'j Tribune
The Weather
Forecast: Unsettled with occasional
rains tonight and Saturday. Moderate
temperature.
Highest yesterday m
Lnweet this morning ..35
A growing circulation
The circulation of the Mall Tribune
Is growing rapidly. Hundreds of new
readers hare been added In the past
few monrtis. Paid-up circulation Is
the kind that pays Ad. dividends.
Twenty-eighth Year
MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1933.
No. 50.
Mai
MEDFORD
Comment
.on the
Day's News
By FRANK JENKINS.
GERMANY threatens to re-arm.
Whereupon Great Britain, backed,
of course, by Prance, prepares to hail
Germany before the bar of the League
of Nation for trial on the charge of
violating the treaty of Versailles.
Remembering the way In which the
League of Nations handled the Jap
anese conqueet of Manchuria, one la
tempted to laugh.
GERMANY threatens to re-arm.
The other nations of Europe have
refused to DISARM.
To an unprejudiced observer over
on this aide of the water, one looks
about as bad as the other.
JUST as It beglna to look as If the
world might be beginning to pull
Itself out of the slough of depres
sion, this familiar headline greet
the eye: "War Clouds Hang Over Eu
rope." What a wonderful thing it would
be If the nations of Europe could
learn a little common sense.
BUT let us turn away from Europe,
contemplation of whose affairs is
inclined to Inspire a fierce disgust
among Americans.
The big wool pool of the Oregon
Idaho Wool Co-operative association
1 offered for sale at Portland, and
on the first day of the sale about halt
of It Is aold at prlcea unofficially re
ported to have ranged from 19 to 37
cent a pound, the highest prices yet
reported.
That Is better news than what Is
happening in Europe.
AND here is a note of optimism
from Albany, up In the Willam
ette valley,' contained In a recent ls
. sue of the Democrat-Herald:
. "Yesterday cherry buyers .visited
Linn county farmera to contract with
them for their cherry crop. For sev
eral years the farmer have not been
able to attract the buyer to their
farms. The canneries didn't want the
eherrlea at any price.
The reason for thl new activity
la the upward trend of the markets."
AND here Is a market note from
Portland, contained In a market
page headline:
"Sensational Rlae In Hoga and Cat
tle." Steers were up from 75 cent
to 1, and hogs advanced about 76
cent.
To u out In this country, that
means a lot more than stock market
advances. i
'.
BUT don't forget that the livestock
markets have got to go up A LOT
YET In order to recover the ground
lost In the past four years.
The value of livestock on the farma
of the United States was approxi
mately 6,600.000,000 in 1029. In 1933,
it dropped to 3,SOO,000.000.
After a drop like that, livestock
prices' are ENTITLED to recover.
GROSS Income from the farms of
the United States In 1939 was
about twelve billion dollars. In 1933,
it was about 15,133.000,000, a drop of
around 67 per cent.
Oross farm Income last year was
the lowest In 33 yeara. It's high
time that farm prices came back.
HERE is an Interesting figure:
In 1939. the value of all farm
land and buildings In the United
States waa placed at 48 billion dollars.
In 1933, the value of all farm land
and building In the United states
had fallen to 37 billion dollars.
That U a tremendous drop. Still,
It Is no greater than the drop in
valuea of other form of property in
the same period far less, as a matter
of fact, than the decline In value of
stocks listed on the New York stock
exchange.
That la to say, the value of farm
real estate has held up better through
the depression than the value of listed
stocks.
WHATEVER you do. DONT lose
confidence In reel estate as an
investment. ,
FISHERMEN'S STRIKE
HOLDS ON COLUMBIA
ASTORIA, Ore. Msy 19. (AP)
The fishermen's strike remained in
force on the Columbia river today,
with the orcanlred gfllnetters declar
ing they will not return to work un
til porkers meet thlr demand fr s
price of 8 cent a pound for Chinook
tllrrrTrftj
FOR. POTS
DEATHJN PLEA
Lonergan in Impassioned
Argument to Save Banks
Daughter Paraded for
Benefit of Jury Members
EUGENE. Ore., May 19. (AP)
With little Ruth May. 12-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn A.
Banks, sitting between her parents
as they faced the Jury In the circuit
courtroom, defense attorneys today
pled for the lives of the elderly de
fendant. In two of the most dramatic emo
tional appeals ever heard here. Charles
Hardy, of Eugene, and Prank Loner
gan. of Portland, appealed to the Jury
to give Mr. and Mra. Banks their
freedom.
"They are the victims of circum
stance." SBld Hardy. "Banks Is a per
secuted man. ' The 'silk atocktng'
group of Medford has hounded him
to tragedy and now they're trying
to crush him Just as the power trust
has crushed hundreds of others.
"It waa an evil hour when Banka
came to Medford. It was an evil hour
when he purchased, of all things, a
newspaper. His life since he came to
Oregon ha been one serle of unfor
tunate circumstances, but Jackson
county, and not Llewellyn A. Banks,
Is responsible for the death of George
J. Prescott."
With- an emotional ring In hi
voice. Hardy described the "beautiful
devotion" of Banka' Medford friends,
"not lawyera. bankers and power trust
people, but scrubwomen, lsborers. for
esters, gardeners and Just ordinary
people who love liberty."
Hardy described Banks as an "un
usual man," and told of the many
unusual men of history who hsve
fought against persecution and cor
ruption and who have been -martyred
for their efforts.
"If Franklin D. Fooeevett had been
In Medford In 1928 and 1939. he
would have been convicted for orlml
narsyndlcallsm.' Hardy shouted. - -"Give
them back their freedom,"
he pleaded. "Let them go back to the
scattered remnants that remeti to
them In southern Csllfornla. Let
them breathe the healing air of lib
erty. Don't convict them for. a crime
that should rightfully be layed at
the doorstep of Jackson county.
' "Do your duty as citizens and give
this aged couple back their lives!
Hardy reviewed the evidence and
demanded to know what the state
had done with the gun belonging to
George Prescott. the slain officer. -
"Because," Hardy cried, "it was
probably from thla gun, clutched in
Prescott s hsnd, that Banks' - bullet
glanced and killed the officer."
Lonergan followed Hardy as the
final defense apeaker. Joe Ham
meraley. Portland attorney, will not
appear under the revised plans of
the defense. Ralph Moody, chief
prosecutor, will . follow Lonergan In
the state's final plea before the Judge
gives hi instructions and the Jury
retires to decide the fate of the ex-
nublsher and hi wife.
Lonergan waa not expected to com
plete the defense arguments before
the end of today's session and the
case will probably go to the Jury
about Saturday noon.
Aa Lonergan returned for the after
noon seeeton, he opened a bitter at
tack on the various "Interests" In
Medford who hsd opposed Banks and
planned to "get" him.
The May term of court will start
Monday. May 22. with the drawing of
a new grand Jury and new Jury panel,
according to word from the court
house.
Several cases await the grand Jury,
Including that of Fred Wolfe, wanted
for th killing of William Sheldon,
on Btrdeeye creek. In a three cornered
love affair. Bad checks, burglary and
other minor Crimea are also on the
docket.
Trials In the ballot theft cases are
expected to atart as soon as possible
I after the return to Medford of Dis
j trlct Attorney George Codding and
i Attorney Nellson. It la also expected
I that Attorney Ralph Moody, who has
j handled the prosecution of the Banks
murder case in Eugene, will handle
the batlot cases. Moody waa appoint
ed by Governor Meier after the death
of William Levena. Levena waa ap
pointed to handle both the murder
charge and the ballot theft cases.
SCORPION CAPTURED
IN APPLEGATE CAMP
It Isn't a "gold bug found In a
bottle." but a scorpion brought In
from the Applegate civic conservation
J corps camp, that is m the window at
I drug pt'y-p. Tne scorpion Is
1 only one of a d07en found in Uie
tramp, It ni reported.
Four Arrested
10 BRITISH PLAN
World Conference Informed
of Decision Frenchmen
Reject Further Cut in Na
tion's Military Expenses
GENEVA, May 19- (AP) Germany
accepted the British disarmament
plan today as a basis for an agree
ment to be reached by the world dis
armament conference.
Count Rudolf Nadolny, t,he German
delegate, informed the conference of
the decision of bis government.
Manifestations of approval greeted
Nadolny when he said any German
suggestions would dovetail with the
British draft, which already had been
accepted by all nattons save Ger
many. "I hope this will be regarded as
new proof of German moderation,"
the Berlin delegate said
He referred to President Roosevelt's
disarmament message to the world aa
"another great manifestation of
peace." His entire address was con
ciliatory PARIS, May IS. (API Mainten
ance of a strong army waa the French
reply today to Chancellor Hitler of
Germany.
Premier Daladier, categoricaily re
jecting a further. cut In military ex
penses, declared In the senate today
that the French army Is strong and
must be kept strong.
This firm stand suddenly sqii'Jii
ed talk of a meeting between the pre
mier and Chancellor Hitler of Ger
many. The government also officially de
nted that auoh a meeting waa con
templated, "'-i -
' The premier toU, the senate that
war tscqmomlea had been made. -but
that: they had not Impaired the
army's strength. ."I affirm," he said,
"that we-can have confidence - In the
army and I affirm that our national
defense. Is assured."
No Excuse for Murder of
Prescott Declares Moody
In Brilliant Summing Up
States Case Proved Beyond Doubt Claim
Of Prosecutor; Defense Witnesses
Discounted by Rebuttal
By ARTHUR PERRY
EUGENE May 101.. A. Banks, former Medford publisher snd orchard-Is-
and his wife, Edith Roberttne Banks, charged with first degree murder
for the slaying of Constable George J. Prescott, heard themselves, and the
crime with which they stand accused, flayed before an awed and packed
courtroom here this afternoon. In a brilliant summation of the state's
evidence by Assistant Attorney uenc
mut nnentnff address of
Attorney
Moody wss characterized by Lane
county lawyers and visiting bsrrlsters
as one of the most brilliant and com
prehensive speeches in the history of
Oregon court procedure.
"Where Is the excuse thst defense
counsel can point to. In Justification
of this outrageous snd unconscionable
murder? I await with Interest their
arguments. In mitigation of their
clients' deed to excuse or explain It.
The state of Oregon hss proven be
yond a reasonable doubt aye ! more
than they have proven their case,
conclusively and completely." declar
ed Moody in his closing statements
for the day.
Issue Evaded
"The defense has not attempted to
meet the Issue In thu esse," he de
clared during hU remarks. "They
I point to a 'mysterious gang' that
J Banks has crested In hi Imagination
and says. 'O! I am pestered I O! I am
I abused' 1"
I "Nobody was pestering Llewellyn
j A. Bsnks but his creditors who want
I ed their money for honest debts thnt
! Banks himself had contracted, and
i obligated. The fact that Banks hsd
j been sued SI times by creditors on
! Just claims, Is no Justification for
j Llewellyn A. Bsnks to murder Oeorge
' J. Prescott and Mrs. Banks to help
j him."
! "The case 1 simple," further de-
i clared Attorney Moody. "We are try-
i lng a man and his wife for first de
gree murder on sn inaicxment re
turned by the grand Jury of the
county of Jackson, and the stste of
Oregon.
Crime Is Proved
"The stt is not interested In the
controversial matters. In which Banks
msy have Involved himself. It has
no interest In whether or not he was
good to the orchardlsts. This is
merely dust that has been injected to
cloud the Issue. The ONLY QUES
TION BET-ORE THIS JURY IB
V.HTTH-7. OR NOT LLEWELLYN A.
(Continued on Pact IhxeeJ
20 Years for Boy
NKW YORK, May la (AP) Har
ry Mm til. Queens schoolboy convict
ed of stabbing William Pnder, 13
years old, to death because he
"snitched." was sentenced today to
serve from 20 years to life In Sing
Sing prison.
FLEES 'ERE TRIAL
NEW YORK, May 19. (AP) Police
today brcadcast an alarm for Joseph
W. Harrlman. former head of Wis
Harrlman National Bank and Trust
company, who they said, escaped
from an East 61st street hospital this
mornlnR.
Harrlman Is scheduled 'to go on
trim in federal court next Monday
on sn- indictment charging that he
Caused thirteen - false entries to be
made in the records of the bank. In
volving $1,661,170.
The police alarm said It was fear
ed Harrlman might commit suicide.
- . .ww
AS TRIAL GOES ON
A startling story of the spread of
propaganda through Lane county,
dating back to the change of venue
granted L. A. Banks and wife, on
trial for first degree murder, waa told
here today by John Millard upon his
return from Eugene.
The most malicious story in circu
lation in the vnlversity city through
members of the so-called Good Gov
ernment Congress, Mr. Millard stated,
brands the late George J. Prescott a
"vicious officer," stating that "he had
killed three men before coming to
Medford."
The stories were started through
Lane county, residents of Eugene told
Mr. Millard when Eugene was first
named place of the trial.
Proof of their statement was re
vealed to Mr. Millard on all aides,
where he questioned people and
found that unlimited groups had been
contacted by the Good Government
ConKrera, members of which are stilt
in circulation in Eugene.
Arriving at a restaurant Just as
Mra Mae Murray, witness for the de
fense was departing. Mr. Millard said
this morning, his wife was able to
spike one of the false report, which
had Jvat been Imparted to the head
woman, who was very surprised to
learn of Vie true state of affairs ex
isting in thla county.
Country districts too. Mr. Millard
stated, reveal that a thorough can
vrm of the county was rmde by the
O-xyl Government congress to create
sympathy for Bank.
for Robbery Aged Man
Y
AFTER HAY
Demands Flood Commission
at Session Ashland Dele
gation Assured of Tempo
rary Repair Work in City
PORTLAND, May 19. (AP) De
mands for -money from Oregon's
share of the federal public works bill
for road projects flooded the state
highway commission at its session
here today when delegations repre
senting virtually every section of the
state presented their pleas, and add
ed new schemes for use of funds to
hundreds already In the hands of the
department.
But the groups were Informed by
Chairman Leslie M. Scott that their
sights were too high, that the pro
posed 95.768,000 federal funds avail
able for the next two years would be
only, about halt of wbat waa expend
ed last year, and that the commis
sion did not yet have the funds nor
information as to how they would be
distributed.
Multnomah Emphatic
While meet of the delegations
urged that their projects be kept in
mind for consideration, Oeorge Buck,
road master of Multnomah county,
was emphatic in demanding money
for county roads, where he said traf
fic waa heavier on one mile than on
any fifty mile of state highways. He
criticized some of the state expendi
ture and declared "It waa time
Multnomah county waa considered a
part, of Oregon." '
Umatilla county presented an eight
point program, while Union., Linn,
Jefferson, Tillamook, Clatsop and
Lincoln counties listed their pleas
and Indications the entire afternoon
session would be devoted to hearing
presentations of other counties.
Before the flood of request were
started the commission, bureau of
public roads and forestry bureau
jointly approved the expenditure of
(20,000 by the North Umpqua road
district for survery of that highway
to Diamond lake. The request was
made by B. L. Eddy. A. C. Ma raters
and W. C. Harding of Roseburg. .
Ashland Assured
The commission answered the re
quest of Ashland for improvement of
the Pacific highway through that
city by approving temporary repair
work until the Phoenix section of
the Pacific highway waa Improved.
The cost of temporary work would be
aaooo, half to be borne by the city.
The entire Job would coat $7600 for
standard reconstruction, which the
commission declined to authorize at
this time.
County Road master Buck of Port
land changed the tactics of delega
tions appearing before the commis
sion and demanded funds for county
roads not on the state highway ays
tern. He criticized the commission's
action In improving the Salem-Port-land
highway while Multnomah
county road, "where the population
is and where traffic la twice aa heavy
aa on any state roads," were still un
improved and the county unable to
do more than patch holes in the dirt
roads.
LABOR E!
ROOSEVELT PLAN
WASHINGTON. May (API
Endorsement of organized labor and a
prediction It would provide four mil
lion new Jobs helped speed today the
administration public works-lndus-trlsl
control bill, while the Olasa
bank reform bill was given a clear
track In both senste and house.
While the public works plan was
under examination by the house ways
snd means committee it developed
the administration may suggest In
clusion with It of new provisions to
bring the oil Industry under federal
control to end wasteful overproduc
tion. The house rules committee decided
to clear tie road for consideration of
the bank bill tomorrow. The senate
si ready had arranged to stsrt work
on the bill this afternoon after the
morning session on the continuing
Louderbsck Impeachment trial.
Important to congress was an an
nouncement by Senator Plttman, (D
Nev.), that all the governments which
have taken part in the pre.London
economic conference conversations
are In agreement on a six-point pro
gram for rehabilitating allver. Simul
taneously President Roosevelt and T.
V Soong, China's finance minister,
dflsrrfd themnelvea In agreement In
considering tt essential that the sil
ver price be stabilised.
BASEBALL 1
Nalonal.
B. H. E.
Rmton ft ' 8 3
Pittsburg S 8 1
Batteries: Za chary. Belbold and
Hargrave; Hoyt, French, Smith and
Padden.
R. H. K.
Philadelphia .'. 8 16 0
Cincinnati 4 8 3
Batteries: Holley, Bhem and Davis;
Lucas and Lombard!.
American.
R. H. E.
Bt. Louis I
New York 8 8 0
Bstterles: Wells. Knott snd 8he:
Brennan, Pennock and Dickey.
R. H. E.
Detroit 7 11 1
Boston S 10 a
Batteries: Msrberry, Hogsett and
Hayworth: Rhodes, Andrews. Welch
and Ferrell.
R. H. E.
Cleveland 2 S 2
Philadelphia :.. S 13 a
Batteries: Brown. Connelly, Bean
and " Myatt: Mahaf fey and Cochrane.
STRICKEN AFTER
EUGENE, May IT. John Wheeler.
aiitinrh.n oardener. who tes
tified that he was at the Banks home.
and heard the fatal shot, ana saw
- Miofni Hron from the hands oi non
stable Prescott. ss he fell, was re.
ported seriously 111 from a nean v
.... viiH.n. a Dr. Howard re
ported It would be dangerous for him
to come to the court. .. Wheeler waa
ought to be recalled to the stand
in an effort to refute the testimony
of Oliver Rogers.
- hMiri after he testified.
noon, n -
The stste showed that Wheeler waa
in the courthouse, at the time of the
shooting, and waa advised of the
tragedy by his wire.
Wheeler's testimony was further re
miiruiM mnmlng by the testi
mony of R. O. Stephenson, lumber
man, who said that he met Wheeler
In the courthouse three minuw
..... ik. .hnntlni. He said he knew
Wheeler, ssld "Hello. John." and pro
ceeded to the district attorneys Ul
rica. In that office he was advised by
District Attorney Codding that Con
stable Prescott hsd been slain. He
drove Codding to the police station,
and then drove to the Banks home,
where he saw Wheeler standing on
the lawn of the Banks home with
many others.
Mrs. Marie McCulston, who resides
diagonally across the street from the
Banks home, and was working In her
yard, said she heard a ahot, and
looked towards the Bsnks home. She
saw Seregant O'Brien vaulting over
the porch. NO ONE ELSE WAS IN
SIGHT. Mrs. Mae Murray, her dau
ghter. Effle Lewis. Abner Cox. and
John Wheeler testified they were, and
had heard Constable Prescott mske
threats against Banks.
w.H.p .inne Indicted Msyor of
Rogue River, wss recslled to the stand
to testify. In refutation or mo ro.--mony
of Sam Carey, that he (Jones)
met Abner Cox, st the door of the
Psclfle Record-Herald building, Just
as the news of the murder wss flashed
over the telephone, and they left to
gether. No attempt was made to re
fute Carey's testimony mas u v
at the newspsper office when the
crime occurred.
Jones testified that he was not !n
Medford when the shooting occurred.
nvinrt.lv after 10 o'clock, he hsd gone
to the Plrst National bank to caah
some road wsrrants. He then left tor
rir.nt. Puss.
Under cross-examination Jones said
he wss driven to Grante Psss by his
nri tn 4h.4. CltV h. Secured B
ride to Portlsnd In the auto of
traveling salesman.
"And what was the name of the
traveling sslesman." Inquired Attor
ney Moody.
"I do not know," answered Jones,
vmi rod. from Grants Pass to Port
land In an auto with a traveling sales
man, and you do not Know nia nnnwf
"Yes," replied the witness.
EXTREMITY OF VALLEY
"LUht firing" of mudgepol wss
reported south of Medford esrly this
morning, where the temperature drop
ped to the freezing point. The local
weather bureau, however, recorded a
minimum of 35, degrees.
W. J. Hutchison, meteorologist, ssld
this morning that the forecast for the
ensuing 35 hours Is "unsettled weath
er." which Is a continuation of the
allghtlv-vurled forecast msde April
2a. The last "clear" dsv, srordlng
to the weather bureau, was April 27.
ROSEBURG HOTEL
BY CONFESSION
Beating and Robbery of
$4500 Told in Alleged
Statement to Police
Nurse and Husband Held
ROSEBURG, Ore., Msy ID (AiP)
TTmon tmnllcstiona contained in a
confession made by Edward Poster,
alias Edward Smith, who, officers re
port, admits that he robbed J. H
unrpiun .iH.rlv Mvrtl. f!rek real
H.nt. m.v a of a4..inn. sheriff Percv
Webb, and sergeant Raipn wume oi
the state police, today arrested Jack
Whltsett, proprietor of the Alton
hotel of this city, and Mr. and Mrs.
FVsnk Stevenson of Myrtle Creek, as
alleged accomplices In the robbery.
Nearly a score of witnesses are be
ing called before the grand Jury which
haa Poster's written snd signed state
ment under investigation.
Tells nf Assault
?vir' confession, the sheriff and
state police aergesnt report, contains
HmlMlnn. not. nnlv of his DSrt in
the robbery of Morrison, but also of
the assault made Monday nn,
thla week upon Whltsett. whom Foster
...nrincr him to be held up
and robbed at Portland recently of
the major share of hla psrt or me
loot from the Morrison robbery.
nv. ntrifurm i-nort that Foster In
his confession declares that whltsett
Informed him of the habit or tne eio
.ritf Mvntl. creek man who carried
1.. ...m- nf mnn.V linon hU Der-
son. and that the two plotted the
Fostor, ' the officers state, claims
ti.. v.. nUr.rf t.h. Morrison home
on the night of May S. stealing t-.00
hidden In the eiaeny mans am.
rison was severely Injured when he
was hit several tlrnea over tne neu
with a flashlight as the Intruder en
tered his room.
Split Proceeds
ti. iv.nfi.Mion states, accordlruc to
the suthoritles. thst Foster then re
hn a nuuhnw md snllt the nro-
eeeds with Whltsett and departed im
mediately for Portland, where he pur
chased a new automobile. The follow
ing day he was held up and robbed
of hla remaining money and of his
automobile, the latter being later re
covered by tne Foriiamo powc.
Foster states It is cieimea wish, no
. .......-. Dn-Vi i ru K.11evlnf
that Whlteett had arranged to have
him "hijacked," determined to reoover
his lost money.
At Eugene, he states, he met an
acquaintance, Oeorge Greene, and
brought him to Boseourg asaing mm
f u-4i.innt. In . umior deal. Whlt
sett was lured Into a dark alley to
mske a delivery It la clslmed, but
when he saw Foster stsrtea to maxe
an outcry, when he waa hit In the
mouth by Greene, who wellded. a
heavy rock knocking out several of
Whltsett's teeth.
Foster and Oreene were arrested by
city police as they were running from
the scene of the alleged assault on
Whltesett.
FINANCING PLANS
At a meeting In tha county court
houM lMtt night, called by Walter H.
Jones, about thirty orchnrdlBt,, rep
reftcntlntr various dUtrtcta of the
Rogue Rtver valley, gathered and
harmoniously worked out a plan for
mulating a credit pool in order that
growen might obtain neceaaary funds
for harvesting the crop.
The form to be followed by those
wishing loans waa made out by Mr.
Jones, and those wiahlng to fill out
the blank may either obtain them
at hla office In the First National
bank building, or at the county
agent's orrtce, he said this morning.
The bajilc. points agreed upon at
last night' gathering were:
"To secure credit for my needs as
above estimated I agree to grant a
mortgage on my growing crop and a.
chattel mortgage on my stock, ma
chinery, and equipment; and aa s
guarantee for the formation of a
credit pool I agree to apply five
cents (6c) a box from the proceeds
of my crop to be held In trust until
all tbe obligations of the pool are
repaid; and X further agree to con
sign a sufficient amount of my crop
to a market committee to be selected
from the growers participating In
this pool to repay all my obligation
to said credit pool."
HOTEL MEN MEET
HERE ON SATURDAY
A meeting of the Southern Oregon
Hotel association will bring to this
city Saturday visitors from Seattle,
Portland, San Francisco, northern
California and southern Oregon
towns. It was announced tcday.
The KMwlon will open with a ban
quet at the Hotel Medford.
ONE LITTLE WORD
IN FARM BILL IS
E
Elimination of Word 'Basic
Gives President Increased
Power Over Products
While Sol on s Asleep
(Copyright by McClure Newspaper
Syndicate)
By PAl'L MALI.ON
WASHINGTON. Mav 10.Th. .A.
ministration slipped a fast one over
on congresa In the farm bill.
The house was sound jmlo.n nn 14
The senate opened one eye at the last
.....iukj nut nla nol 9 what lt WM
all about. There is no wonder. All
that was involved Wax nn. inn,
looking little word basic."
u congress had left that In the bill
It wduld have annlled
agricultural products. Everyone knows
w..u muse are wneac, corn, cotton
and tuch. But. with thnf n,nr i.4
out the field of operations Increases
a hundred fold. Hides, meats, cloth,
shoes and anything that has the
faintest connection or competition
with any product of any farm any-
wmco which witnin ine seuing pool
and price fixing purview of the bUl.
e cunuaenuai estimate of gov
ernment atatlstlclans themselves la
that the government took control of
45 per oent of American Inriita4m 4.0
that one master stroke.
It came about in a strange way.
The word baslo was NOT In 44,.
marketing agreement provision of the
Din passea ny tne house. It was In
the licensing section. As the senate
was passing the bill Senator Stenhen.
slipped the word Into the other Mo
tion, no is supposed to .have been
helped by Vice President Garner who
was in sympathy with the move. But
tutu js anocner story.- ,
When the senators and representa
tives started Ironing out the differ
ences between their bills, word cam
from the egrlculturai department
that the word baslo should be de
leted everywhere. No explanation waa
offered. No questions were asked.
Congress hsd the ,hblt of doing what
the administration wanted, and did
it.
They had to go to the extent of
passing a separate law to cut the
word basic out of the marketing
agreement section because lt had
been approved by both houses.
Republican Leader Snell crew sus
picious In the house. He asked what
was going on. Democratic Chairman
Jones In charge of the measure ex
plained they were merely correcting
a clerical error. He neglected to say
Vie government wss gaining a 4fi per
cent control of Industry thereby.
'rne progressives were not so easily
satisfied In the senate. LaFollette.
Bennett Clark and others raised caln
and voted against the change.
It was too late for a contest.
The thing waa put over on the
cloakroom plea that It was needed to
take care of sugar people In the west.
That plea does not hold water. The
bill would have taken care of sugar
as It passed the senate. That com
modity was specifically mentioned.
But the specific mention was cut out
at the same Mm-) the word basic was
strlcknn out, again on orders from
the egrlculturai department.
Thus on the pretext of getting sug
ar Into a bill it was already In they
took In nearly half the universe.
Will
ROGERS
BEVERLY HILLS, Cal., May
18. Say, this man Roosevelt
not only makes congress roll
over and play dead, but by
golly he made this tough guy
Hitler promise to bring sticks
out of the water. Is there no
end to this man's cleverness!
Clourse, there is one thing
lbout Europe, you can never
believe 'cm the first time. They
will agree to anything till it
comes to sign up. This might be
just the ideal time to stop a
war, for nobody has anything
to fight one with. Like disarm
ament, it's not done for hu
manitarian reasons, it's only
done for economic reasons.
The whole tiling seems too;
good to be true, hut the whole
world is changing, so maybe
they are going to turn human.
Tours,
ta&- Art-
I IIU Haubi(jralwt.U