B3 FOREWORD It has been the purpose of the compilers and editors of this handbook to include all the material necessary for the support of either side in a debate on the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill. ment of material has been observed in this handbook. arguments on each side of the question are followed by the most appropriate answers by the opposition. Sequel arrange- The analytical questions are included for the purpose of suggesting to the student different methods of attack in the study of the farm problem. Heretofore it has not been our policy to include a brief in our debate publications but frequent requests from the users of our material caused us to include one in this book. This brief is not inclusive of the entire question. It is still our belief that students should be required to make their own briefs and that their briefs should be inclusive of the whole question. After having studied this handbook, the debater can rely upon the use of the index to guide him in finding pertinent points for rebuttal speeches. No standards of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation have been established. The excerpts have been taken from many publications; all publications do not have the same standards about the mechanics of the matter published. Additional sources of material can be found in the list of publications and organizations listed on page 155. The compilers wish to express their thanks to publishers for the privilege of reprinting excerpts from publications quoted in this handbook. ANALYTICAL QUESTIONS 1. What conditions gave rise to the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bills? 2. What are the provisions of the McNary-Haugen Bill? 3. What is the fundamental purpose of the Bill? 4. Is the machinery provided for in the bill adequate? 5. Are the provisions of the bill for the control and distribution of the surplus products practicable? 6. Is the equalization fee democratic in principle? Is it workable? 7. Are the provisions for the use and safe-guarding of the stabilization and revolving funds economically sound? 8. Are government crop reports sufficiently accurate to justify the Federal Farm Board in fixing an equalization fee for a given product? 9. Were the efforts to control the surplus products in Australia, Brazil, England, and New Zealand successful? 10. Is the McNary-Haugen Bill class legislation? 11. Can the farmers solve their problem without Federal Legislation? 12. Will an increased price to the producer necessarily mean an increased price to the consumer of the same commodity? (The following brief is used through the courtesy of Phil Teeling and Homer Bouldin, Baylor debaters, 1927.) Resolved: That Congress should enact legislation embodying the principles of the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill. INTRODUCTION I. The present depression of American agriculture is apparent from these facts: A. Farm bankruptcies increased from 1920 to 1925 1,300%. B. Values of farm lands decreased from $17,000,000,000 in 1910 to $13,000,000,000 in 1925. C. Farm indebtedness increased from $4,000,000,000 in 1910 to $12,000,000,000 in 1925. D. Capital invested by farm operators decreased from $47,000,-. 000,000 in 1920 to $32,000,000,000 in 1925, a loss of approximately $3,000,000,000 per year. E. Bank failures, 95% in farm districts, increased from 955 during the ten years of 1910 to 1920, to 2,591 during the five years 1920 to 1925. II. Agricultural depression arises from the following causes: C. Too many profits are made between the producer and the con- D. The farmers must sell their products as they are harvested at which time the market price is at its lowest ebb. E. A surplus above domestic requirements is produced which must be sold on the world markets in competition with low standards of living and cheap labor of foreign nations. The world price received for this exportable surplus determines the price for the whole crop. Illustration: At times production of cotton exceeds the world's demand at a fair price which results in wrecking the cotton market and forcing the price down below the cost of production. III. The McNary-Haugen Bill has the following features: A. Policy: "To promote the orderly marketing of basic agricultural commodities in interstate and foreign commerce and to that end to provide for the control and disposition of sur |