is the political manoeuvring behind the sudden rise of agricultural aid as such a burning issue. It is, accurately speaking, just “politics,” and while it is serious enough, it can be safely said that it/will not decide the choice of the next president, just as it was not the paramount factor in 1924. NO FARMERS’ ARMY The newspapers for the past few days have been full of accounts from the Middle-West, depicting 100,000 farmers standing ready there to lay down their implements, and march upon Kansas City to present an ultimatum to the Republican Party on the question of farm relief. There is no question but that just now the farmers feel ready to do this; but on June 12 there will be no 100,000 or even a single thousand encamped farmers before the Conven-

tion doors. A despatch from Chicago to-day states that the farm organisations

throughout the West are choosing a committee to send to Kansas City, to present the following thesis: The party is facing the greatest crisis of its history, and if the Eastern Republican leaders will listen to the voice of the West, and heed the demand for economic justice, victory will follow; but if they continue to be indifferent to the needs and rights of the maize-belt and the farming States, if they force the nomination of a candidate opposed to farm-relief, no matter who he is then defeat is invited and disaster will follow.” Such a committee undoubtedly will be present at Kansas City. A similar committee came to Cleveland in 1925, hut 100,000 encamped tillers of the soil is too highly imaginative, even for American politics. HOOVER’S ALERT ENEMIES Both technical experts and the more moderate Democrats agree that President Coolidge was wholly right in vetoing the McNary-Haugen Bill. They say that if the farmer is sick and needs a doctor, then Congress, in the form of this Bill, sent a crystalgazer to diagnose the agriculturalist’s disease, and the President rightfully kicked the magician down the front steps of the White House. But the great cry from the West has its political roots in the quickmindedness of Mr. H. C. Hoover’s enemies, in once again concentrating their attack upon him. Mr. Hoover, who seeks the Republican nomination for President, is against this Bill, therefore Mr. P. O. Lowden’s henchmen have shaken the farmer wide awake, and said to him that from Mr. Hoover he can get as little as from President Coolidge. Mr. Hoover is in a quandary. If he wishes to get President Coolidge’s

personal support (and this is an important factor) he cannot reply to his enemies. It is interesting to note that Senator Curtis, who announced his candidacy on the plea that he is a friend of the farmer, also voted against the Bill, for the reason that he is President Coolidge's friend, and he would like to get Mr. Coolidge’s personal support. for his candidacy. Mr. Lowden, with Mr. C. G. as the so-called “dark horse” behind him, thus again looms as an important figure. The question is: “What will Mr. Lowden be able to do at Kansas City?” Thus it is that the farmer has a unique opportunity of becoming the pampered child of the Republican Party, not because he is loved for himself, but because he can be used by one faction of the party to defeat another. The Democrats in the meantime look with broad satisfaction upon the