AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

109

Mr. Kincueroe. Well, you say you have had two meetings this last
vear. and you have not got together on the great big problem of
farm relief at all. I was wondering how long the American farmer
would last while you are whereasing and resolving and trying to get
together and come here and compromise on a concrete program to
lo help him? Do you have any idea about that?
Mr. Taper. I will not take verv long, if you will just pass the export
 debenture idea.
~ Mr. Kixcurroe. And the American Farm Bureau Federation
people say it will not take that long if you will pass the McNary-Haugen
 bill. too. That is exactly what I am talking about. And
then you come down here and because you all differ you say, “ We are
zoing to do something on this or nothing "—you have not put it
quite so strong this time, but other organizations have. It looks to
ne like you ought to get together instead of saving, “ We are going to
take this or nothing.”
Mr. Taper. You will have to talk to somebody alse about that.
I have not said that. I have said the grange is ready to meet any
other program in a fair spirit of comproinise.
Mr. Kixcueroe. But you do say these organizations have had two
meetings this year trying to get together on propositions and you
have had the wonderful success of getting together on everything
else except farm relief.
Mr. Crarxe. Can we not come nearer home than the University
of Illinois? I heard myself during the early hearings right here at
that end of the table by men representing farm organizations a threat
made that he would * nail the political skin of a member of this
committee ” if he did not get behind a certain proposition.
Mr. Kincueroe. I want to say this, Mr. Taber—I am not asking
this is an offensive way—but I think that the people and the
country and the farmer at home who is making a living on the farm
ought to know that their farm leaders are in Washington and they
can not get together; and that they have had two meetings this
year and they can not get together on farm relief. I think that the
individual farmers of America ought to know that; and that is
the reason I am asking this, not in an offensive way.
Mr. Taser. Mr. Kincheloe, I do not think that you or the members
 of the committee can wash your hands of all responsibility because
 the leaders of the farm organizations have failed.
Mr. KINCHELOE. Answering you as a member of the committee
and speaking individually, I am not washing my hands of any
responsibility. If you will tell me of any responsibility I have
dodged I will be glad to have you do so.
Mr. Taper. You are not a dodger, we will all admit that.
Mr. KixcueLoe. Not on your life. I am not going to dodge when
[ think the farmers’ interests are at stake.
Mr. AswerL. Who has tried to dodge responsibility ?
Mr. ANpreskN. Mr. Taber started to answer the question and I
think he ought to have an opportunity to conclude.
The Cuairyax. Would you prefer to answer the question?
Mr. KixcarLok. I will permit you to answer that question.
Mr. Taper. The voint I want to make is this: I am not here to
criticize any other farm organization leader. I am not criticizing
the Farm Bureau Federation: I am not criticizing the Farmers’