AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT 



sentiments of the western Middle West and to restate his position on what 

 ailed the American economy. Apparently, the releasing of such a program 

 was prompted by uncertainties over what he was going to do for agricul- 

 ture if elected. 



He endorsed the principle of agricultural equality that was at the basis 

 of the McNary-Haugen and the Norris-Sinclair measures. Originally La 

 Follette favored the Norris proposal, but as election day neared he also 

 came forward with an approval of the McNary-Haugen bill. 



Other evidence of the omnibus qualities of his agricultural program 

 was his insistence that legislation enacted give to the farmers their "cost 

 of production plus a reasonable profit," and also that the government ex- 

 tend aid to the farmers to build a national cooperative-marketing pro- 

 gram. La Follette promised to give agriculture equality by appointing as 

 secretary of agriculture a man who was in full sympathy with cooperative 

 marketing, buying, and credit an implication which, to say the least, was 

 unjustified in so far as Secretary Wallace was concerned. The farmers were 

 in need of adequate representation on the Federal Reserve Board, the 

 Federal Farm Loan Board, the Tariff Commission, and the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission. 



Outright repeal of the Esch-Cummins Law was asked for, and also the 

 return of railroad rates to prewar levels and the basing of evaluations of 

 railroad properties on the actual prudent investment. The development 

 of waterways was held a means for bringing down transportation costs. 

 Legislation was needed to protect the farmers from fraudulent brand- 

 ing and advertising of seeds, feeds, and fertilizers that were sold in in- 

 terstate commerce. Tariff schedules that were framed by "the highly paid 

 attorneys and technical experts" had to come down; figures were cited 

 to show that farmers paid out more dollars for every dollar that the 

 tariff brought to them. Honest enforcement of the Packers and Stock- 

 yards Act and the Grain Futures Act was urged. Employees in govern- 

 ment posts who owed their appointments to special groups should be 

 driven from their posts. Above all, farmers should make common cause 

 with the wage earners, who also were at the mercy of monopoly interests. 



La Follette cited his progressive record in Wisconsin as proof of what 

 the farmers could expect from him if elected president. The Progressives 

 there were largely responsible for legislation to protect the dairy farmers 



