The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-07-28
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National Topics Interpreted "a 9FFT TfTTfA$
by William Bruckart ApE17}1TF
by William Bruckart

acreage IN Whatever crop is figured
out here on reports from farm agents
In the various counties and the total
cost to the government is arrived at.
The total average sales over many
years Is matter of record. That is,
the records show how much the millers
of wheat have handled and how much
has been exported and the cotton pro-
ducers' records also are available.
The processing tax then becomes a
matter Of percentage. It Is simpli-
fled to the point where the calcula-
ton must be made on the difference
In the total average value of the crops
from 1924 to 1926 and the current
prices.
M. L. Wilson, the man who is man.
aging the wheat program for the De-
partment of Agriculture is just as OPP
timistic about thelwheat plan for fore
ing prices higher as Secretary Wal
lace and George N. Peek, farm adjust
ment administrator, are about the cot
ton plan which now has been effectu-
ated. Mr.. Wilson told me after re-
cent tour of three weeks through the
S0O-odd wheat counties of the nation
that 80 to 95 per cent of the wheat
farmers are going with the government
on the plan. That means signed con-
tracts just as the cotton farmers
signed contracts agreeing to stand
together in unified action that reason
able profits may be realized from
farming operations.
There is going to be shorter crop
of wheat this year than is usual.
The Department of
Short Wheat Agriculture esti-
NCrop mates it will be
around 496OOO,OOO
bushels, whereas, it usually runs
around 65OO00OOO to 70O,O0O,0O0. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Wilson, the wheat
farmers recognize that this years
short crop and higher prices will be
followed by larger acreage in the
paintings of winter wheat this fall
and the spring wheat next spring. On
the basis of acreage now growing, fall
and spring wheat together, the next
years crop easily could go as high as
S0O,000,O00 bushels. Just figure what
that would mean on the basis of wheat
consumption of around 650,0O0OOO a
year. The carry over would break the
price down to the level where it would
be on the same basis as other stock
feed and it would be disastrous. So
Mr.. Wilson says the wheat farmers
are coming through in good shape as
fast as they can be told what the plan
means to them.
There are two other phases of the
crop program that must be remem-
bered, according to the authorities.
One of them is the necessity for pa
thence, particularly as regards the
working out of the wheat programs.
1t will be slower than that affecting
cotton The other matter is less gen.
eral but more pointed: the matter of
attempts at self-policing the industry
luNOtVcu. " Gall dlJCHIiOu "
the age-old practice of taking the law
into our own hands," That is not 60
ing to be countenanced by the govern
ment in any way, shape or form, for
law violator is law violator, says
the Department of Justice. and his
punishment will not be made easier
simply because he thinks he is enforc-
ing a farm law and he happens to be
farmer.
In this matter of patience, / be-
lieve l state the view of the Wash
ington observers. as whole that
the various farm plans, as well as the
plans affecting industry otherwise,
should have a chance to show their
worth. 1t is patent that nothing will
help unless the programs designed to
ture. Unless they mature, the re-
suits are worth nothing to anybody.
Hence, the belief of most of us that
the nation must be patient.
AS regards the self-policing prob
lem. The Department of Agriculture
the other day re-
Cooperation ceived information
Is Sought that self-appoint-
uals was going about certain sections
of North Carolina telling some of the
farmers that either they would sign
up contracts to reduce their cotton
acreage or 1--WE will pull it up by the
roots" The threat to pull up the crop
was accompanied by another kind of a
threat. Agriculture Department folks
do not want that kind of help in put
ting over the program. They want 1t
to be voluntary cooperation, sincere
and serious effort to accomplish some
thing by united action.
On the other hand, am told, the
agents in the various counties are &C.
cessible to nearly every farmer, and
the department is willing to know of
any unfair practices. That is part of
the idea of cooperation. If farmer
signs contract and fails to live up to
his agreement, obviously he is hurting