U.S.A. PRESIDENCY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1928, Page 5

U.S.A. PRESIDENCY

FARMERS CAUSE CRISIS REPUBLICANS THREATENED (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) (By Cable—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Recd. May 30, 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 29. With suddenness not at all uncharacteristic of American politics, one old, very old, issue has suddenly leaped into prominence, and at this moment promises to overshadow' all other issues, as preparations are being made for the opening of the Republican National Convention a fortnight hence. Mr. Coolidge’s veto of the McNaryHaugen 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 November, but to-day it seems completely forgotten, and the prediction that corruption ‘will not change a single vote in November” seems unanswerable now.

An 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 serious enough, it can safely be said it will not decide the choice of the next President, just as it was not' a paramount factor in 1924.

Newspapers in the past few days have been full of accounts from the Middle West, depicting a hundred thousand farmers ready there to lay down implements and march upon Kansas City, to present an ultimatum to the Republican Party on the question of farm relief. There is no question that just now farmers feel ready, to do this, but on June 12 there will be no hundred thousand or even a single thousand encamped farmers before the Convention doors.

A despatch from Chicago to-day states that farm organisations (throughout the West are choosing ai committee to send to Kansas City to present the following thesis:—“The party is facing the greatest crisis in 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 indifferent to the needs and rights of the maize belt and farming States, if they force a nomination of a- candidate qpposed to farm relief, no matter who he is, then defeat is invited and disaster will follow” Such committee undoubtedly will be present at the Kansas City, A similar committee came to Cleveland in 1925, but a hundred, thousand encamped tillers of soil is too highly imaginative, even for American politics. Both technical experts, and the more moderate Democrats, agree that Mr Coolidge was wholly right in vetoing the McNary-Saugen Bill. They say that the farmer is sick and needs a doctor. Then Congress, in form of this Bill, sent a crystal gazer to diagnose the agriculturalists’ 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 quick mindedness of Mf Hoover’s enemies, in once again concentrating theii; attack upon him. Mr Hoover is against this Bill, therefore Mr Lowden’s henchmen have shaken the farmer wide awake and said to him that from Mr Hoover he can get as . little from Mr Coolidge. Mr Hoover is in a quandary. If he wishes to get Mr 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 Mr Coolidge’s friend and would like to get Mr Coolidge’s personal support for his candidacy. Mr Lowden, with General Dawes 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. Democrats, meantime, look with the broad satisfaction upon the row in its neighbour’s house, for if it intense enough it may mean victory for them. Democrats frankly never liked the corruption issue, it was too much “machine politician.” Democrats looked upon it as a. two-edged, knife. I _ SENATE’S STONEWALL. (Received May 30, 9.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 29. Weary and bedraggled Senators, who are physically exhausted alter an all night session, maintaining a socalled “filibuster" on the Boulder Dam rioject. received some hope oi relief, as noon approached, when the leaders worked out an agreement for a possible adjournment before nightfall. Meantime, sleepy-eyed Senators heli, the floor for hours at a time, during v-hich periods, many oi them dozen, while supposedly delivering addresses. The high point of the night session was reached, when Senator Blease hiraided dawn by mimicking birds ciies. and .luttering his hands. Others took short naps in the ante-chamber, and some tried to keep themselves awake bv drinking iced coffee. The object of the “filibuster” is to frustrate the passage of the bill by absorbing the remaining time of the session. ('ONG BESS ADJ OU RNS. WASHINGTON, May 29. Congress adjourned for the summer late this afternoon, after the Senate passed a resolution to that effect, ending the twenty-four hours filibuster on the Boulder Dam Bill. The House passed a similar resolution, shortly after the Senate.