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Show SIX ONE WAY-HALF DOZEN THE OTHER A couple weeks or so ago, Congress placed two bills before be-fore President Coolidee, for his signature. Had we been in hin shoes we would have been decidedly embarrassed, foi LpS utterances and acts, it was expected that he woSd veto one bill and OK the other, although both are r Z Jtially the same in principle. We are referring to the McNai'y-I laugen Fax Relief Bill and the bill awarding a Jo hundred and twenty-five million dollar loan to the Merchant marine at a low rate of interest and carrying also "subsidy in mail rates. True to expecton, the forme! was vetoed and the latter received the official sanction. We still believe that this country is big enough to have Eiven the McNary-Haugen plan a try. Utah farmers are not so interested in farm relief as are the grain, com and pork producers of the Middle-West. Yet here practically the same thing is demanded,, but by a different route, in the constant demand for a substantial tariff on wool and also on mined products. From time immemorial, the position of the tiller of the soil has been a humble one at best. Why not put into practice prac-tice for a few years a plan whereby he may obtain a cut of the melon and then see how we "like this government protection pro-tection idea as a whole? Not that he is entitled to it, but why the discrimination in favor of manufacturers, wool producers, etc? A guard against over-production would give undoubtedly undoubted-ly the farmer a certain independence which he has never heretofore enjoyed. Fruit growers of California have ceased to be in need of such protection, due to the strong marketing organizations of the citrus fruit growers. But we can remember when car loads of fruit used to be dumped, rather than sell at a loss. Tobacco growers of the south are protected through their organizations, but it used to be that stern measures were taken against over-production and the resulting falling off in prices. But to think of com crrowers, seed growers, or many other branches of farm activity being so concretely organized is another matter. No workable organization could be perfected on such a large scale. The tariff, ship subsidy, and farm relief are basically the same. Even more forms of government coddling could be evolved. The prosaic occupation of teaching school, tending a store, could all be put under the government wing. We fail to understand where the line should be drawn. |