Evening Star Newspaper, September 19, 1928, Page 10

20 & SHITH BACKS PLAN - OF MNARY-HALGEN Pledges Party to Principle. Discounts Liquor as Great Issue. (Continued from First Page) power in that direction they should get it to the limit. . the other hand, following the well defined Jeffersonian principle of State's rights, the State that does not want the exercise of that police power ought to be in a position, through a majority of the people, to say so.” Another question asked how he (‘fluld1 #quare his support of Democratic can- didates for Congress liquor wi for _liquo; He replied that he could not under- stand how any one could ask such a question since “there is nothing that ~Ahe President can do about liquor. £ “All he can do,” he said, “is recom- i mend to the Congress, and he can { assume the leadership of the American £ people in an effort to show them that | m recommendation is right. That is % what I propose to do, and let the Amer- ican people make the decision, as they will have to do.” Loud applause greeted this statement. | Asked if he thought the country would 5 be more prosperous “with liquor or! without,” the governor brought another | cheer when he responded: “Nobody, no living person, no matter how wise, no matter how well informed. no matter how far seeing. could make any an-| gwer. to that question, because there has never been liquor out of this| country.” Several questions dealt with farm re- | 1ief, one asking if he favored higher food prices in the city or lower food prices . on the farm. “My answer to that” he said, “is that the farmer can get the full benefit . of the value of his crop without increas- | ing the price in the city.” i The nominee challenged the 10/ Nebraskans to find anywhere in his | . record a statement in which he was re- rted by them to have said that the nderwood tariff fulfills the pledge of this year's Democratic platform, and added that if they were actuated by . patriotic instead of partisan motives they would ask Hoover all of the ques- tions propounded to him. © Tracing the Republican adminis- { tration in the last seven and a half ars, Gov. Smith, waving his arms be- , fore the microphones and frequently pounding the table with his hands, de- fined the platform declarations of that pariy in the last three campaigns as| amounting to nothing more tham!| ~*promises.” At one point, the nominee referred ! to Hoover as the “Republican candi- | date for governor,” and when he was ! 5 corrected by some one on the platform, ; he finished his sentence with the state- ment that he referred to the presi-| % dential candidate. | . “What did I say, vice president,” he * turned and asked his prompter. 3 ©° “Governor,” was the reply. * i surprised, | “Governor?” he came “pledged against | what you say you wili do;, ‘THE EVENING TEXT OF GOV. SMITH’S SPEECH By the Associated Press. OMAHA, Nebr., September 19.—In an address prepared for delivery here last night and devoted entirely to the farm problem, Gov. Smith said: “This is my first speech of the cam- paign. It is, however, not a new ex- perience to me. In the State of New York ' have led the Democratic party in five State campaigns. “New York for the major part of the time for the past 30 years was a strong Republican State. That in four of those campaigns I led to victory is in no small part due to the fact that I talked frankly to the people of that State in very plain and understandable language. Beginning here tonight and continuinz throughout the national campaign I propose to continue that policy. 1 "“The function of a political party is ! to ascertain the popular will on the subjects pressing the country for solu- tion. It is the expression of that popu- lar will as it is understood by the par- ties which brings about the adoption of a platform which, aside from defining fundamental issues, is a promise that if intrusted with power the party will at- tempt the solution of these problems along the lines laid down by the declaration “If we accept that as true, and as a sound doctrine, then this battle for the presidency of the United States demands consideration of the issues set forth in the platforms of the two great parties. “In the discussion of these issues it is fair to look back over the years and compare performance with promise, to the end that the people may have be- fore them the record, and be able to appraise the sincerity of the platform and the party in its true light. Quotes Hoover Statement. “The Republican candidate for Presi- dent in his speech of acceptance. refer ring to the Republican administration, said: “The record of these seven and one- half years constitutes a period of rare courage and leadership and constructive action. Never has a political party been able to look back upon & similar period with more satisfaction. “Here in Omaha tonight, in the center of one of the great farming regions of this country, I propose to discuss that Republican record of over seven ycars and a half on the important question of farm relief. “I challenge the statement that there has been courage or leadership or con- structive action on farm relief. 1 as- sert. that there is not the slightest basis upon which the Republican party can indulge in any degree of self-satisfac- tion in looking back over its record of seven and a half years on the question of agriculture. “On the contrary, I charge that they violated their platform promises, that | they deceived the farmer, that they did nothing whatever to contribute in the slightest degree to relieve the distress or promote the welfare of the farmers of this country. Posing for decades as the friends of the farmer the Repub- lican leaders have by their betrayal of the confidence” which the farmers im- posed in: them forfeited every right to the allegiance or support of the agri- culturalists of this country. “They have sown the wind and should reap the whirlwind. “In the 1920 platform. aside from some general statements known to the children in all public schools, no defi- nite promise was made to the agricul- ¢ and added: “I have got to get some practi tural interests of the country. But.im- 2% | mediately following the advent of the this, T never ran for President before.” | Republican administration the tarm Another roar went up. problem became acute and was recog- ‘The nominee quoted the statement < by Senatof Norris, Republican, Nebraska, { mttarking the Republican platform as & “direct slap” at the farmer and asked why Gov. McMullen of Nebraska, a Re- - publican, had threatened to invade the | < Kansas City convention with “a half * million men and batter down the doors ,of the committee on resolutions in a demand for some definite promise of farm relief.” ! “Just what they are talking about. 4 Just what they all admit, the distress of i the farmer,” the governor said. “The best thought on agriculture { after a careful study of it,” he asserted, ‘claims that in the last 18 years there has been :‘g’ecrlus: ]ln rtnhde rgrc!‘usm. power of icultural ucts of over ' 20 per cent. 'l'ha!ulge!.rmmih ‘The trouble is that the farmer is buying in a highly protected wlcn‘:;ket and he is #elling in an unprof one.” The tariff standing by itself, he con- ? tinued, will never solve the farm prob- lem because “it does not operate.” “In this instance,” he said, “it is like { the machine with the engine running, but_the belt off.” { “What did they mean by equality be- % tween agriculture and industry,” he ask- 1 ed, referring to Republican declarations. : “They meant by that to give the farmer 1 the benefit of the tariff, just as industry £ gets the benefit of the tariff. They know : they have not done it. The President £ knows it, their candidate, Hoover, knows | iit, and the President made an empty . gesture when he fixed the tariff on { wheat at 42 cents. He might as well % have made it $1.42. It would not make ‘ any difference.” | 1 “Until some plan is devised for 1ift-| < ing that surplus,” he said, “the tariff ? will not work.” Gov. Smith concluded his address with | . this statement: £ " “All during the campaign we will talk | + issues. We will fight this out in the open. * We will have a good, clean, clear, open { fight and the American people will de- * cide it. But as I read the record I can i see only one decision for the 6th of . November, and that is an overwhelming | Democratic victory.” WORK CRITICIZES SPEECH. §ays Smith's Remarks in Omaha Based | ] on Misquotations. | Chairman Work of the Republk‘,ln’ national committee in a statement to- | < day declared Gov. Smith's remarks in | ‘ Omaha last’ night on the agricultural problem were based on misquotations , and that the Democratic candidate “carefully avoided saying whether o: | not he favors taxing the farmer, and whether he favors putting the Gov-| * ernment into buying, selling and price- | fixing of agricultural products.” | “Gov. Smith's speech last night is | to a considerable degree based upon | misquotations or distortions of quota- tions from President Coolidge, Secretary | Hoover and the Republican platform.” | Dr. Work said. “By omission of context | he gives an entirely perverted repre- | * sentation of these statements. ! “Gov. Smith displays remarkable ignorance of some fundamental facts. He states that the farmer is buying in a protected market and selling in highly protected markets, ‘Everything that enters into the operation of his farm except that which he himself produces, is hid behind a tariff wall. It is sup- posed to function for him, but it does not.’ are the words he used. “Later on Gov. Smith gives an illus- tration of the in price of harvest- ers and binders. He is apparently oblivious of the fact that all harvesting machinery is on the free list. He - further uses shoe manufacturing as an {llustration in face of the fact that shoes are also on the free list. “Candidate Smith carefully avoids . stating that he is for the equalization .*fee, although he says he has a four- square plain program. He enunciates the principle which he says he finds in the McNary-Haugen bill, but which is not the principle over which the battle has been fought for the past four * years. That principle is whether the ‘Government shall impose a tax on the farmer and shall, in order to carry out . the machinery, engage itself in the buying and selling and price fixing of 1 agricultural products. All of this Gov. { Bmith avoids. * * *» H Col. F. G. Lawton Dies. MOBILE, Ala., September 19 (#).— Co). Frederick G. Lawton, 58, U. 8. A., retired, who saw service in Philippines, < Jjorto Rico, Mexicar border and World ‘ar overseas, died here today, . nized in the Republican platform of 1924, which said: Cites G. 0. P. 1924 Platform. “‘We recognize that agricultural ac- tivities are still struggling with adverse conditions that have brought deep dis- tress; we pledge the party to take what- ever steps are necessary to bring back.| a balanced condition between agricl- ture, industry and labor.’ “By the language of the 1924 plat-| form, the Republican party recognized the deep distress of the agricultural interests of the country. They further recognized the necessity of bringing back a balanced condition between agriculture and industry, and made a | definite pledge as follows: ““The Republican party pledges itself to the development and enactment of measures which will place the agricul- tural interests of America on a basis | of economic equality with other indus- try to insure its prosperity and suc- cess. “So that if today we have in this country a farm problem and a con- tinuance of that distress it cannot be said, after a reading of the 1924 plat- form, that the Republican party and the Republican administration at Wash- ington ‘were without knowledge of the actual conditions. “After seven and a half years of promise and no performance, it is sig- nificant to note the Republican plat- form of 1928 which reads: ““The general depression in a great basic industry inevitably reacts upon the condition in the country as a whole and cannot be ignored.” “Here we have definitely, at least, after all these years the confession that | there is a general depression in the great basic industry, and that it re- acts upon conditions in the country as a whole, and that it cannot be ignored, although that is the treatment, accord- ing to the record, it has received in the last four years. “Later on I shall deal with what their 192§ platform specifically recom- mends, but at this point it would be interesting to read the last paragraph of the plank devoted to agriculture: ““The Republican party pledges itself |to the development and enactment of measures which will place the agri- cultural interests of America on a basis of economic equality with other in- dustries to assure its prosperity and success.” Compares Platforms. “I call your attention to the fact that this is identical with the language of the 1924 platform. What became of that promise in the 1924 platform if it has to be repeated, word for word, in 19282 What attention should be paid to the 1928 promise if nothing was done under the 1924 promise? “I can imagine myself in the execu- tive session of the Republican commit- tee on platform at the recent conven- tion in Kansas City and I can picture for myself one delegate asking what has been done in the last four years to make good the platform of 1924. Meet- ing as he must with the reply that the | previous platform’s pledges remain un- redeemed. he suggests that they be re peated—that they be repeated, undoub edly, upon the theory that the Repub- lican party has handed the empty plate to the farmer so often that they can probably take a chance and pass it once more. “That this must be so can readily be seen by varlous expressions of opinion | from “members of their own party. I‘Suflh‘e it for the time being to sum it { all up in the words of the distinguished |Senator from your own State, Senator | Norris said: Quotes Senator Norris. “*The action of the Republicans at Kansas City, both as to platform and candidate for President, will e sad disappointment to every progressive citizen of the United States. “‘A direct slap is administered to the farmers of the country. Their plea, admitted by eve: well founded, is cast aside with the usual promise of a glittering generality. The party has been in power for eight years and during all that rime it has n making promises to the tarmer. “‘Its leaders, the men who dcmi- nated this convention, both in the Sen- ate and outside, have fought practically every proposition of a remedial nature for agriculture, and with the assistance ot presidential vetoes, have succecded ::‘r(m““"n‘ all efforts at farm re- ef. “‘Never have these so-called alleged leaders presented a farm relief measure of their own, but have contented them« selves with op) every comprehen- sive measure of by others, and no “This iy the statement of an au- thority on farm conditions, who was chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture. It clearly indicates that the condition has been known to the party for at least four yedrs, and.that no adequate remedy is suggested cven at this time, nor has one been forth- | coming during the whole neriod of the last two Republican administrations. “The President himself recognizes it In his message to the Congress in 1926, on the subject of agriculture, ne said: Coolidge's 1926 Message. “*The whole question of agriculture needs most careful consideration. In the past few years the Government has | given this subject more attention than any other and has held more consulta- tions in relation to it than on any other subject. \While the Government is not to be blamed for failure to perform the impossible, the agricultural regions are entitled to know that they have its con- stant solicitude and sympathy.’ “This on its face appears to be a confession on the part of the Repub- lican President that the problem can- not be solved by his party. Why eclse does he use the language that the Gov- ernment should not be blamed for not performing the impossible. After eight vears of promise, coupled with failure to perform, it must be encouraging in- deed to the farmers of the country to know that they have at least the con- stant solicitude and the sympathy of the | Republican party. “The farmer at this time might well recall the words of tre one-time popu- lar song: ‘All I got was sympathy, but that didn't mean a thing to me.’ “As far as the President himself is concerned. Scnator Norris sums it all up in a few words. He stood against Congress in the measures that they of- fered, but made no constructive sugges- tion himself, even after the exhaustive study he claims the administration efve to the subject. “He might well have added that Mr. Hoover. as the chief adviser of the last | two administrations upon the subject of | agriculture, assumed a direct responsi- bility for the hostility and inaction of the administration, and continues to assume that responsibility by his ful- some indorsement of the record of Coolidge policies. “It mu:tobp a great comfort “to the farmers of this country to know that the policy which gave them the sym- pathy and solicitude of the Republican administration and gave them nothing else would be continued in the event | of Mr. Hoover's election. | Recalls Hoover Speech. “Pparticularly must this be a comfort | to them when they recall that the re-| sult of the eight years of sympathy | and solicitude by the Republican party is thus summed up by Mr. Hoover in| his acceptance speech: “*The most urgent economic problem in our Nation today is in agriculture.’ “If the promises made by the Repub- lican party in 1920 and 1924 had been fulfilled it would not be necessary for |- him to say today that in agriculture is the most urgent economic problem in | our Nation, and the occasion for the | solicitude and sympathy for the plight | of the farmers on the part of the Re- PuPl‘iCIn leaders would have ceased to exist. “What brought about all these prom- ises of the mrubllc‘n party? If there was no critical condition in agriculture why the promises of relief? Why the admissions in the platforms, and what led Gov. McMullen of your own State, according to newspaper re- ports, to threaten the Republican na- tional convention that he would lead an army of men to knock at the doors of that assemblage demanding at the hands of the Republican party a specific and definite solution of the | farm problem? It could be nothing | else except the very apparent distress of the farmers of the country. “In my speech of acceptance, I took acccunt of the suffering of agriculture. I there stated some facts and figures, | not one of which has since been chal- | lenged or contradicted. Cites Farm Debt Gain. “From 1910 to the present time the | Yarm debt has increased by the strik- ing sum of $10,000,000,000. The value of farm property between 1920 and 1925 decreased by $20,000,000,000. “It would be unreasonable to expect | that this great decrease in value would | make itself felt only in agricultural circles. It was compelled, from the very nature of things, to have an in- fluence on other lines of business. In 1927 there were 330 bank failures, with total liabilities of over $270,000,000, al- | most entirely in the agricultural sec- tions: as against 49 such failures in farm relief presented w.' circles, STAR, WASHINGTON. i method of making it function. exported. Putting it in other words: The exportable surplus is offered first in thhdumzmc market and drags down the pfice of the whole crop. Calls Tariff Inoperative. strated that the tariff, standing alone, with respect to crops of which we have an exportable surplus, does not func- tion. The presence of the exportable surplus in the domestic market pre- vents the farmer from getting the bene- fit of the tariff. As to these com- modities, the tariff is like an engine running with no belting to connect it with the machine it is designed to move. country we have interfered with the laws of supply and demand for the pro- tection of industry and labor. No part of that protection has been given to the farmer on his major cash crops; and when we talk about putting agriculture on an equality with industry, we are talking primarily about the problem of making the tariff function for agri- culture in the way that it functions for industry. “The leaders of the Republican party know this. their own party have made it per- fectly clear to the leaders. President Coolidge must know it, and he must also have known that an increase in the tariff on wheat was an empty ges- ture. Yet the Republican candidate for President says in his acceptance speech: “'An adequate tariff is the founda- tion of Tarm relief. “But he makes no suggestion what- ever as to how the adequate tariff is to be made to function and become effective with respect to the major cash crops. He refers to the tariff as | though it really worked for the farmer. The solution has an two parts: First, adequate tariff; and., second, a Mr. Hoover refers to the first part and ignores the second. Discounts Tariff Solution. “Every student of the problem in the United States today is unanimous in the declaration that, standing by itself, the tariff is not the solution, so far as crops are concerned, of which there is an exportable surplus. If the tariff alone is the foundation of farm relief, why not raise it some more? The solu- tion is not as simple as that. “The trouble during all these years lies in the fact that the Republican party has not been entirely frank with the farmer. I could go further and say they have not been honest with him. Had they been honest and frank with him, instead of extending sympa- thy and promising relief through tariff and promising economic equality, they would have frankly said to the farmer that the solution lies in providing a mechanism for the control of the ex- portable surplus, with the cost of that control imposed on the crop benefited as the only way to make the tariff function. As to that important principle, the Republican presidential candidate discloses obvious hostility. “On that subject the Republican plat- form says nothing. Lowden's Stand Cited. “But its convention repudiated the minority report secking recognition of this principle. What that means is best shown by Gov. Lowden's comment: “‘I have urged, however, that it is the duty of the Republican party to find some way to rescue agriculture from the ruins that threaten it. That, in my judgment, the convention by its platform just adopted has failed to do, and I therefore authorize the with- drawal of my name from before the | convention.” “It would be interesting at this time to ask the question: Did the Republican candidate for President ever speak about this question of surplus crops? He did. “In 1924 he wrote as follows: “ ‘That (referring to the surplus) can only be corrected by prices low enough to make production unprofitable.’ “What does he mean by that? I can spell only one thing out of that. He wants to drive enough farmers out of business to pull down the surplus crops. “The way he wants to relieve the farmer is to destroy him. “Again in 1925 he said: ““‘The fundamental need is a balanc- ing of agricultural production to our home demand.’ “Is that the solution of the farm problem, to starve the farmer to death? To drive his prices down so low that energy? Is the sweat of his brow to go for nothing and is he to be eventu- ally driven out of agricultural pursuits? “As to the balancing of the agricul- tural production to our home demand, that would not be a good thing to my way of thinking, even if you could do it. But that it cannot be done is best shown by a report from the Bureau of the last year of the last Democrati ilg;glrt:}l‘s:;:t:‘on. ol the period sine | ave HETS en almost 4,000 such | “The business men’s commission on | sericulture in November of last year % | “‘Since the war. the price: prdoucts have persisted pln .snotuf:;lz nomic and unfavorable adjustment. to the general scale of prices of other goods and services. The value of farm land and farm property decreased heavily in the post-war deflation, and | large numbers of families have lost all | thslxrrssgp:r‘l.g :n ':he process.” at that the figures herel, l;]‘/‘zr‘:lse' l;: far b‘l"l‘:.lk nguthe 22d ‘:fl“l‘fs‘; ave neither norAchnllenged. been contradicted “According to the figures, th sbundant reason for the recommition, of n America N Ewing e n agriculture life. ment of Agriculture show that durin, this period of depression, ten mlllloll-ln people were driven from the farms, with a net decrease, after deducting ali who returned, of four million in the farm population of the Nation, That means that four million American citizens were compelled to give up their chosen vocation. It meant suffering and dis- tress in millions of families and drove the tillers of the soil into competition with the workers in the cities, Calls Effect Disastrous. “It requires no very great imagination or'unders'::mmgm :1"(}?: problem to be able to realize the dis- astrous effect on our whole social and economic fabric that must grow from a sn,u;_:‘lon such as that. “There are definite causes an - sons for this catastrophe, which,‘{or:l:e ordinary person, are easy of < standing: - i “Twenty-five years ago wheat sold at approximately the same price that it brings today. “Twenty-five years ago the farmer paid $45 for a mower; today it costs him §75. “He paid $120 for a binder; he pays over §200 for the same implement, to- | ay. “Statistics indicate that there has been a decline in the purchasing power of 1arm products of 20 per cent, as compared with the pre-war period. What other line of business in the United States could stand that? Sup- ipose, for an instant, that the manu- facturer of shoes was compelled to meet | the wage scale of today, the increased {cost of machinery, the increased cost | along the whole line of plant operation, jand then was compelled to offer the product of his factory at the price that it brought 25 years ago—how long could he remain in business? And what would become of an economic structure so designed? Allegation of Trouble. “The great fundamental trouble with the farmer situation lies in the undis- puted fact that the farmer buys in a protected market, from the hat on his head to the shoes on his feet. For everything needed around the farm not produced by himself he makes his con- tribution to the tariff system for pro- tection of American industries, and when he produces the crop he is com- pelled to sell it in an unprotected mar- Agricultural Economies, which says: “‘During the last 20 years 95 per cent of the changes in Spring wheat production were due to differences in yields. As a whole, perhaps three- quarters of the natural variation in crop production is due to yield variances and lies beyond human control through acreage adjustments.’ Opposes Hoover Plan. “That is in effect to say the solution of disposing of the surplus advanced' by Mr. Hoover is impossible and is beyond! lhf power of human control. “If the students of the agricultural problem understand their business we have put our finger on the sore spot, we have discovered the primary cause of the illness in the agriculturai indus- try, and it is now for the doctor to pre- scribe the remedy. “What does Mr. Hoover offer? First, the tariff. Everybody knows, and 'he knows, himself, that the tariff is not effective as to the basic cash crops without a supplemental device to make it work. “He offers inland waterways. Very good. The Democratic party is in favor of inland waterways, just as strongly as the Republican party, but I think it is only fair to say that nobody would offer that as an immediate remedy. The present condition needs a remedy at once, and not a time far distant, when the improvement in the inland waterways could be an accomplished fact. At best, were they with us to- day, they would not exert sufficient in- fluence io solve the problem. “He offers stabilization corporations. Stabilization corporations made up of voluntary associations of producers can no more stabilize agriculture than the banks of the country were all volun- tarily to stabilize our financial system without the - intervention of Govern- ;v;lrn! in forming the Federal reserve ‘He suggests aid to co-operatives. I strongly believe in co-operative mar- keting. It is clearly all right—as far as it goes. I have encouraged it in my own State. In New York today we have over 1,000 co-operative marketing asso- clations. ~With our major cash crops and with a device for taking care of the surplus at the cost of the com- modity benefited, co-operatives woul | be given a great opportunity for de- development. “Their field is limited, however, with- out such a device, for the reason that When the membership alone is com- pelled to pay. the whole cost of the at- tempt at stabilization, those outside the membership receive the benefits of the increased prices without bearing any of the burdens incident thereto. And the Iltem‘):‘ at stabilization is in large measure impaired by the activi- ties of the non-members. “The fundamental fact is that nonc of these methods can function with respect to the major cash crops unless they are coupled with the control of the expertable surplus, with the cost of lifting it out of the domestic market assessed back on the crop benefited. McNary-Haugen Phase. ‘arious people have attempted to misrepresent and confuss my attitude with ‘respect to the McNary-Haugen bill. I do not propose to ieave the slightest doubt in anyboby's mund on that subject. ket. In the basic cash crops the Ameri- can farmer raises more than the whole domestic market can absorh. He is, therefore, compelled to offer “As T read the McNary-Haugen bill, its fundamental purpose is to establisn an effective control of the sale of ex- “It has been abundantly demon-| “Under the protective system of thlfi‘ Prominent members of | 1 i | bill. he can have no production. for his | |1 D. C. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 19, 1928° LIST OF QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO GOV. SMITH AND HIS REPLIES By the Associated Press. OMAHA, Nebr., September 19.—The text of the questions read, and the governor’s replies, after his speech last night follow: v Q—"What specific Federal legislation do you propose for farm relief? A f these gentlemen had read by speec h of acceptance, there would be no occasion for that question. I made that clear in Omaha to- night, that the legislation working out the principle of lifting the .!ll'll’vlul is to be handed to a commission to be worked out during the Winter. 3 0 you believe the country will be more prosperous with liquor Why?" —“Well I assume that this is an intelligent group of men that have an understanding of what is going on around the country. Nebody. no living person, no matter how wise, no matter how well informed. no mat- ter how farseeing. could make any answi to that question, because there has never been liquor out of this counts i “Do you belicve that liquor is the great issue in this campaign? A.—"1 certainly do not.” Q. Congress pled; A “How can you square your support of Democratic candidates for ged against liquor with what you say Why, I don't know what idea these men must have of the de- you will do for liquor?” bates. the platform and the soceches of acceptance. If they paid the slightest attention to any one they could not ask that kind of a question, because there is nothing that the President can do about liquor. All he can do is recommend to the Congress, and he can assume the leadership of the American people in an effort to show them that his recommendation is right. That is what I propose to do, and let the American people make the decision, as they will have to do.” ow can I support a dry hat question came up. Democrat_candidate for Congress?” in the national convention, and the natfonal convention deliberately, through the report of the committee on credentials, left every Democrat in the United States free to express his own individual opinion of what he thought on that subject.” “Now, you have an admirable, scholarly gentleman running for United States Senator here, Mr. Metcalf. I understand that Nebraska is dry, but 1 would never ask Mr. Metcalf to turn his back on the people of his State until such time as he can come out here and convince them that they are not tackling the problem the right way.” Q.—"How will your proposal for the sale of liquor in a few States meet your issue of personal liberty in the other States?” A.—"The prevention of the sale of liquor is in the exercise of police power, and I have clearly showed that State voted for the exercise of that should get it to the Iimit. if a majority of the people of a given police power in that direction, they “On the other hand, following the well defined Jeffersonian principle of State’s rights, the State that does not want the exercise of that police power ought to be in a position, through a majority of the people, to say s0. Q. “Are you still personally opposed to the St. Lawrence waterway?” A—“Why, if the gentlemen had just looked at my speech of accept- ance, they would have seen that I made as clear a declaration on that as any man could make. I frankly said to the American people that while 1 was the Governor of the State of New York, I favored the all-American route. because it went through that affecting the St. Lawrence Canal, as disputed by some eminent engineers, after a study of the matter.” State, but inasmuch as the figures well as the all-American route, are I am willing to leave it to Congress, “Now number seven is something of a tricky question. It says: “‘You have stated that the Underwood tariff law fulfills the pledge of this year’s Democratic platform.’ “My answer to these distinguished gentlemen is that I never said that and I challenge them to find it in any public paper of mine.” “The last one, number 8, is this: “‘Are you in favor of higher food prices in the city or lower food prices on the farm?’ “My answer to that is that the farmer can get the full benefit of the value of his crop without increasing the price in the city.” ~ In addition to answering the questions Gov. Smith said he did not believe, as was suggested, that the advertisement carrying the questions had been financed by the Republican national committee. He said that he thought the men who asked.the questions were actuated wholly by “patriotic” motives, but he suggested that the same list of questions be submitted to “Candidate Hoover " that principle the Democratic platform squarely stands, and for the principle I squarely stand. “Mr. Hoover stands squarely opposed to this principle by which the farmer could get the benefit of the tariff. What remains of the McNary-Haugen bill is a mere matter ot m:thod. and I do not limit myself to the cxact me- chlanlcs and methods embcdied in that “Here is a clean-cut issue, which the farmers and the voters of this country must decide. It remains but to work out the details by which this principle shall be put into effect, and 1 have pledged myself to name a non- partisan commission of farm leaders and students of the problem to work out these details. I shall make that | appointment, if I am elected, not when take the oath of office as 'resident, but immediately after election, and 1 pledge to the farmers and to the neople ot this country that no stone will be left unturned to give immediate and adequate farm relief, by legislation carrying into practice this definite principle_for which my party and I stand. This course alone gives prom- ise of rescuing the farmezs of this country from the complete ruin which threatens them today.” SVITH FOES OPEN AGTIVE CAMPAIGN Chairman of Democratic Antis in'North Carolina Pub- licly Assails Party Nominee. By the Associated Press. CHARLOTTE, N. C., September 19.— Frank A. McNinch, chairman of the anti-Smith Democratic organization in this State, fired the opening gun of the opposition campaign to the Democratic presidential nominee at a public meet- ing here last night with an arraign- ment of Gov. Smith and Tammany Hall. Assailing the Democratic standard- bearer for what he termed “repudiation of paramount planks” in the party platform, Mr. McNinch at thhe same time defended the anti-Smith organi- zation, which he said had been formed “to fight for the true Jeffersonian principles of Democracy, and to_save the party from having Al Smith crammed down our throats.” The nomination of Senator Robinson, he charged, was*“merely a sop flung by Tammany to keep us Southerners quiet. But we spurn the bribe. We resent this attempt to induce us to become the tail of the Tammany Tiger.” Turning to Gov. Smith, Mr. McNinch said: “I charge he procured his nomina- tion by stealth and fraud. He carried on an unparalelled campaign of in- trigue and secrecy to corral the dele- gates to the Houston conventiom: “I charge that Gov. Smith is not a Democrat. He is a stranger to the great principles and policies of true Democracy. Sl R LA FOLLETTE GROUP LOSES IN WISCONSIN Conservatives Win Control State Central Committee, Re- placing Progressives. of By the Associated Press. MADISON, Wi September 19.— After eight years' “domination™ of the State Republican machinery by the La Follette Progressives, the political pen- dulum swung yesterday, and placed the Conservatives in control. with a large | majority on the State central com-| mittee. | Prospect that Walter J. Kohler, Con- | servative candidate for governor, might | obtain favorable action by the suleH platform convention on his platform Joomed when the faction with which he is aligned gained a majority of one of the resolutions committee. This was not assured, however, as the Progres- sives demonstrated during the after- noon session that they held the upper hand in the convention by a narrow margin, and it appeared probable that the Progressives would attempt to have the minority report of the resolutions | committee pushed through on the floor. The day brought victory and defeat for both sides, with the Progressives controlling the organization of the con- vention, which resulted in Licut. Gov. Henry Huber of Stoughton. a Progres- sive, being seated to preside over the sessions. Another Progressive. John W. whole ! portable surplus with the cost im d | Eber, Speaker of jhe Assembly, was |here last night after crop at the price of the surplgthat is upon the commodity benefited. pols"eor named secretary. miss| -> FARMER AUDIENCE . FILLS OMAHA HALL Rural Element From Two States Predominates Smith’s Hearers. By the Associated Press. OMAHA, Nebr., September 19.—Old and young, men and women, dirt farm- ers and gentleman farmers, they all came tc the auditorium in Omaha to hear the Democratic presidential nom- inee tell what he thougnt was the solution of the agricultural plight. There was plenty of honest Ne- braska and Iowa soil on the hands that were raised last night in applause of Gov. Smith's declarations anent the Republican administration and his prbposed Democratic solution. Women, whose lined faces bespoke vears of struggle and whose knotted hands told an ecloquent tale of hard usage, came timidly in the wake of their husbands. Mrs. Smith Pleased. ‘The men had taken the evening off, many because they were Democrats and many just out of curiosity to see the Empire State’s governor as he, from the streets of New York, made suggestions for the corn rows of Ne- braska. It was a case of first come, first served and those who were earliest in line grabbed the choice seats. Mrs. Smith acknowledged Chairman Ed P. Smith's introduction of her as “the next mistress of the White House” with a deprecating gesture, but with a pleased smile on her face. She wore the same costume that she wore earlier in the day at the luncheon and din- ner given in her honor by the woman Democrats of Nebraska. Gore Sounds With Cane. Mrs. John A. Warner, the former Emily Smith, sitting next to her mother on the platform, seemed taken aback when_the chairman turned to her and introduced “the governor's talented daughter.” But she rose to her feet and bent her body slightly in greeting to the roar of the audience. On the other side of Mrs. Smith sat former Senator Gore of Oklahoma, who frequently gave vent to his enthusiasm by pounding his cane on the floor dur- ing the governor's speech. Mrs. Smith secemed to enjoy his approbation im- mensely and frequently nudged her daughter in appreciation. HOOVER IS CALLED 2.PARTY CANDIDATE Mrs. Nicholson in Potomac, Va., Address, Hits at Tammany in Lauding G. 0. P. Choice. Special Dispatch to The Star. POTOMAC, Va., September 19.—Mrs. Jesse Nicholson of Chevy Chase last night told 250 members of the Hoover- Curtis Club of Jefferson magisterial district, in the Potomac Town Hall, that Herbert Hoover will be elected President of the United States by the combined vote of Democrats and Re- publicans. “We must stand in oppesition to Gov. Smith, who represents Tammany, which stands for corrupt government based on special favors and privileges,” she said. “What has become of the two-fisted governor who was to take the bunk out of politics and call fssues by their first name and fight his way to the White House, Newspapers that support Smith have only one cry and that is, “Pity our poor candidate, the speakers are against him.” Col. J. G. Pepper of Ballston, Arling- ton County publican committee chairman, made a short address, in which he assajled newspaper corre- spondents who reported that 20,000 peo- ple had heard the Democratic rally speeches at Leesburg Monday night, when in reality, he said, htly less than 500 attended. Col. said he had been bitterly opposed to Tom Heflin prior to Heflin's speech at the Fairfax County fain, but he wished America had a few type. World Flyer in Paris. PARIS, September 19 (#).—George H. Storck, Seattle aviator, who started from England several days ago on a =olo flight around themz'_lurld. arrived g posted ing for more than two ore men of his | was en route to Bowling where he will pitk up His achedule, int by 'S trop- ical hurricane. % A Canceling his address at Miami on Monday the nominee led the first relief train into the stricken district, where, after an inspection of conditions, he issued an appeal for the American Red Cross to send immediate aid. Storm conditions delayed train serv- ice and the Senator was compelled to cancel also his scheduled address in Atlanta and proceed directly for Bowl- ing Green. Before leaving Florida the nominee said he would like for the public to realize the true situation of the devas- tated area in the belief that it would help in the relief work and rehabilita- tion. Property damage in the area, he said. was being estimated at between $75,000,000 and $100,000,000, and that relief workers had told him that in West Palm Beach alone there were from 3,000 to 4,000 homeless. ‘The Senator expressed regret that he would be unable to fill his speaking en- gagement in Atlanta. He said he would have gone by plane from Jacksonville to Atlanta had not weather conditions prevented. One address was delivered in Florida, that at Jacksonville on last Saturday night before proceeding to Miami. where the hurricane disarranged his schedule. Green, Ky., campaign ROBINSON BEGING TRIPTO KENTUCKY En Route 1o Bowling Green. Cancels Atlanta and Miami Speeches. ROBINSON SPECIAL_ TRAIN, EN ROUTE TO OWENSBORO, Ky., September 19 (#).—Senator Joseph T. Robinson, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, today was forced to cancel his speaking en- gagement at Bowling Green, Ky., to- night because of delay due to the Florida storm. He is scheduled to speak at Owensboro tomorrow night. By the Associated Pre: JACKSONVILLE, Fla., September 19.—Senator Joseph T. Robinson, Demo- cratic nominee for Vice President. today PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AT SEVENTH We've Got Thbse ‘Autumn Blues... ND they’re sweet music to any man with a soul for clothes harmony! OR a Blue Suit is always in fune— with every nian, every moment and every mission. CHOOSE your fabric—Serge, Cheviot or Unfinished Worsted—the three dauntless musketeers of the Blue brie gade. 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